My trip to Takoradi Ghana
Laura Jarvis (Medicine)

There are so many different places to visit in Ghana, it is difficult to see them all!  I spent 7 weeks there and travelling every weekend I still only covered a fraction of what there is to see.

Our first visit was to Big Millies Backyard, a hostel in Kokrobite, where we were entertained with traditional African drumming and dancers, and had a barbeque serving traditional food and locally caught fish.  It is also next door to the beach where many traders set up shop selling authentic African jewellery and crafts.

Our next venture was close to home, to Kakum National Park, only a short taxi drive from Cape Coast.  There we did the canopy walk - along a rope bridge suspended 40 metres above the forest floor giving fantastic views over the trees, but not for the faint-hearted! We also did a nature walk and learnt about all the different types of trees in the park such as bamboo, ebony and trees that are used to make HB pencils!

On the way back from Kakum, we stopped at Han's Cottage - a restaurant on stilts over a lake which is home to hundreds of crocodiles.  Not only can you eat whilst watching the crocs, they also offer you the chance to touch a real one, an opportunity not to be missed!

A big trip, but one definitely worth doing is a visit to Mole National Park - right at the Northern Border of Ghana.  The lodge we stayed at was overlooking a watering hole, so we spent a lovely afternoon sitting by the pool, watching animals wandering down for a drink, although we had keep an eye out for the warthogs and baboons that frequent the grounds!

Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city, is a bargain-hunter's paradise. There is an absolute maze of a market, it is an experience I will never forget.  Twisting narrow alleyways of stalls selling everything you can possibly imagine, it is easy to get lost but all part of the fun!

Another weekend trip was to Wli Falls - another beauty spot.  It is the highest waterfall in Ghana, and is pretty spectacular, after a short walk through the rainforest following a path over 7 bridges we arrived at the waterfall, which is huge!  It is also a great spot for swimming if you can stand the cold!

Our last two weekends were spent in luxury at two beach resorts - Safari Lodge and Beyin Beach Resort.  At Safari Lodge we had our own private chalet, 10 metres away from the sea, with gourmet food and sunshine, it was a great place to just lie and relax.  Beyin Beach Resort was very similar, we stayed in private chalet again very close to the beach, but we also visited the nearby Nzuelzo village - an entire village built on stilts over the river.  A canoe ride there, that involved some participation, but was definitely worth it to experience the ride through the waterways.

There is so much to discover, in Ghana, many sights you would never see at home, and many different people to meet, the only limit you have is the time you have!