Things you (might) do in Ghana: Volume II

Stories and experiences in Northern Ghana:

1. The gargantuan Kintampo Falls. This was our first stop on our way to the North. Kintampo Falls is a series of 3 different sets of falls and pictured below is the third and biggest falls. When you stand, or more likely sit, under the falls you will get pounded by torrents of water. Nonetheless, the waters are perfect for a hot day and they are also a perfect excuse for getting off the bus!

2. Participating in a beautiful celebration of the Northern Presbyterian Church in Tamale. We were able to march in a mile long procession with the congregation. It wasn't your normal procession though, it consisted of dancing, singing, and playing instruments. It was a jubilant celebration of God's gifts to this particular congregation.

3. While in Bolgatanga, we visited TAWODEP (Talensi Area Women's Development Project). We were able to help produce shea butter and we learned about the process to make it from start to finish. The shea nuts are pounded and mixed with water until it is a smooth consistency. The oil is then boiled off which takes away the brown color (seen below left) and the product is the butter (seen below right)

We also participated in making pito, a traditional Ghanaian alcoholic beverage. This is made from millet and maize that is ground on a stone pestle and mortar. They had both fermented and un-fermented pito available for us to try from the traditional means- a calabash instead of a cup!

TAWODEP also works with a group of women who create beautiful baskets. Most of their baskets had been sent to market the previous day, but they were all hard at work weaving new baskets for the next market day. The baskets pictured below are nearly completed, and I was able to purchase one directly from the woman who wove it.

4. Bolgatanga is about an hour away from the Burkina Faso border, and we were already planning to visit Paga, Ghana which is right on the border so why not try to cross the border even if only for a few minutes! Ghana's immigration officials allowed us to briefly cross the border into Burkina Faso, so we are able to add one more country to our lists!

5. Paga is famous for its sacred crocodiles due to the amount of these humongous beasts that reside in and around Paga. While there, it would be a shame to not try and see at least one of these creatures. There are even guides that will help you get especially close to these crocs, all you have to do is buy a white chicken to feed to it (also for a distraction method when you are behind it). People are able to touch the crocodile's back, and some people even pick up its tail if they are brave. Needless to say, I was terrified!

6. These forms of transportation.

Notice the luggage barely staying in the trotro
(vans that seat around 20 people) on the left.

Goats and sheep on the roof.

We actually fit around ten of us in this
small motor bike!

7. We were able to go to a beautiful Gonja fiddle performance and attempt to participate in the dance that is performed along with the fiddle playing. The instrument itself is a one-string fiddle that is passed down through the males of a family. Each fiddle player makes his own instrument and teaches any boys in his family how to play the fiddle. The dancers usually wear a traditional smock (not pictured here) which defines their movements as it swirls around their bodies.

8. The Larabanga Mosque. The architectural style is Sudanese, and this is the only mosque styled in this way in Ghana. Each side has a different entrance- one for women, one for men, one for the muezzin, and one for the imam. The Baobab tree seen below only strengthens the foundation of the mosque. It is said that everyone in Larabanga is Muslim and will attend Friday prayers at this mosque. However, it can only hold one hundred of the four thousand civilians in Larabanga.

Women's entrance in the back

Men's entrance on the right side

9. Mole National Park. Even though we didn't see any elephants, we were able to see a lot of wildlife at the park. We saw warthogs, baboons, patas monkeys, mongoose, crocodile, water buck, and bush buck. The heavy rains that the park has received lately is actually keeping the animals away because their are other water sources farther north that much of the wildlife is taking advantage of instead of the water hole in Mole National Park that is the most consistent source of water during the dry season.