Dad visit part 1 Accra, Akosombo, Aburi

After visa troubles and a re-booking  the date arrived and Dad's flight arrived in Accra during an unseasonal and impressive thunderstorm
We went for a lunch the next day at the Afia and Dad came to understand that although we live very close to the beach, we don't actually frequent it...

Sobolo - hibiscus and ginger drink

At the weekend we thought we'd head up to the Akosombo area, tranquil and a little rural, and stopped at the Shai Hills Nature reserve on the way.  We went in with low expectations - thinking we'd only see baboons (which we have seen sitting in the road when passing).  The "game drive" through the park was pleasant enough, but not spectacular, we saw some guinea fowl and antelope, and our guide told us about the park regularly carrying out controlled burns on the scrubland as the antelope prefer to graze on the shorter grass.

ostriches in an enclosure

selfie with baboons

Another vehicle was stopped in the savannah area because there was a dead antelope under a tree and they were taking photos - urgh I didn't want to get out of the car to look at a decaying antelope - the guide announced that a python had killed the antelope - to which Dad and I said to each other "how does he know that" - of course when we got out of the car to see the antelope being eaten by the python we saw how the guide was able to state this!

what an incredible experience!

We also had the chance to climb a kopje to take a look out over the reserve -good walking shoes rather than birkenstocks would have been better here!

the view

due to the python we stayed longer in the park than we had anticipated, so came out hungry for lunch.  There are several nearby spots for lunch, but we went to the first and asked what was ready - banku and fish or chicken and rice - so it was the first of many chicken and rices! Dad also discovered that orange fanta in Ghana contains no traces of orange juice, just tartrazine and is very much like the neon fanta of my childhood in the 70s

dayglo fanta in foreground

Aylos bay is on the Volta river near the Akosombo dam.  A tranquil spot, but slowly easing into dilapidation - Dad had a waterfront bungalow and was able to watch the world go by from his balcony - that is until the local church got into full voice and drove us away!

termites

the bridge is under repair - this is the ferry queue

Midweek we went to visit Aburi Botanical Gardens - a short but interesting drive out of town - there's not much to do other than wander round for an hour - but its still nice

Tarzan Tony!

perplexed at the helicopter wreck

70's style ice cream too

Jamestown lighthouse in Accra

On the other days since Dad has been a little too successful on his recent weightloss regime  we made sure to introduce two of Ghana's specialties - Papaye a local fast food joint with excellent grilled chicken and rice, and the slightly surreal dining in a defunct DC10 experience

we also made a foray into Makola market, and I drove myself! no photographic evidence as it's not the done thing there, and it is too full on an experience to try to capture