As dawn broke over the skies of Mamponteng hills, students slowly begun to fill the school’s parking lot; it was the morn of July 4th. With every inching glimmer of daylight, the crowd thickened, and along with it came murmurs of excitement and expectancy towards the day’s journey. By 3am, the sound of bus engines revving replaced hollow voices and soon the noise faded out of the school gates, returning tranquil to the resting campus.
The cozy and steady feel of the bus ride welcomed the sleep-deprived travellers, and for many of them, the time displayed by the bright red digital clock quickly blurred out of sight as they sunk into the comfortable seats. Three hours went by in a jiffy and the gloomy darkness was replaced by a sunny morning sky, streaming upon the faces of the awakening passengers. Through the vehicle windows was a beautiful roadside view of the Eastern Region woodlands, as the bus zoomed past the outskirts of Koforidua, promptly approaching their first destination.
Everyone was caught by surprise when the driver negotiated an unexpected curve into a thicket of tall trees which completely engulfed any trace of the bus from the roadway. After a brief ride on the off-road, the trees opened up into a large compound with a thick stone wall to side of the entrance. “Welcome to Shai Hills Resource Reserve”, the banner inscribed, affirming the students that they had arrived at their destination.
Breakfast was nothing like the usual dining experience, one breath of fresh forest air heightened the taste of food, just like every other sense in their bodies. Shortly after, a ranger addressed the entourage, educating them on his roles as a wildlife expert and the variety of lifeforms that inhabit the reserve, subsequently ushering them to the first stop of the expedition.
Voyaging deeper into the reserve, the students encountered a thick wooden sign with a jagged inscription seared upon the surface, “Mogo Hill: Home of birds, baboons and green monkeys”. Surmounting that hill proved to be a satisfactory engagement for these daring explorers. Shrieks of fear and cries of excitement pierced the air as the students strived to ascend the hill. The view from the height at the summit seemed to stretch past the bounds of the guinea savannah fields; scattered across the plains were a few bushbucks grazing in the tall grasses.
Descending the hill afforded the students a look at a cave sight, which contained grinding stones and manmade groves in the rocky contour, used for puberty rites by the early civilizations. At the foot of the hill, pictures were taken to capture the moment, as the smiles of exhilaration still adorned their faces.
Back at zero altitude, the wildlife which occupied the expanse of the landscape could now be seen closer than ever. Ostriches stood out in the green fields, as well as a dazzle of zebras with their conspicuous stripes. The tour proceeded into the Museum of Cultural Heritage where an amazing exhibit of artefacts, totems and emblems engrossed the attention of the tourists. An intriguing collection of skins, hides, skulls and bones were mounted on the walls for display. Some of the specimen included animal remains from the African Dwarf Crocodile, pythons, genet cat, elephants, and hippopotamuses. This exhibition came with a brief historic presentation, concluding the circuit at the Shai Hills reserve.
En route to the next destination, the bus took an hour-long detour through the township of Koforidua, earning the passengers a live account of the vibrant countryside lifestyle. Before long, the bus arrived in the bustling environs of the Bunso Eco Park, loud music echoing throughout the premises. Alighting the vehicle, the students absorbed the energetic feel in the air, instantly trekking towards the ingress of the canopy walkway. It was a test of bravery, conquering a line of rope bridges that felt like they were literally hanging by a thread! The daredevils delighted in the experience but to others it was absolute horror, making it to the end with wobbly knees. Afterward, some students rendezvoused at the park for snacks while others engaged in more audacious activities like zip lining and horseback riding.
Through the setting sun, the night beckoned that their leisure had soon come to an end. With a hearty supper, the students enjoyed their last feel of the great outdoors, then retired to the bus. But a three-hour return trip was enough to add final wave of entertainment to their closing day. As the wheels of the bus carried the travellers back through the gates of OLAG, the songs of praise raised by the students grew louder, penetrating closed windows, announcing to the rest of the community that their excursion was infinitely more than an educational experience.
Gabriel Egbefome
2 Science 4
