Ghana: the land where men are men. I climbed mountains at tremendous speed, worked my way through jungles, explored caves, killed my own dinner, downed fiery local tipples, and, in one evening, gained four wives

That's all a bit of an exaggeration: I was panting and puffing behind a guide up the mountains, through the caves and in the jungle; I was just a passenger in the car that killed my dinner; I only sipped at the tipples, and I did not gain four wives. But I hope it gives an idea of just how different life is there, from our peaceful existence in the west. It is definitely worth a visit. Although before going it should be noted that vaccination against yellow fever is required for entry into the country.

Ghana is in eastern Africa, sandwiched between Togo, Burkina Fasso, and the Cote D'Ivoire. The weather is warm and humid. Its official language is English but it has several other languages which are heard a lot more often including Twi and Ewe. The currency is the Cedi, worth about $0.95. Its huge Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake. It has a population of about 23 million, who I found to be, by and large, extremely friendly.

I was staying in an Orphanage in Hohoe, which is in the South East, near lake Volta. When I took my first trip into the town I was stopped several times, asked who I was, what I was doing and told you are welcome.' Only once did a group demand to see my visa to check that I wasn't a terrorist come to disturb the peaceful land. Then, later on in my stay, they would often say hello, and even invited me into their houses. "Uhu!" the cynic might grunt, "They were after your money, after all, to them you are a walking wallet." There is some justice to this, but very little. Before my visit I was expecting to have to guard my funds carefully, and barter for everything, but I was always charged a fair price, the same as a local. People sometimes asked me for money, - one even said it was law in the country that I should give it to him, - but they accept a look of surprise and a firm no.' The commonest thing is that they simply call out "Yovoo (white man) how are you?"

Although Ghana does not have a huge number of tourist attractions there is plenty to do. The absence of a significant tourist industry with wallet emptying tours is pleasant, and allows one to get a lot closer to the culture. There are a number of mountains to be climbed including Mount Afadjato, about 880 metres, the highest mountain in Ghana.

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