Thursday, July 12, 2007
WLI Falls - what a wonderful hike!
We took a day between groups and drove up to the town of Ho (about 2 1/2 hours drive) where Elder and Sister Gray had volunteered to take us up to the Wli falls. The drive was another hour from Ho, up to a small town called Hohoe (not said Ho Ho, but rather Howay). We parked in an area and paid the admission and guide fee, and had a wonderful hike into (what is billed) as the highest waterfall in West Africa - I think probably they count both parts, the lower falls (seen above here) and the upper falls that are hidden. Because it is rainy season, the trail to the upper falls was closed - but we were very pleased with the falls and the surrounding area - it was beautiful
This is the Couple Gray, along with the Couple Nielson - standing by the edge of the waterfall pool. Last time the Gray's were up to the falls, there was a large group of college age students there and they had taken the full time missionaries up for a preparation day activity. They all wound up in the pool and even walking or wading up and behind the falls - we weren't so brave (or foolish), but could see where on a very hot day this would be wonderful - there is a very strong breeze comes off the falls (those knowing how Cameron Falls feel - it is much the same here). Our little guide took the picture for us.
This was the tail end of a group that had spent some time at the falls - a school class - most of them had been out getting wet and cool. They reported to us that they had approximately 10,000 people visit the site on Monday (July 2 - they celebrate the first as a holiday here (workers day I think it is) and had to stagger the schedule and the number they would allow on the trail at one time. There were very few around the day that we went up. If you look to the left of the falls, it appears to be slate rock, but actually the rocks are covered with fruit bats - I've put a couple of shots of them on a subsequent blog - but this will give you the location of the bat population.
Here is a shot of the lush vegetation at the falls and all the way up the trail to the falls. There are twenty little bridges on the trails where the little stream (right-bottom of photo) crosses back and forth across the trail. The hike took us about 45 minutes each way - really a good 30 min. walk, but the guide had all sorts of interesting vegetation things to show us and talk about. It really felt good to be "out and about" - almost made us feel we were back in the rockies again.# posted by Ghana Gazette @ 10:56 AM 
