Although I had a ventilator in the room, the night was warm and I didn't sleep well. I got out of my bed around 7.30 am and took a nice cold shower. Although Emmanuel arrived early, I walked around a little bit and bought some pastry for breakfast (the hotel served no breakfast). On my way back to the hotel some vultures were searching for food at a container full with garbage.
We left around 8.45 am. First we went to a bank where I changed some traveller cheques. I bought some water and afterwards we left Koforidua in the direction of Kumasi. Near the Begoro region we visited a kind of research center for cacao and coffee. By genetic crossing of the cacao they managed to reduce the time a tree begins to give fruits from 7 to 4 years. In the same matter they managed to increase the production on coca trees. The manager of plantation also showed me the process of coffee production. This plantation is a part of 4 plantations, which produces 50 tons of coffee a year. The best quality goes to Europe and America, the lesser quality is for the Ghanaian people itself.
On the way to Nkawkaw we ended up in a traffic jam due to road works. Locals tried to sell food and drinks to the drivers. Around 1.30 pm we arrived at our destination for today, Bonfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary. After getting a room I said goodbye to Emmanuel, who stayed in a nearby village. I went for a walk in the forest with 100 different kind of trees and 400 to 500 butterflies and moths. But this forest also has a lot of other insects. Around 2.30 pm I was back at the lodge and relaxed a little bit and did some reading.
After a cold shower with buckets (there is no running water here) I sat down and watched the night to fall. The electricity did not work so I had my dinner around 7.30 pm with some candle light (attracting some insects). Also the cats of the guesthouse joined me (hoping to get some food, which they did, since it was too much for me). After smoking a cigar I went to bed around 9.30 pm.
Initial publication: 14 augustus 2008
Last update: 04 april 2010
© A. Heeroma