Monkeys, Waterfalls & Mountains - Part 1

 September 10, 11 & 12

Elaine and I are the designated "party planners" "excursion experts" for the Area senior missionaries.  Senior missionaries should work hard, make a difference for good, and see some of this beautiful country of Ghana.  Senior missionaries are called to do specific things and while doing "their thing" they may, or may not, get to see much of the Africa West Area countries or even Ghana.  We all work out of the Area office in Accra and get out into the wards and branches some, however, each position is different in terms of travel.  Therefore, Elaine and I were asked to make sure everyone who wants to, will get out of Accra and see what Ghana is like out there.

We were part of a trip to the Volta Region early on in our missionary experience (last April) and thought it would be a good thing to do it again because there are new senior missionaries.  And we love the Volta Region because it has mountains (!) and lush jungle area (!) and is not as crowded as Accra (!).  So, we planned this September  trip and everyone had a great time.

The Volta Region is to the north and east of Accra and borders Togo. It has a monkey preserve, a village devoted to kente cloth manufacturing, waterfalls, the highest free-standing mountain in Ghana and large and small villages.  There are small villages throughout Ghana, but not all of them are in the mountains or by waterfalls or host monkey preserves, so we do enjoy this unique region.

A bonus to visiting this region is the trail to Wli ("Vli") Falls goes into and then out of Togo before you reach the falls, so we can say we have been to Togo!

Here are some pictures of our adventures, some from April 2021 and some from September 2021.

The highway to the Volta Region goes through Ho and Hohoe and you have to know what roads to take because some of the roads are basically bad.

The Tafi Atome Monkey Preserve ("toffee ah toe may") where the Mona monkeys are given special care and protection.  The monkeys don't bite or scratch, are very friendly, and will jump on your shoulder and arm to eat a banana held tightly in the hand.

 

As we walked out of the jungle last April, we came across this little family who had just left their home that was close by, on their way into the village .  The mother is Debra, the little boy Justice and the baby Innocence.  Mothers carry their little ones on their back before they learn to walk. 

The monkeys have very long tails.

Below is a "bore hole" or water well that water is pumped out of.  If there isn't a bore hole in town, then there had better be a river or stream close by, or you dig for water. Mike Weston, Zoe's husband.

A shot of a residential area just off the only street that runs through town.  Very clean.

The Abuife Kente Village was next.  The village men weave the cloth.  The boys start early, around seven or so, and learn to weave.  Getting some background from our Village host.

It takes both hands and both feet to weave the cloth.  One long strand is woven at a time, with many, many movements to make just a few inches of cloth.

There were maybe ten or twelve weaving units set up in this building.  There were two buildings.

Continued in "Part 2"

The trail head to Tagbo Falls and to Afadjato is the same.  Here is the intrepid troup: Larry and Pat Woodbury, Ryan and Donene Jones, Steve and Kathy Kittelson, Jon and Shauna Duke, Irene and Nick Eastmond (seated), Don and Sherri Despain, Terry and Cynthia Call (behind the Despains with Cynthia's face covered), Eric Derr (above Terry), Joann and Dale Munk, Elaine and me, Marla (hidden right behind me) and Dale Olsen, Lisa Derr. 

Jon and Shauna Duke and me at the top. Togo is behind us.

It was a steep climb.