by Viara Nedeva, MBA '08

As we entered the large tourist reception area at Kakum National Park, I got the feeling that there was a hikers convention. The place was buzzing with tourists, including French kids chasing each other, Ghanaian schoolgirls dressed in school uniforms, and adults of all ages and nationalities. It was around noon on the Saturday before Easter, which was obviously a prime tourist time. Many people were lunching under the shades of the cafe, others were listening to their tour guides or browsing at the souvenir store.

While our organizers were scheduling the canopy walk, we sat on the wooden benches under the shade of a big tree and chewed on delicious plantain chips and popcorn. A small Agama lizard was lazing off on a tree trunk nearby and he let us come very close to take multiple pictures of his orange head. After the lizard was gone, our cameras focused on the young pineapple plant growing a few steps away.

Our organizers came back with visitor badges for all of us saying “Non-Ghanaian Student” and we all followed the park guide through the entrance into the park. Our guide was called Dorothy. She advised us very seriously that the park has “no impact” policy, that is nothing should be brought into the forest and nothing should be taken from the forest. After a 10min climb up stairs we were standing in front of the Canopy Walk tower. Dorothy explained to us that the hanging bridges above the rainforest canopy were designed and built about ten years ago by Danish engineers. There were seven rope bridges, stretching for a total of 350meters and hanging 30m – 40m above the ground.

There had not been any casualties since the beginning of the canopy walks.

As we were climbing up stairs of the tower to get to the first bridge, my heart sank. I had not been on a canopy walk before and I usually don’t do things just for the adrenaline rush. I saw my fellow Sloanies stepping bravely on the bridge, walking a few steps and turning to smile at the camera of their friends. I thought this was not a time to be scared, and I got in line.

The bridge was definitely not stable and I could feel the small swings and shakes from my own and others’ steps. My legs were shaking. Dorothy said that there had never been any casualties, so I really had no reason to be afraid besides the fact that I had never been on such a shaky bridge before. I finished the first bridge as in a dream and took a deep breath on the little terrace perched on a tall tree that connects two bridges. Only then, I could look around at the serene lushness around us. The trees, bushes, and lianas had created a sea of green below us and as far as the eye could see. Standing so high above the rainforest, I thought that this is the view that only birds can have when they wake up. This view had been here for ages and hopefully would remain like this forever. Of course, what was bothering me was that I did not belong to this landscape of peace and harmony and was in fact infringing upon it. I lived in a tall tree made of glass and steel from which I could watch the sea of concrete and dirt where more people like me occupied ourselves with our small worries and joys. Yet, on a second thought, I would not have traded my MIT dorm room with a bird’s nest in the rainforest.

Walking on the next six bridges was easier than on the first one. When the canopy walk ended, I did not want to leave the cool embrace of the rainforest, so I opted for a forest walk guided by Dorothy. Along with two other Sloanies, Phil Stephenson and Ayo Alaran, we walked through the trails for another 40mins and heard Dorothy’s stories about the healing properties of the ebony, mahogany, fig and many other trees. We came back from the walk very happy and hungry for the delicious meals at the park café.