Cultural Excursions

During our orientation program, my International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) group participated in a tour of Accra, the capital city of Ghana, which included a visit to the Madina Market (a very large outdoor shopping market on the outskirts of Accra), the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park (Ghana’s first president and prime minister), the National Cultural Centre and the Labadi Pleasure Beach.

Also included in the ISEP benefits were two organized trips.

First, we traveled to the Central Region of Ghana to visit the town of Elmina, where tens of thousands of slaves were channeled through its trading post and to the Cape Coast Castle (used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade). Both trips were quite emotional, very educational and well-worth experiencing. It was quite an experience to walk through the Cape Coast Castle and into the dungeons where slaves were held in inhumane conditions hundreds of years ago, as well as through the “Door of No Return” which was the final point before slaves were taken to slave ships and transported to the New World.

We also visited the Kakum National Park which is completely covered in tropic rain-forest. We were able to walk across the seven hanging bridges there that are 130 ft. high and run over 1,080 ft. at the canopy level.

Second, we traveled to the Ashanti Region of Ghana, where we visited the Kumasi Cultural Center, Bonwire Kente Cloth Weaving Village (where we were taught the history and shown how to make traditional Kente Cloth), Ahwiaa Wood Carving Village, Manyhia Palace Museum (residence of two Kings of the Asante Nation) and Lake Bosumtwi (largest natural lake in West Africa- diameter of 8.5 km).

Last week, I traveled to the Western Region of Ghana with some friends. We stayed at a lodge near the fishing village of Akwidaa. It was a nice get away from campus life and to relax on the beach and buggy board and swim in the ocean. We hiked six miles to Cape Three Points, which is the southernmost point of Ghana. It was an exhausting walk and it was hot and humid but definitely worth it. Once we reached Cape Three Points, a tour guide explained the history and took us to the top of the Lighthouse, which offered amazing views of the countryside.

I had the opportunity to visit Togo a few times this semester. In the capital city of Lomé, I visited Marché des Féticheurs (has ingredients for traditional tonics and fetishes) and Coco Beach. I also took a taxi-moto ride to the top of Mount Agou which is the highest mountain and point in Togo (3,234 ft.) The ride to the top was absolutely beautiful.

In the summer, I plan to visit Cote d’Voire, which borders Ghana to the West, but I hope to return to Ghana after my study abroad semester in Botswana. There are still several places I would like to travel to.

I’m looking forward to traveling in Botswana next semester because it is a natural game reserve for most animals found in southern Africa and because of its close proximity to South Africa and Victoria Falls, which is located between Zambia and Zimbabwe.