In the last few days we’ve spent far too much time looking into Covid implications, travel restrictions, contacting insurers and British Consulate etc, so it was refreshing to visit Kankun National Park, apparently named after the noise the resident monkeys make.
Kankun has been protected from logging, planting and hunting since 1931 and was formally made a National Park when Ghana became a democracy in 1995.
Kankun is proper rainforest with gigantic tree canopies and our guide Evans marched us up through the hot & humid forest.
He explained only about 3% sunlight reaches the forest floor.
He showed us the straight, slender Kusibiri (ebony) tree, which elephants like to scratch themselves on as the bark has a ribbed texture. It is so strong and stable with deep roots, so elephants can even lean against it for a good old scritch-scratch of their bellies.
Twin ebony trees.
This ancient Onyina (Kapok) tree is so huge, it took 36 people with outstretched arms to hug around its trunk.
The Onyina tree’s peach-coloured fluffy seeds litter the forest floor and are used to make a cotton-like cloth.
Most dramatically, we took the tree top canopy walk with excitingly wobbly rope bridges giving spectacular views of the vibrant forest 30 meters below. I was very very cool and relaxed up there as you can see.
There is a lot of God in Ghana (Prayer Camps, His Kind Mercy Primary School, God First Convenience Store). The restriction of religious gatherings is going to be challenging.
Listening to local radio, a health official explained they would need to insist on immediate quarantine for people returning to Ghana as it would be culturally unthinkable to collect someone from the airport and not sit down to a meal with them, or to welcome Mum or Dad home without big hugs.
We won’t be able to continue travelling as understandably countries are closing their borders. Obviously we are gutted that we have to cut our trip short, but there are slightly bigger, global issues at stake.
Hope everyone is keeping well in these strange and unsettling times.
Due South 
Blimey, who could have envisaged this? Let me know if there is anything we can do? Financial or somewhere to stay on your return or anything else xx
IKR! Crazy times. Hope all
OK with you & yours?
Thanks v.much, think it’s all fine, we’re just looking into flights & how we ship Lenny back. Zxxx
OMG such a shame but what amazing adventures you’ve had so far. Maybe start your book once you get back?! Safe trip back xx
Thanks lovely, can’t complain, it’s been fantastic, looking through photos tonight getting nostalgic already.
Hope all is ok with you & yours & you’re coping with these crazy times 😷
Such a shame you have to cut short your trip but glad you and Rob are safe and well.
Awe bummer – if ye need a bolt hole spare room at ours – London getting hit more than most areas and you can do a lot of social distancing in our garden or the woods. Love n hugs from all of us
Hope all goes well with your return .So sorry that you’ve had to cut the trip early.
Our friend Paul was sent back from Sierra Leone despite it probably being less likely that he’d get the bug there. We have really enjoyed your blog.You’ve had some amazing experiences.Take care ,keep safe .Love Jacquie and Steve xxx
Thanks J&S, hope you are all doing OK and managing with all the weirdness & disruption. Hope Alice, Barny & kids are coping with it all. It is really sad to be leaving, but there’s no other option and now it feels uncomfortable being here with things shutting down and people anxious about tourists spreading the virus. I bet Paul was partly glad to be sent home? Hope to see you in the not too distant future, much love & safe hugs Z&Rxxx