About a week ago, i visited the Kumasi zoo which is right at the city centere. The zoo is close to the 'Kejetia market and bus terminal' which is said to be one of the largest open air markets in West Africa hence, the location of the zoo is not a place to miss. It is about the only zoo in Ghana. There is no zoo in Accra which is the capital of Ghana. A few years back, the zoo in Accra was closed down for relocation to another part of town so that a new zoo could be built. The animals in the Accra zoo was transported to Kumasi zoo as their temporary home. But a few years and counting it doesn't look like the Accra zoo is going to be finished anytime soon. Therefore if you have any plans of seeing some wildlife in Ghana, then your best bet is to go to Kumasi or the Mole national park (northern Ghana)
I grew up a bit in Kumasi so i got to go to the zoo a lot. Hardly a month passed without me going there. I was really fascinated by the animals especially the lions. I remember an incident which happened years back. My friends and i went to the zoo and whiles doing the normal animal watching, other visitors joined us. I as usual was standing by the lion enclave and just admiring them. There was this kid who also came to the zoo that day wearing a red sweater with matching red pants. As soon as the lions saw this boy they started roaring and banging the cage trying to get out to catch the boy who i must say was fear stricken and therefore couldnt move. Everybody at the spot started running for their dear lives and i also run as well. But whiles running i was still looking back to watch how agressive the lions were in trying to get out to catch the boy. I must admit that the female lions were the most aggressive in trying to get out and pounce on the boy. The fear stricken boy who was obviously shaken couldn't run like the rest of us and started crying and screaming for help. All this happened in a matter of seconds. Other visitors who didn't know what was going on also started running thinking one of the animals has let loose. A guide in an office close by the lions enclave heard the shouts of the boy and the noise, he went for the kid and brought him to the office to calm him down. Since that day i never forgot not to wear red to the zoo and never ever mess with a lion and even a lioness for good measure. So what's with animals and the color red? I have been chased a few times by a turkey because i had on a red sweatshirt, on the television i see this really bizarre (but interesting) sports where bulls charge at full throttle to attack young men who are holding red flags.
I haven't been to the zoo in ages (about 5 years now) so i visited on a bright Tuesday morning and did not have problems locating it after all the years i haven't been there. I paid 10 cedis which was the standard rates for adults. Upon paying i thought i would be given a tour guide to take me around but the man took the money and said nothing. I also didn't request for one either. The zoo covers a wide area with lush trees and plants. There are many cages housing different types of wildlife. Upon entering the zoo one of my lifelong dreams came true. I saw an elephant. This might sound funny but until that time i had never seen a real elephant. All i had seen of an elephant were the bones i saw in a museum some time ago. Seeing an elephant and other wildlife in their natural habitat was the main reason why i wanted to go to the Mole National Park next year. The elephant was very adorable and i watched it more than hour, just daydreaming how my life would be if were my personal pet. Civets, deer, donkeys, python and geese were new animals i had not seen on my last visit. Though its been nearly 2 weeks since i visited the zoo, i still can't get the image of the African python out of my mind. The snake was huge!!. I have heard they can swallow human beings whole and i am tempted to believe now that i have seen them. Good thing they can go 6 months without eating. Because i was sincerely wondering how many deers a python like that has to eat before its full.
After seeing the new animals, i went to see my old pals ie lions, hyenas, eagle, ostrich, camel, monkeys and so on. When you come close to wildlife, they are bigger than when you see them on television. For example, the camel and ostrich were extremely tall and the hyena was fairly large. The hyenas and lions were taking a nap when i got there and after waiting for them to get up and walk around without much success i moved on to watch the monkeys. Anytime i visit the zoo, i educate myself on the difference between a baboon, chimpanzee and the various monkeys but it looks like it doesn't stay in my memory for a long period. Therefore on this zoo trip to i did the same. Now my hope is that it stays in my memory forever.
PS: I know you are wondering by now why i didn't add pictures? I took lots of pictures but i mistakenly deleted them when trying to load it on my computer. My selfie with an ostrich is gone forever. But no, worries because i will return to Kumasi this December for the holidays. Therefore expect zoo pictures and more images in my statue and monuments collection.
After seeing the new animals, i went to see my old pals ie lions, hyenas, eagle, ostrich, camel, monkeys and so on. When you come close to wildlife, they are bigger than when you see them on television. For example, the camel and ostrich were extremely tall and the hyena was fairly large. The hyenas and lions were taking a nap when i got there and after waiting for them to get up and walk around without much success i moved on to watch the monkeys. Anytime i visit the zoo, i educate myself on the difference between a baboon, chimpanzee and the various monkeys but it looks like it doesn't stay in my memory for a long period. Therefore on this zoo trip to i did the same. Now my hope is that it stays in my memory forever.
PS: I know you are wondering by now why i didn't add pictures? I took lots of pictures but i mistakenly deleted them when trying to load it on my computer. My selfie with an ostrich is gone forever. But no, worries because i will return to Kumasi this December for the holidays. Therefore expect zoo pictures and more images in my statue and monuments collection.
