It
was naturally refreshing and very entertaining, yet the experience was worth it
sort. I could not imagine the excitement written on the faces of many
adventures who were on the hiking trip.
I
arrived at Vane via Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana at half past ten o’clock
GMT on Sunday 23rd October, 2011 from Accra and walked the entire narrow
bumpy 1.5 km to Dzogbefeme-Avatime, where the group camped from Saturday 22nd
or was it 23rd October. I joined the group on Sunday because
of a boys- boys party I couldn’t afford to miss in Accra.
Dzogbefeme-Avatime
is a hidden hilly town off the Vane-Amedzofe road. With over 700 people, the town is one of the
seven towns of the Avatime traditional area. It has nice sceneries of ecotourism
sites that when fully developed, could generate additional income for the area
and the country at large.
The
people, who speak the Sideme language, also speak Ewe as a second language.
I got
the direction to the hilly town through Dziedzom Kweku Segbefia, Leader of the
Expedition, who I constantly communicated on my cell phone.
Mr.
Kusi Appiah and Kojo Flweezy met me in the town, after walking a distance of
about 700 meters through the town. I was nearer the foot of a steep medium-size
hilly plane, where the rest of the group
were based.
I
climbed slowly over the steep rocky path, just following them at a respectful
distance. We got to the top and oh! The sun as if with a renewed passion shone
brightly above, and the skin under my clothes bleed professing of sweats.
Pre-hiking training
After
we got to the top, I immediately joined in the pre-hiking group training. That
was after I exchanged pleasantry with Dziedzom my Course Mate at GIJ. I was
posted to the Fox-trot group with Stella Sarpong, another college at GIJ as the
Group Leader. There were other groups like Gulf and Echo.
The
vigorous training, which included physical, emotional and mental alertness
exercises continued into the hot afternoon, but with the focus of the impending
hiking in sight, no one seemed perturbed or fatigued.
Audience with the Okusie
Just
after training, the entire group climbed down the plane to pay a courtesy call on the Chief of
Dzogbefeme-Avatime, Okusie Adza Bansa Dzapraka X, and the elders of the town at
his palace.
They
offered warm reception and received the group with an air of brotherliness that
made the group members felt much at home.
During
the interaction the group sort to learn about the people and the challenges the
town was facing. Lack of portable water and toilet facilities, leaking classrooms
and classroom blocks, ICT and library and workshop, were among the challenges
the Chiefs and elders mentioned in our short interaction.
The Okusie
intimated that the village abounded in many ecotourism sites that when
developed could help generate a lot of revenue for the District and the Country
at large.
To
cement the ties of friendship between the group and the town, the Chief offered
soft drinks and bananas, while Mr. Dziedzom Kweku Segbefia, the Expedition
Leader, on behalf of the Adventurers handed a certificate with the company’s
insignia on it to the Chief.
The
group posed with the Chief and elders of the town before leaving the
premises.
The Swimming Expedition
Men
o! Men or is it boys or boys! I remember the group, no I mean the men enjoyed
themselves at a pond located adjacent the football field of the town, which the
boys turn into a swimming pool. And the ladies were spell-bound as they looked
on helplessly, wishing they could just do what the boys or men were doing…
After
having had enough of the bath, they (boys) went for a good bath up streams, all
along with the ladies restlessly looking on.
The Goat Party
It
was long in coming, but at last it came. The operators arrived with the boiled
carcass of the stubborn beast at around 21:00 hours there about. I was half
asleep and so were many of the hikers on the little mountain overlooking the
town. But forcefully awoke when news of
the much awaited goat meat got to the hill.
The
sleep vanished from my face. And o! what a feast it was. The goat party, the
stinking palm wine, and the big party cheers attracted many participants who spoiled
their sleep to taste and enjoyed the boiled meat.
The Night up the Hill
There
night was calm and chilly. And those who slept outside in the open air had a
real taste of the cool fogy night with a free windy breeze blowing over the
horizon.
Then
came the snoring bit. Those who couldn’t enjoy the comfort of the two tents
dared not snored, as they tried cuddling the blankets and the wet grasses around
themselves deep into the night.
The
tempo of the snoring rose and drifted away in the night air. And although the
windy breeze was readily eating-up the noise from the hikers, the noise
intermittently disturbed the ears of those camping outside in the open air.
The feeling
was good, at least it was a taste of a different sleeping space. At day break,
accusing fingers were pointed to those who snored most, but everybody denied
snoring. The search for the culprits, still continuous, maybe an award code
named Mountain Top Snoring Awards, like someone was suggesting could have been
given to the one who snored most…
The Hiking Day
The
hikers woke with the rising sunlight, buckled their climbing boots, fixed their hiking
gears and climbed down from their base in an unintended queue. Walking through
the town amidst blowing the two vuvuzela’s we carried waved and bade the
town folk’s bye, as we moved through the town to start the hiking journey. We walked along the paths through large stretches of farms lands, light and
thick forests, over rough terrains and wet grounds, overlooking deep bushy
ravine.
They
crossed rivers with their boots and not boats. Some
daring ones did jump over small streams and maneuvered through slippery grounds
as they steadily climbed the treacherous Afadzato Mountains.
The
hiking was more of a challenge of life as worthy lessons came to bear. We were stretched to the limits of their capabilities but the ultimate goal
of finishing with the constant support of fellow hikers kept the caravan in
shape and in steady motion.
Indeed,
the previous day’s vigorous training really paid as it prepared the minds
of the hikers for the journey.
There
were few rest stops on the way but it certainly did not help reduce the
sweating and zest of the hikers to reach the top.
Gradually,
as the air grew lighter up on the mountain, the feet of hikers grew heavier and
bit by bit we were there. Amedzofe… was in views.
O!
yesssssss! At last we are here; one Adventurer exclaimed when she stepped on
Amedzofe’s soils. But then the Mount
Gemi, which one hiker corrupted to “Gbemi”, was much clearer and nearer in
sight.
There
was another obstacle at Amedzofe, as the Guard at the Local Eco-Tourism Office
proved difficult, but thanks to God there was smooth passage after a peaceful
negotiation which lasted for over 30 or so minutes.
As
the negotiation with the Tourist Guard went on, the hikers enjoyed some local
brewed beer in nicely washed calabashes,
while others ate 'waakye' as well as
some food stuff.
The
walk to Mount Gemi was quite cool, not like the previous one. But hmmm! It was an
interesting view of nature. Nature is beautiful. But for the fog covering the
plains and valleys, hikers would have had a clearer view of the Volta Lake,
that was about 2,000 meters away and the other interesting sceneries of fauna
and flora.
But
for the unfriendly insects which harassed us at the apex of the mountain where
an imposing metallic cross stood, we would have bathed a little longer in the
spackling sun rays that shined with a renewed vigour of intensity, after the
pregnant moist clouds gaze breathed some freshness on our heads. The group
couldn’t pop the Champaign as planed… but it was an interesting adventure.
Nevertheless
we had the filled of our eyes up there.
It
was an exciting expedition and we couldn’t have asked for more…
Ayeekoo
to the organisers!
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