Tallest waterfalls in West Africa

when you visit Ghana and you couldn't experience the excitement nature of Wli waterfalls then you need to come back again cos you havent seen anything

Wli Waterfalls (pronounced: Vli) is a predominately farming community located in the Hohoe Municipality. It is in fact closer to the Republic of Togo than the capital city of Ghana, Accra. The Akwapim-Togo range provides the perfect setting for what is to become arguably, the most impressive waterfall in Ghana. Some even believe it is the highest waterfall in West Africa. The Wli people like all other Ewes of Ghana originated from the city of Notsie in what is now Benin. The Wli people were led by their King named Togbe Ametornu I and Togbe Afaladze.

Legend has it that Togbe Ametornu I after fighting some many wars successfully decided to take his warriors around to look for food and water. After several attempts through the jungle the King and his subjects came into contact with a river that was pure and tasty. They therefore decided to look for the source of the water that took them across the same river at eleven different locations until they finally heard loud splashing water from the mountains.

They decided to climb the mountain to ascertain the source of the fall. It is believed that at the peak of the mountain, they saw beautiful water falling from the mountain. They named it Agumatsa, “let me flow through, describing the force with which the water is trying to escape from the “throat” of the mountain. This spectacle amazed the people to a great extent that they decided to worship the waterfall as their god.

Accounts have been given as to how the river god refused to be photographed until some rituals were performed not only to allow for its photography but to allow women to come closer to it. The day on which the ritual was performed is celebrated as Agumatsa festival which falls on Easter Monday each year.

Features of the waterfall

The forest around the wli waterfall has been preserved into what is known as the Agumatsa wildlife sanctuary. Nature lovers will find this place very interesting to visit. There are about 200 species of birds, 400 butterfly species and fruit eating bats.

A visitor/tourist can choose between visiting the upper waterfalls which requires more effect as this calls hiking uphill or the lower falls. The lower falls has a plunge pool where visitors can bathe. There river that flows downstream through the woods is so cold that it feels like drinking a refrigerated water.

Popular with many eco-tourism projects is the provision of alternative forms of livelihoods for natives. Wli is not short of that. There is an ostrich farm where visitors are taking through processes and procedures used in rearing those “giant” birds.

When to visit

There is no limit to when periods of visitation. Visits can be done throughout the year but during the dry season that starts from October each year and ends in early march the following year the volume of water decreases. The raining season presents the best opportunity to see the falls it is “glory and spender” but that also presents its own challenges. Rainfalls are heavy and usually “unannounced” all the time and conditions become a bit treacherous. However, visitors should not worry about the rains and the terrains since these conditions provide a perfect setting for the adventurous. Visitors or tourists are encouraged to start their tour of the wildlife sanctuary and falls at 8:00am and the falls are opened till 5:00pm each day.

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Colorful Ghanaian Traditional Wedding..

   “Da bi meye wo me yere”

Simply put “One day I’ll make you my wife”

Exchange of rings

Its a beautiful thing to witness and experience a Ghanaian traditional wedding first-hand.. i had the pleasure to attend a friend's wedding and i can tell you all that it was a humbling experience for me...and i want the whole world to know about our traditions.

 In Ghana we have 10 Regions and they all have different traditions and believes...that's what make our traditions very unique from others.. Continue reading and you will know why..

 STEP 1

  So the day finally arrives when a Ghanaian man comes to the realization that the woman he is dating the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

 He proposes to his sweetheart & the lucky lady says “Yes”

Before the happy couple even get to the altar, the elders within the family will advise them that they are required to perform the traditional wedding rites.

The traditional ceremony is a necessary common rite of marriage for all Ghanaian couples. In Ghana today, some couples perform this alone as a marriage ceremony, however, most couples also go on to perform the western wedding in a church in addition to the traditional marriage ceremony.

 “Sounds simple enough, but Ghanaian’s will attest to the fact that if the lucky lady in question has said “yes” that this is only the start.”

 STEP 2

 First comes “The knocking” (kokooko) on the door ceremony, this is the process of the groom visits the home of his bride to be (with the purpose of formally announcing their wedding plans) with representatives from his family. This could be anyone from his parents to a senior uncle within the family.

 Often times this ceremony is performed a week or two before the actual marriage ceremony. The knocking (“kookooko”) is derived from the Ghanaian tradition of knocking at the entrance of a house before entering as a visitor.

items demanded by the bride family

For the knocking ceremony the groom’s family brings along two bottles of Schnapps (alcoholic drinks), some money and cola to the house to present to the bride’s family. In the past, and to date, the drinks are used to pour libation. (Libation is a traditional form of prayer to the ancestral spirits and God).

 When the drinks are presented, a designated spokesman from the groom’s delegation formally asks the bride’s family for permission to enter the house and announce their intentions. If the drinks are accepted then it means permission has been granted to the visitors to state their intentions. The spokesperson will then explain in the most lyrical language, that the groom, has seen a “beautiful flower” in the house of the bride’s family that he desires and would like to “uproot” that flower, not steal, from its keeper, hence they are here to ask for the brides hand in marriage and inquire about what is required in order to make that flower his own.

 Once the intentions are announced, the bride’s family may ask the groom and his family to come back at a later date during which the bride’s family will investigate the grooms family background further to see:

1.   If the family has no chronic illness or genetic disabilities in the family
2.  If the family has a good reputation, that is, there are no immediate family members such as a sibling, an aunt or uncle who is known to be a thief, prostitute or murderer.
3.  If the groom has any illegitimate children or is already married to someone else etc.
4.  If the groom is of good character and well matched to the bride

 PART 3

Keep reading for the juicy parts.....

entrance of the bride with family and friends

The bride and family

Friends of the bride

Bride been blessed by mom

Holy Bible to the bride

after wedding reception

wedding dinner

wedding dinner settings 
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Beautiful beaches in Ghana....

There are few beaches in Ghana I go anytime I want a quiet time to think and have fun, I'm sure you will understand why, after reading a brief history on them. I am going to tell you about five of many...enjoy!

Ada beach;
One hundred km east of Accra is the Ada Beach. This coastal beach town is located at the estuary of the Volta River. It is an area of great scenic beauty. Its extensive sand bars have become nesting grounds for sea birds. Endangered species of marine turtles can also be found here.

This is a perfect haven for skiing, fishing and other water sports. The beach also has a marina nearby, perfect for yachting.

The beaches east of Accra are typically less visited by tourists, so you are less likely to encounter requests for “tips” and more likely to be able to have an authentic social interaction with locals.

Cocoloco beach;
Cocoloco beach is a breeding ground for sea turtles, as well as a sanctuary for estuarine birds. Near Ada, the Cocoloco Beach is also located east of Accra, where the Volta River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. This beach is a perfect destination not only for beach combers but also for nature lovers, as well.







Gomoa Fete;
About an hour west of Accra you will find a fantastic beach that is rarely visited. This town, perched on a hillside, slopes down to two lovely sandy beaches. Located nearby is the fishing village of Senya Beraku, which is home to one of our less visited smaller forts, the Fort of Good Hope.

This is the closest beach to Accra that is also suitable for surfing.










Elmina Beach;
The beaches around Elmina are among the most beautiful beaches along West Africa. The waves are mostly quite strong and a wide line of palm trees bordering the coastline makes a perfect scene. Walking around here is great, and so is sitting in the shade of the palms, with a great view of St. George's Castle. No litter, no entrance fees and no loud music. You are mostly alone enjoying the tranquility.


Kokrobite beach;
Kokrobite is a funky beach town well suited to all beach lovers who feel for something different with lots of variety. It is a home for all reggae lovers and rastafarians as well, so it can have more of a party atmosphere than other beaches outside of Accra.

Located about 27km west of Accra, Kokrobite beach is a popular destination for beach lovers seeking rich tropical paradise and pristine beaches.

One of our favorite activities here is to arrange a bonfire celebration at night, complete with drumming, singing and dancing.

Join me in my next adventure tour in Ghana
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The Day Mount Afadjato Fell

I have always wanted to conquer Afadjato and I am glad I over came the fear, it was a fun trip especially when you in a group as you will need each others strength to get to the top. Below are some scenes of the trip to the top before that, this a little history about Afadjato, enjoy.

With 885m, Mount Afadjato is the highest peak in Ghana making it an ideal place for mountain climbers.It forms part of the Agumatsa range which runs along the Ghana-Togo border. From the top of the mountain, there are magnificent panoramic views of surrounding communities, forests, mountains, deep valleys, and, in distance, Lake Volta. Behind Mount Afadjato is Aduadu, the highest point in Ghana. Even though its summit is higher than that of Mount Afadjato, it is considered to be smaller because it is placed on top of another mountain.

The name Afadjato comes from Avadzeto which means “to go to war against the bush”. The mountain owes this name to the fact that it is covered by a certain plant which causes severe skin irritations. Hence, whenever farmers or hunters climbed the mountain, they were “at war” with the plants. The Ewes, however, did not have a written language for most of their history, so the European colonisers called the mountain in the way they heard, its pronounced, namely Afadjato. The syllable “to” in Ewe language means “mountain”, so that the correct name is not Mount Afadjato, but simply Afadjato.

Mount Afadjato is shaped like a traditional yarn mound and covered with luxuriant tropical forest. Its area is well-known for its biodiversity richness. Researchers have recorded over 300 species of butterflies and 33 species of mammals. Mona and Spot-nosed monkeys are regular sights. Furthermore, BirdLife International has selected the site as one of the key Important Bird Areas in Ghana.

  

- at first it was all fun

 - our coming committee

- then it became the Marion Angles ;)

- time to face my fear

-destination mountain top: Focus, Aim and Conquer

- one step at a time

- half way to the top

- Mount Afadjato conquered, who is next

Join me on my next adventure
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