A sacred place on the outskirts of Kumasi (approx 30km). Lake Bosumtwi, (or Bosumtwe as per the signs) is the only natural lake in Ghana; it is within a meteorite crater and is said to be approximately 8km in length. It was on my places-to-see list on our weekend trip to Kumasi. I am ashamed to say that three years in Ghana and my first trip to Kumasi; home of the Ashanti people.
Kumasi residents use it as a leisure spot to go fish, swim (it being bilharzia free is a huge plus) and take boat trips. I found it beautiful and quite saddening at the same time - a beautiful natural resource that could be capitalised on tremendously tourism-wise, but which now supports the villages around its perimeter, with residents eking out a living through the fishing and donations from visitors which are meant to go to the lake's rehabilitation through tree-planting efforts etc. There is a gate entrance fee of GHc2.00 per adult. It was still worth the trip out there, if for nothing else but the drive there. It is green, lush and reminds one of the tropical forest Ghana still is.
Lake Bosumtwi
Kumasi
 |
| Wooden planks such as these are used for fishing - with no oars but hand paddling |
 |
| A tour boat for trips on the lake |
 | ||
The fishing nets used by the villagers
|
No comments:
Post a Comment