Introduction
Xperience Ghana, a tourism agency in Ghana on Saturday, 1st May, 2021 organized a tour to the Eastern Region of Ghana, specifically the Aburi Botanical Garden and the Adom Waterfall in Obosomase. The trip offered a rare opportunity for participants to learn about the historical background of the different species of trees and flowers, and other things in the garden as well as the current issues faced at the botanical garden. It was also a beautiful moment to discover and appreciate the unknown naturally refreshing Adom Waterfall.
The trip was guided by Xperience Ghana’s three main objectives which include: to explore our tour destinations and learn about their values and contributions to the tourism industry in Ghana; to exchange individual knowledge or opinions among participants; and to have the very best of experience during the entire trip. The trip was fun and very educative which enabled participants to learn a lot from the experience.
Departure from the Accra Mall
The team departed from the Accra Mall located behind the Kotoka International Airport at 9:00am on a very sunny Saturday morning. The bus arrived slightly late considering that we were to depart at 7am. A total number of 14 people and a driver formed part of this great team that woke up so early for this amazing trip. A word of prayer was said upon our departure and immediately after that breakfast was shared to everyone in the bus.
In the bus whiles taking breakfast, Nii Martey Newman-Adjiri who happens to be the visioner of Xperience Ghana briefed the team about the profile of Xperience Ghana and what it intends to achieve as a tourism agency. It was a moment were members of the team introduced themselves and echoed out their expectations. Lots of music and conversations characterized the fun time we had in the bus.
We made our journey through the Legon E Road which drives 19.6km into the frontiers of the Eastern Region, at a tollbooth in Ayi Mensah. The estimated time on the road was a 34min drive but we ended up spending about 2hours due to vehicular traffic and a few stops to pick up some members of the team. Through our journey we bypassed some important landmarks such as the University of Ghana, Presbyterian Boys SHS, Madina Market and the Oyarifa Shopping Mall.
After the tollbooth, we climbed our way through the Aburi Mountains into Peduase, a community which serves as the entering point at the borders of Ghana’s capital, Accra and the Eastern Region. There were lots of vendors along the road selling fresh palm-wine, calabash, bush meat and various types of foodstuffs. Some prominent landmarks we passed by in Aburi were: Peduase Lodge (a presidential lodge), Rita Marley’s residence, Kitase Market, Aburi Girls SHS and the Presbyterian Women’s College of Education.
Aburi Botanical Gardens
Situated on top of the Akuapem mountains in the town of Aburi, the Aburi Botanical Gardens occupies an area of 64.8 hectares. It was opened in March, 1890 and was founded by Governor William Brandford-Griffith and Dr. John Farrell Easmon, a Sierra Leonean medical doctor. Before the garden was established, it was the site of a sanatorium built in 1875 for Gold Coast government officials.
On our arrival, the first thing that ushered us were the stunningly lined Royal Palm trees (Roystonea Regia) on both flanks of the road leading to the car park. We were all excited about the overview of the garden and most participants were expectant to have a memorable experience. We went through the various COVID-19 protocols and other requirements by the authorities of the garden. Afterwards a tour guide named Nii Kwatei Quartey was assigned to us for the tour.
We begun from the trees right after the car park towards the eastern side of the garden. We were amazed on hearing some interesting histories and intriguing phenomenon about popular trees and flowers we do see on daily basis. Delonix regia, Garcinia xanthochymus, Naulea latifolia, Araucaria spp., Murraya exotica were among the various species of trees and flowers we encountered in the garden but some notable ones that caught our minds were:
The Silk Cotton tree scientifically known as “ceiba pentrandra”, is the only survivor of the original forest that once covered the Aburi Hills.
The Strangler Ficus tree was one other amazing tree that caught our eyes. Popularly known as the Rubber Shade tree and scientifically called “Ficus Elasticoides”. Per the account given by the tour guide, this woody tree was discovered in 1906, it strangles the host tree and gradually takes over. The hole located inside of the tree indicates the size of the host tree. In fact, we were really amazed by the size of the hole in the tree. Most of us went through the hole to take pictures, it interior was hollow and dark. You could climb some steps to the top of the tree from the inside.
Also striking, were the Kapok trees, the wide-range variation of aromatic trees from around the world – especially the “Brazil Nut Tree “with its enormous pods containing scores of nuts.
We visited Ghana’s first cocoa farm -Tetteh Quarshie’s Cocoa Farm and had a taste of the rich cocoa in the farm.
One momentous thing with all flower bearing plants is the perfume that they leave behind and Aburi Botanic Gardens has a lot of them. The sweet scents and fragrance from some of the carefully selected both exotic and local plant species is something to behold.
Other things that attracted us were the Bush House, the Rock Garden, the Pergola or Lovers’ Lane and the retired helicopter. Before our visit, majority of us knew the retired helicopter was gifted by the Queen Elizabeth I on her visit to the gardens but it was not so after hearing the real truth of it. According to Mr. Quartey, the retired helicopter was pulled by 8 military men all the way from Burma Camp in Accra to the Aburi Gardens. This activity took them about two-weeks; interesting, isn’t it?
We were much enlightened about the great history and information about the garden. Characterized with other fun activities such as photoshoots, conversations and a mild music at the background, we really had the best of eco-tour in the garden.
Last but not least, the garden also featured another interesting place that enriched our tour, an open space covered with neatly trimmed grasses accompanied with a serene atmosphere which made our picnic a perfect one; it was just like an icy on a cake.
Adom Waterfalls
Located in Obosomase of the Eastern Region, 5.4km and a 15minites drive from the vicinity of Aburi garden is the Adom water falls. The team moved through the township of Obosomase and was finally greeted by the Signage of Adom waterfalls. The falls and its surroundings are operated by the Vistis International Ghana group.
The waterfall sites within a 50 acres of forest vegetation and the water flows all year round, through the forest canyon. The entourage started a Twenty minutes hike down to meet our tour guide, Mr. Kweku Opare. we then moved down, descending Ninety-three steps to the lower waterfall. All though it is a nature waterfall, artificial structures have been put in place to level the lower parts for tourist to safely move around and be able to have a swim. The Entourage then climbed back to our meeting point, to continue journey to the upper waterfall.
At the upper waterfall, the entourage were greeted with the scenic view of nature well weathered rock and vegetation, while the water flowed through. The team and some participants quickly changed, dived into the water and had a swim. It was all fun and refreshing.
Conclusion
The entire team headed back to the car park with lots of smiles intertwin with tiredness on their faces. Everyone was happy about the success of the entire journey and promised to join the Xperience Ghana team on the next trip.
