Back in Ghana

I've been moving around a bit since the last post. I couldn't get into Benin without an advance visa (I had been told that I could get a 2 day transit visa at the border, but the border guard said no). And getting a visa through the consulate in Lome would take 4 days. So my Plan B (which is really about Plan N, subpart 12 by this time) was to travel north to Kpalime, Togo. Got up there on Monday and stayed for 3 days, during which I spent more time on a moto-taxi (that would be riding around on the back of a small motorcycle) than I had anticipated. Mototaxis are the way to get around in Togo, especially Kpalime. So, to see the sights my guesthouse arranged a guide for me. I went to the peak of Mt. Agou one day (luckily we got about 90% to the top by moto, but hoofed it from there), and the next went to two waterfalls - Cascade de Wome and Cascade de Kpime. Both were great to see, but also a lot of effort and scrambling up and down rock/dirt paths.

Kpalime was a great place to stay for a few days. It has a totally different vibe than anywhere I've been so far. People are friendly, but also understand the respect for personal space. (3 days with no marriage proposals or strange old women grabbing my hips. Yeah!) It's just an easy place to kick back and relax.

Yesterday I made my way back across the border into Ghana, and I am staying in the moutaintop town of Amedzofe in the Volta Region. Amedzofe is Ghana's highest settlement, and the view from here is spectacular! There's really not anything to do in town, but it is useful as a base. Today I am heading to Tafi Atome, where there is a monkey sanctuary. Tomorrow I may climb up to the top of Mt. Gemi (ok, not really "climb", more like take a slow walk up an uphill path). Sunday I may do nothing at all.