Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park

One place we wanted to explore outside of Cape Coast was Kakum National Park, about 30 km northwest of Cape Coast.

A faded billboard just outside of the park

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakum_National_Park

http://www.conservation.org/learn/culture/ecotourism/destinations/Pages/kakum_canopy_walkway.aspx

The draw to this place was the possibility of viewing the rainforest from a series of suspension bridges, a canopy walk of sorts. If we went early enough we were told we might see monkeys and tropical birds in the trees! The canopy walk is a guided tour, about 1 1/2 hours long, designed to give the participants a brief informational overview of the forest as well as an actual overview from the suspension bridges. We joined a church group of young adults who had driven to the Cape Coast area from Kumasi for the day. There were about 30 people in their group. Great, we thought, noisy people from the city.

We walked on a stone path, with a major incline, to get to the suspension bridges.

Our guide, Ben, told us about the importance of many of the trees of the forest. The trees were used by "Grandfather" and "Grandmother" for medicine, furniture, weapons, utensils, food, water, and communication.

Here's Ben explaining the uses of our friend, Ofram (Terminalia superba)

This particular tree pictured above was/is used for furniture and guitars! When Ben hit the buttress, it made an interesting, hollow sound that was often used to communicate where one was in the forest.

Entry structure to the first bridge

The canopy walk consists of seven bridges and seven viewing platforms. Some bridges are up to 30 meters above the ground.

The first bridge

 

Can you see me on the viewing platform?

 

I think this was the longest bridge.

 

Surprisingly, I felt quite safe on the bridges.

 

Apparently I needed an escort. These two were with me along the entire walk!

View of the forest floor, well, where the floor would be were it not for the dense tree cover!

 

Group Shot!!! Most of the Kumasi group is in this photo, just after getting off the last bridge. Did you find us?

As we suspected, we didn't see any animals from the bridges. The group was too noisy. We even lagged behind, hoping to glimpse something. We did hear lots of birds, but didn't see any.

I am hesitant to compare this national park experience to the many others I've had in the United States. It has to do with perspective, I guess. This park was created at the insistence of the local population, to help preserve the area from deforestation. Kudos! There were no sweeping views of mountain ranges, or impressive waterfalls, or deep purplish-blue lakes. There was, however, a sense of pride from our guide, Ben, for making this little part of Ghana (357 sq km) available for others to see and experience. And what a way to experience it, from above!