We had been walking through the trees on a long path, across nine small bridges, passing many strangers, seeing many strange bugs, bats, and even a snake, before we finally reached the waterfall. I was tired and defeated from the walk, but the second I saw the waterfall it did not matter. I had never seen something so breathtaking. I immediately ran into the water and stood under the fall with my arms wide open, letting the mist hit me until I was drenched. It was an extraordinary experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

The Volta Region was my favorite weekend in Ghana. I loved the stunning green hills, the abundance of trees, the friendly people, and the tourist attractions such as Wli Falls (the highest waterfall in West Africa), the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, and Lake Volta.

On the way back from Wli Falls, we stopped at the Togo border and were permitted to walk across the border and stand in Togo for a couple of minutes. Now I can technically say I have been to two countries in Africa.

Going to the monkey sanctuary was some of the most fun I have had in Ghana.  When I was a kid I was obsessed with monkeys, so going to the monkey sanctuary was an exciting moment for me. As we started walking down a road, I was surprised to see monkeys peeking out from behind the trees next to us. I stuck a banana out towards a monkey and gripped it tightly so it would not steal it out my hand. The monkey jumped on my arm and I watched it peel the banana and eat it right out of my hand. It was amazing to fulfill my childhood dream of holding a monkey.

We ended our trip to the Volta Region with a boat ride on Lake Volta, the largest manmade lake in the world. The lake was a stunning dark blue, was surrounded by lush greenery and hills, and was very serene. We spent an hour traveling around the lake and took the boat up to the Akosombo Dam. The water was peaceful and warm, but unfortunately we were told not to swim in the lake because of parasites.

I love the hustle and bustle of Accra, but there is nothing that can compare to being out in nature and seeing the beautiful world we live in.