Rock Climbing SHRR April 2011

Craig S. Pearman

9 April 2011

A ROCK CLIMBER’S PERPSECTIVE ON ECOTOURISM OPPORTUNITIES AT SHAI HILLS RESOURCE RESERVE

A Rock Climber‟s Perspective on Ecotourism Opportunities at Shai Hills Resource Reserve 9 April 2011

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1. TABLE OF CONTENTS 2. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 4

a) What do the rock climbers do? ............................................................................ 5 b) The community of climbers ............................................................................... 5

3. CLIMBING AT SHRR ............................................................................................. 5 a) Why is SHRR important for climbing? .................................................................... 5 b) Current climbing areas at SHRR .......................................................................... 7

4. SAFETY .......................................................................................................... 10 a) Risk ........................................................................................................... 10 b) Bolting and bolting committee .......................................................................... 11

5. ACCESS TO CLIMBING ......................................................................................... 12 a) Climber‟s entrance fees ................................................................................... 12 b) Numbers of climbers ....................................................................................... 13 c) Maintenance of trails ...................................................................................... 14 d) Camping ...................................................................................................... 14 e) Waste Management ........................................................................................ 14 f) Commercial Abseiling Opportunity ...................................................................... 14 g) Rock Climbing Guidebooks ................................................................................ 15

6. SHONGWENI RESOURCE RESERVE (near Durban, South Africa) ........................................ 15 7. ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS ................................................................................... 15

a) Birding Trails ................................................................................................ 15 b) Neem Removal .............................................................................................. 16 c) Geological Self-Guided Trail (GEOPARK) ............................................................... 16 d) Fire Rescue and Military Training environment ....................................................... 18

Figure 1: Location map of climbing areas in southern Ghana (red dots). SHRR is the closest climbing

area to Accra in a chain of climbing areas stretching through Mt Adaklu at Kalakpa Game

Production Reserve (KGPR) near Ho. The pink band represents a geographic zone that contains

the climbing areas. 6

Figure 2: 3D oblique view looking north of SHRR showing the current location of climbing areas (red

dot) and areas of new climbing cliffs for future development (black dash). 7

Figure 3: Elephant Rock is a 20m-high 4-sided boulder and is the centre stage of the climbing

activities at SHRR. Bolting of sport climbs has been restricted to this rock until recently. At

the time of writing 8 climbs exist on this rock with potential for approximately 6 more.

Climbers habitually picnic on the flat rocks or camp in the shade next to Elephant Rock. 8

Figure 4: „Heaven Gate – No Bribe‟ Slab was where climbing at SHRR was started in 2007. All

routes are climbed in traditional fashion. The crag comprises 2 stages of climbing (2 pitches)

and each cliff is about 30m high. The view from the top is spectacular. Williams Wall can be

seen to the right. 9

Figure 5: „Happy Yourself‟ Crag. 10

Figure 6: The mode of formation of an inselberg on the Accra Plains. The circles represent rocks

that become loosened by the weathering of an orthogonal jointing pattern in the rocks. The

dots represent the soil profile. As the landscape erodes down, so these loose boulders become

exposed, often balancing carefully on top of each other as seen at Twin Rocks Quarry nearby

to SHRR. 17


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A ROCK CLIMBER’S PERPSECTIVE ON ECOTOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

AT SHAI HILLS RESOURCE RESERVE

2. INTRODUCTION

This report, whilst written by Craig Pearman, represents the opinion of rock climbers in general in Ghana one of the many stakeholders in developments at Shai Hills Resource Reserve (SHRR). Through discussions with Mr. Amine Mastour and Mr. Moses Amanongura (Park Manager – SHRR), I have become aware of an initiative to fence, restock and develop a lodge and camping with SHRR, sponsored by socially responsible corporate mining interests in Ghana. As I understand it, the activities within SHRR are being reviewed for their benefit to the park and community, and as such the activity of climbing at SHRR needs to be reviewed. I wish to facilitate that process and to represent the activity by providing a clear report of the rock climber‟s perspective of this process for planning and for recording purposes. Rock climbing in this report refers to the activity of ascending or descending natural rock walls with the aid of ropes and other equipment, as well as „bouldering‟, a social activity of testing your capability on unroped problems on smaller rock boulders near to the ground. Rock climbing is an activity which has in its essence the meeting of nature, sport and recreation. As such, my comments are not restricted to the physical activity of climbing only, but necessarily spill over into birding, nature, camping and hiking, which to the psyche of the average climber, are one and the same thing. The experience of climbing is a blend of them all. To qualify my comments in this report I would like to summarize my background as follows:

South African expatriate geologist who has worked and resided in Ghana since 1997.

22 years of rock climbing experience.

Responsible for introducing the sport of rock climbing to Ghana. Have developed 4 crags (rock walls) at SHRR and 2 crags at Krobo Hill (10mins drive from SHRR). Have developed a rock climbing area in South Africa in a conservation area and national heritage site with a similar setting to Shai Hills.

Have trained 2 rangers at SHRR (Williams Apraku and Timothy Danah) in basic climbing techniques and introduced numerous rangers and management to the sport.

Birdwatcher who has been visiting SHRR since 1997. Am up-to-date with the bird research contributions of Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire & Robert J. Dowsett at Shai Hills.

Have lead Lincoln International School (Grade 4) on a geology field trip to SHRR and can vouch for its suitability as an accessible education venue.

Have an upbringing in conservation. Before anything further is written I would like to make two important statements: Firstly I would like to thank Mr. Moses Amanongura, for his highly constructive attitude and energy at SHRR. For any visitor to the park, especially those like the climbers who have an active vested interest in the park, he is a breath of fresh air and he bodes very well for continued eco-success at SHRR. Secondly, as a person who has had regular contact with the park for 15 years I want to state just how encouraging the current developments are. This opportunity has all of the elements needed for success: serious and competent sponsors who are aware of the value of their contribution and who know what successful eco-projects look like; a capable project management team; and, receptive and supportive on-the-ground management. If carefully designed, SHRR can become an eco- jewel for Ghana, a profitable legacy, a lasting contributor to the community, a beautiful natural heritage to pass on from one generation to the next, and a role model for the other parks in Ghana. As such, the energy that currently exists for this project, and the current combination of interested stakeholders, should not allow this initiative to fail. It‟s a wonderful opportunity.


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a) What do the rock climbers do?

Climbing is a sport that appeals to all types and shapes of people as everyone can get something out of the activity. Climbing involves people testing themselves against gymnastic-style moves/problems in a natural vertical environment. It can be a quiet introspective affair, or a highly social activity, and usually has elements of both. There are two broad categories of climbers. There are those that propagate the sport and incorporate it as a lifestyle activity leading groups and making decisions for other people that impact on their safety. Then there are those that enjoy the activity regularly but prefer to be supervised by more experienced climbers when on the cliffs. With time, as experience grows, a person may choose to change categories and become comfortable making decisions for other people‟s safety. The goal is to get as many people into the former category as possible because then people start investing personally in the sport, developing it further, and making superior decisions in terms of safety and responsibility. At SHRR, both categories are well represented currently. The goal of most climbers is to climb a pre-designed „route‟ that has been created, named and graded in terms of its level of difficulty. The details of each climb are documented in a route directory that keeps a graphical log of all routes developed at a particular crag. The onus is on the developer to document the details and location of any new climbs in the route directory. Once this is created for SHRR it should be kept at the main gate office as a central reference for climbers. Routes can either be traditional or sport climbs. Traditional climbing involves placing equipment in cracks in the rock to protect ones ascent and then removing them afterwards leaving no trace of one‟s passing. Sport climbs are bolted routes where the bolts remain in the rock permanently. This is a modern variation on the sport and used where there are no natural cracks in the rock to be able to protect oneself. As such small bolts are drilled into the rock to protect that portion of the climb. Travelling climbers tend to carry only sport climbing equipment due to the weight limitations on international airlines, as it is much lighter than traditional gear. At SHRR the plan is to develop crags that are either sport crags or traditional crags to offer both types of climbing and to have a system of control so that sport climbers don‟t create bolted routes amongst traditional climbing routes.

b) The community of climbers

There is no official institution of climbers in Ghana at this stage. It is currently under consideration and will be determined by the rate of development of the sport in Ghana and whether having an official status will be required to negotiate access rights. As the sport grows there will be a desire for a central body to represent climber‟s interests. In other countries such an institution also represents hikers and people who wish to support outdoor projects in general.

3. CLIMBING AT SHRR

a) Why is SHRR important for climbing?

This climbing site is ideally situated as it is conveniently positioned close to the capital city of Accra as well as the city of Tema. People do not have the time to commute for hours to climb each weekend therefore climbing areas close to major cities always get the most visitors. The drive takes approximately an hour to reach SHRR from Accra which is close to the limit of what people are prepared to travel each weekend. The fact that SHRR is the closest climbing area to the capital guarantees it will have a constant source of climbers if access costs are reasonable. Climbing areas here are located within a nature reserve which provides a beautiful climbing setting perfect for also camping and picnics without disturbance. It is important to point out that climbing is the only activity that can make use of the cliffs and boulders in the park which are the defining natural characteristics of the park.


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Climbing is well established now at SHRR and at Krobo Hill, the first 2 developed climbing locations in Ghana. With time the development effort will include Mount Adaklu near Kalakpa Game Production Reserve, which will start investigating the potential of the Volta Region. In addition, climbing potential has been discussed at Kyabobo National Park in the northern extent of the Volta Region and opportunities exist there. Already, a few bolts (to increase safety for abseilers which is the act of lowering oneself down the rock face independently) have been placed at the Mountain Paradise eco-lodge in the Volta Region. This was done because the manager of the lodge (Tony Fiakpui, ex-ranger from Ankasa Reserve) made a request that he would like to develop rock climbing as an activity offered in the mountainous region surrounding his eco-lodge. He has already hosted school groups who undertake in abseiling activities there. He has also voiced his desire to host national rock climbing championships in that area one day. It is an important to emphasize that the good relationship that exists between the rangers at SHRR and the rock climbing community should be nurtured as many of the climbing opportunities in Ghana exist in national parks and it is in everyone‟s interest. Incidentally, the first recorded rock climb in Ghana was undertaken by Dr Michael Swaine at Buruku Rock, a large rock wall north of Nkawkaw, in 1972. He later climbed another route on that mountain and this year some climbing activity is developing that climbing location too. There is potential for 10‟s of rock climbs in that single location alone. If one takes a continent-wide look at climbing in Africa, very little climbing exists at all in West Africa. There are some excellent climbing areas, although limited and rarely climbed, in Morocco and Mali, but that is all for the whole of West Africa. To find the next climbing area on the continent, one has to travel all the way to Kenya or Namibia. It is clear therefore that any climbing developed in Ghana will be of continental importance, and will be of much interest to the Mountain Clubs of Kenya and South Africa as co-workers towards the propagation of the sport and the lifestyle on the continent.

Figure 1: Location map of climbing areas in southern Ghana (red dots). SHRR is the closest climbing area to Accra in a chain of climbing areas stretching through Mt Adaklu at Kalakpa Game Production Reserve (KGPR) near Ho. The pink band represents a geographic zone that contains the climbing areas.

SHRR

KROBO HILL

MT. ADAKLU


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b) Current climbing areas at SHRR

Climbing initially began in 2007 at SHRR. The climbing areas developed within SHRR currently are all geographically close together (red dot in map below) on the NW side of the reserve and are named:

Elephant Rock

„Heaven Gate – No Bribe‟ Slab

William‟s Wall (named after Williams Apraku, Ghana‟s first rock climber)

„Happy Yourself‟ Crag

Figure 2: 3D oblique view looking north of SHRR showing the current location of climbing areas (red

dot) and areas of new climbing cliffs for future development (black dash).

A few route directories that document the climbs that have been developed to date at „Elephant Rock‟, „Heaven Gate-No Bribe‟ Slab and „Happy Yourself‟ Crag are included below to depict the manner in which the climbing information is graphically recorded. The grades are recorded next to the climb names below the maps. The grades are documented in “South African/Australian”, “American” and “French” grading systems to be understood by a wide audience of visiting international climbers. The date that the route was opened is recorded on the right.

North

CURRENT CLIMBING AREAS

AREAS OF FUTURE CLIMBING POTENTIAL

SHRR Main Gate


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Figure 3: Elephant Rock is a 20m-high 4-sided boulder and is the centre stage of the climbing activities at SHRR. Bolting of sport climbs has been restricted to this rock until recently. At the time of writing 8 climbs exist on this rock with potential for approximately 6 more. Climbers habitually picnic on the flat rocks or camp in the shade next to Elephant Rock.


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Figure 4: „Heaven Gate – No Bribe‟ Slab was where climbing at SHRR was started in 2007. All routes are climbed in traditional fashion. The crag comprises 2 stages of climbing (2 pitches) and each cliff is about 30m high. The view from the top is spectacular. Williams Wall can be seen to

the right.


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Figure 5: „Happy Yourself‟ Crag.

4. SAFETY

a) Risk

Risk needs to be discussed as the perspective of safety is often viewed quite differently by climbers and non-climbers. Safety is the climber’s number one priority for obvious reasons. The sport relies on good judgment and experience. The more of these characteristics a climber has, the safer he/she will be. There are no official institutions that control the sport. One does not have to register with an organization to climb and there is no requirement to undergo certification or official training. Internationally, many climbers have received training and are members of mountain clubs, climbing clubs or indoor climbing gyms by their own choice. Some of these institutions request certification before the person can practice at their establishment. All of this may sound risky, but it is critical to understand that a large part of the essence and attraction of climbing is the personal freedom. The attitude towards safety and caring for each other‟s well-being results in the climbing community training our own, educating newcomers, coaching each other on better ways of doing things, and correcting each other‟s actions based on personal experience and/or common sense. All climbers are receptive to the comments of climber‟s we all look out for and learn from one


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another. To date there has not been a significant accident in the 3.5 years that climbing has existed in Ghana. That said, as with any sport, accidents can happen. People focus on safety so much in climbing that accidents are indeed rare. However, when they happen they can be unforgiving. Therefore, only the people who feel they can trust their judgment pursue climbing. The authorities need to understand the actual level of climbing safety relative to the apparent level of climbing safety in order to have the appropriate perspective and make informed decisions. The drive to SHRR on public roads is immeasurably more dangerous than the climbing at SHRR as there is no management or control. Climbing equipment is tested by manufacturers to the highest safety standards. There is NO poorly made climbing equipment anywhere in the world. There are no fakes, or copies, or lookalikes. All equipment is well made and safe to use within the manufacturers technical specifications which are always engraved onto each piece of gear or available online or on the packaging at purchase. The decision when to retire equipment after years of use is a personal judgment based on experience and climbers often discuss these decisions amongst themselves. Replacing equipment can be pricy but safety remains the top priority. I humbly request that the authorities of SHRR make an educated assessment of the actual risk involved with climbing at SHRR to understand the lengths climbers take to manage and mitigate risk within acceptable levels. I firmly believe that such action will moderate safety concerns. Thousands of people climb the world over and do so because they know how to manage this risk effectively. Climbers accept that the risk is theirs alone, and that SHRR is in no way responsible for their climbing safety. If the park has concerns about this they could place a notice at the main gate clarifying that any climbing activities undertaken are done so entirely at the climbers own risk. I have never seen such a sign before internationally, however it would indemnify the park against any possible legal action, however unlikely, in the event of a serious accident. This would mean that people don‟t have to sign (and re-sign weekly) indemnity documents whenever they went climbing which seems very unnecessary. If the park were to train climbing guides or create a commercial abseil then the park would bear responsibility for the client‟s safety as they are being taken out and supervised by park staff. In this case it would be prudent to get the client to sign a simple indemnity form. It should be noted that the maintenance teams at Kakum National Park in Ghana already use climbing ropes and equipment to facilitate maintenance of the canopy walkway system. As such the risk levels must have already been assessed by National Parks Board and have been found to be acceptable.

b) Bolting and bolting committee

A committee has been established to manage bolting in Ghana. The bolting committee is

responsible for ensuring:

the quality of hardware used in bolting.

the appropriate bolting methodology for the local rock types.

the documentation of dates when bolts were placed.

that issues relating to the maintenance of bolt placements over time are attended to.

It is the opinion of the author that bolting is very good for the sport, but only when conducted responsibly and in areas where prior mutual consent has been obtained from the landowner or manager of the land. This ensures appropriate respect has been paid and a strong foundation has been laid for future bolting efforts. Bolting without permission can result in a loss of access to the area and hostility towards the sport so it is in the interests of all climbers to go through the appropriate channels before bolting. To date, only Elephant Rock at SHRR has been bolted but the majority of routes at Krobo Hill are bolted.


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Bolting requires access to a cordless rotary hammer drill, drill bits, expansion bolts and hangers. As such it is an expensive exercise for an individual to own such equipment and therefore generally attracts only those serious to the sport. All but the expansion bolts and hangers are currently available in Ghana.

5. ACCESS TO CLIMBING

Without official access to vertical rock the sport of rock climbing quickly dies. Around the world it is well accepted by climbers that maintaining cordial relations with landowners and being prepared to abide by local laws or requirements is an important part of being able to do the sport. I believe that Mr. Kingsly Osei Mensah (previous Park Manager) and Mr. Moses Amanongura can vouch for this constructive attitude within the climbing community and I wish to guarantee that this would be the standard going forward. Any climber that does not maintain this attitude should be identified by the SHRR authorities and managed by the climbing community. Continued access is the climber‟s next most important priority so one can expect the climbing community to be respectful of the natural setting in SHRR, with relations with rangers, and with park rules.

a) Climber’s entrance fees

The only area of concern to date with climbers in SHRR has been with the park fees which are not designed for a visitor who comes every weekend like the climbers do. Climbers will visit more regularly than birdwatchers or any other type of visitor. Currently the majority of climbers are expatriate types who are prepared to pay a little more for recreational activities, especially in a developing country as there are so few options for recreation available here. Fees at SHRR are time-based which disincentivize people, climbers or not, from staying extra hours in the park. This seems counter-intuitive to the philosophy of a park as a place where people could go to relax and escape the stresses of the urban environment. I have seen people speeding to the gate in order to avoid falling into the next hour slot and paying a higher price. I would like to propose that SHRR considers a dedicated rate for climbers that do not depend on the length of time spent in the park. Climbers typically maximize their day by arriving early and spending the entire day there, leaving around sunset. To develop a bolted climb is an expensive affair. Creating a standard short climb of the type at SHRR will personally cost the developer approximately US$100 for the hardware required. This is also an investment in the park as the development of the activity there will bring more climbers and income to the park as the route developed will attract other climbers for decades to come. Such a route will be climbed repeatedly by other climbers. The more routes there are at a location, the more mature a climbing area is deemed to be, and the more likely it is to draw people to it. It makes for a very expensive day when a climber has to pay both the park fees and his US$100 per route for development costs. He is unlikely to want to do that too regularly if at all, and will seek out more affordable climbing destinations in Ghana to the loss of SHRR, and to the climber who would like to develop a climb there. As such, there are not very many climbers who are prepared to invest their time and money in developing new climbs but such people should be encouraged and supported as much as possible as such development is in everyone‟s interests. Traditional climbing carries no cost to the developer, however most people don‟t have the full rack of gear required for traditional climbing making it a less popular activity than climbing on bolted routes. I would like to propose that a rate of GHC10 per climber per day, whether they are there for an hour or for a day, would be a fair rate, would receive no resistance, and would allow the climbers to patronize SHRR every weekend of the year and be a reliable and constant source of income for the park. Climbing is NOT the domain of the wealthy, or the foreign visitors or expatriates only. In countries where it is established, all classes of people climb. It needs to be affordable for everyone. If it is not then it will attract a smaller group of people and the bulk of people will go to other areas where climbing is free or more affordable. For instance, at Krobo Hill only 10mins drive from SHRR, climbers only pay GHC3 per person per day. Of course climbers are very prepared


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to pay a higher price at SHRR for the privilege to climb in a protected area where there is game and infrastructure that needs to be managed but the price must also be within reason. As a more general statement of the park fee system, I would also like to say that internationally I have never come across such a complicated method of charging entrance fees, and I have always made a point of visiting conservation areas in all countries I have visited. The fee system needs an urgent overhaul and to be modernized. It is off-putting for international visitors as:

they cannot see the reason for such complication,

they are already defensive to see just how large the dual charge rate difference between what a national pays and what a foreigner pays is,

they generally know ahead of time that there is little game to view at SHRR (hopefully to change soon),

They often resent having to have a guide in their vehicle that they may not have adequate space for in the vehicle, and then they have to pay for that too.

I‟d like to suggest:

a flat adult fee or child fee per day,

a vehicle fee,

no calculation of time spent in the reserve,

a narrowing of the gap between the dual charge system for foreigner/national with a lower charge being applied to any foreigner who can show a work permit (implying longer term residence in Ghana),

the use of a guide become optional and the fee only applied when this service is used,

distinct charge rates for and lower charges for climbing/birding activities in order to attract such visitors regularly,

a camping fee that relates to the development and types of facilities provided. I would also like to suggest that a system such as the „Wild Card‟ system in South Africa be considered. I don‟t believe Ghana is ready yet for such a system but the planning for its implementation should start now, and in the meantime the charge system could be considered for adjustment. Alternatively, a punch card could be offered at a discounted rate for 10 or 20 visits. At this point I would again like to congratulate Mr. Moses Amanongura for his efforts in trying to cope with the varied fee requests from visitors and for trying to manage and support activities at the reserve despite having an inflexible fee structure within the park system. It would be heartening to see him with a modernized fee structure which would see many more vehicles lining up every day for entry.

b) Numbers of climbers

For the 3 months prior to writing this report, it is probable that between 5 and 15 climbers have visited Elephant Rock practically every weekend. In the weekends they did not visit, they were certainly climbing at Krobo Hill nearby. For planning purposes for the next 6-12 months I believe the authorities should plan around 10 to 20 climbers per weekend. This number would certainly increase if the fee structure were altered and clarified. The climbing community manages its communications via email and a Facebook page titled “Ghana Rock Climbing”. The majority of foreign active climbers in Ghana have contacted the Facebook page before coming to Ghana and have asked questions about the type and accessibility of the climbing, the availability of equipment, and the activities of the climbing community. They have brought their equipment to Ghana and currently climb mainly on weekends in social groups of 5-15 people. Since its inception in October 2007, between 300 and 400 people have passed through the climbing area for recreation. Currently there are 86 “Likes” on the Facebook page and 99% of those people are based in Ghana and receive all posts in their email inboxes. These likes represent over 20 different nationalities.


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c) Maintenance of trails

To date the vegetation around the base of the climbing cliffs and the maintenance of any pathways to the cliffs has been a combined effort between the climbers and rangers. The paths are only maintained however under the supervision of the climber. If no climbers visit a particular area the vegetation quickly takes over preventing access to the cliff. It would be very appreciated if access paths and trails can become defined in a permanent way and maintained by the park wardens. This will also have the benefit of standardizing the path design to limit erosion, to mark the pathways on location maps which can be stored at the SHRR main gate office, and to place on the internet or in climbing route guides that will invariably be published commercially with time as the sport grows.

d) Camping

Often climbers choose to camp near the climbing areas to enable them to climb in the cooler hours of the day at sunrise and sunset. Well managed and maintained camping is a very necessary addition to SHRR‟s facilities. A successful campsite at SHRR will:

have rules for quietness, group size and site boundaries,

have clean and maintained ablutions and running water,

have daily maintained baboon-proof litter bins,

be affordable,

be located in an area of natural interest i.e. amongst a cluster of rocks that campers can climb up to see sunsets, or picnic on, or which provide privacy from other campers.

have a lot of natural shade from trees (not just flat grass roofs over the tents in exposed sunny areas),

not be located on cotton soils which after rain become muddy to camp on and not reachable by vehicle,

It is suggested that camping be located in the valley on the northern side of Elephant Rock amongst the large house-sized boulders that are located in that valley. Vegetation around the boulders would need to be maintained to keep the campsites in good condition. The campsites will also need to be located near to the eco-lodge for waste management, running water and access to the lodge‟s restaurant.

e) Waste Management

SHRR requires baboon-proof litter bins situated at locations of high use around the park (i.e. main gate, climbing or camping areas, Bat Cave, parking or picnic areas, etc.). The litter thrown down after cultural festivals or large group visits should not be tolerated by the rangers; waste management should be a condition of access to the park.

f) Commercial Abseiling Opportunity

There is an opportunity to create an income stream from a commercial abseiling opportunity that will definitely bring in a steady flow of people from Accra eager to experience this activity. The large rock faces provide an ideal opportunity to establish such an opportunity and to make this natural part of the reserve earn an income. I am happy to assist SHRR to establish an abseil bolt station to ensure safety and to advise on the equipment required. SHRR would need to own static line ropes, helmets and harnesses and these would need to be maintained carefully by well-trained rangers who would manage all aspects of the abseil facility. The responsibility for this activity should be associated with specific individuals after extensive training. Equipment will need replacement after damage. It is important to point out that this opportunity does not take very long to establish nor does it require very extensive equipment. The issue of training of staff and management of safety cannot be emphasized strongly enough. It is likely that groups of 30+ people could be doing this activity each day of a weekend if a quality abseil experience can be established, and a charge of GHC20-30 per person would be likely per abseil. A higher charge of GHC50 per abseiler could possibly be


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charged and would be an all inclusive charge such that no additional vehicle or hourly charge gets applied for their day visit to SHRR. A short walking trail to the high point would precede the abseil, and a forest walk back would make for a well-rounded outdoor experience.

g) Rock Climbing Guidebooks

It is suggested that photocopied climbing guide information pages be available for purchase (GHC5) at the SHRR main office gate. In addition, colourful posters on the walls advertising the commercial abseil and climbing in the reserve would attract a lot of attention and support for the activities. With time a published climbing guide will become available which could also be sold for profit at the main gate.

6. SHONGWENI RESOURCE RESERVE (near Durban, South Africa)

Shongweni Resource Reserve (SRR) is a small (17km2) beautiful reserve and National Heritage Site in a rocky area 40 minutes drive from a major city (Durban). It is stocked with large game and is under heavy pressure from competing land uses as development surrounds it due to the expanding metropolis of Durban. The reserve was not attracting visitors due to long-term political tensions in the area. In 1995 I introduced rock climbing to this reserve after many discussions with the Park Warden. Rock climbers immediately began to visit the area and became regular weekly visitors. This led to non-climbers gaining interest in the park and soon canoeists began training on the dam within the reserve in the evenings. The area became a top sport climbing area for South Africa which attracted international climbing attention. Due to the presence of rock climbing and canoeing in the natural environment of SRR, a leadership training company („Spirit of Adventure‟) was immediately developed to make use of the facilities and based its tented camp permanently within the reserve. This company is responsible for training leadership courses to almost every school in the Durban area and it also manages corporate leadership training courses. I have personally witnessed the power of leadership and team building in an outdoor setting using adventure activities and SHRR has the perfect formula to host it. I‟m sure the mining companies would be eager participants into such sustainable and healthy pursuits which will provide good leadership skills into a growing local economy. Please see the Spirit of Adventure website at: www.spiritofadventure.co.za/site/home As an aside, it is likely that any team building company would require continuous use of the SHRR campsite to base their clients and activities at, or would require a dedicated campground somewhere in the park where their activities would not hinder the relaxation of tourists. It would therefore need to have decent facilities and be continually maintained. Their presence would provide a continuous source of income to SHRR. I see many synergies between what is possible at SHRR and what has been achieved at SRR. It may be very useful to research SRR and learn from what has been done there. Ghana would benefit immensely from the development of leadership training courses which would make use of the rock climbing and abseiling facilities that have been created at SHRR. Please see the SNR website at: www.nature-reserve.co.za/shongweni-game-preserve.html

7. ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

a) Birding Trails

SHRR lends itself to both day and night bird trails. Ex-SHRR ranger Williams Apraku benefited from training by Andrew Hester, a keenly active birder, who wished to improve the depth of birding knowledge at SHRR. Williams went on to become a professional birder who leads tours of visiting foreigners on birding trips all over Ghana. The message is that the talent and the desire is present amongst the rangers and it does not take too much for the rangers to learn ALL of the bird names

http://www.spiritofadventure.co.za/site/home

http://www.nature-reserve.co.za/shongweni-game-preserve.html


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and calls at SHRR such that they can effectively lead bird tours within the park. SHRR will need to invest in a number of pairs of appropriate binoculars, bird field guides and battery powered spotlights for night birding. Certain species occur in specific areas of the park, and certain species have relatively restricted global distributions that are well-present on the Accra Plains (and hence SHRR) and therefore one of the most accessible places in the world to see them, for instance the White-crowned Cliff Chat (Thamnolea coronata). It would be very nice if rangers knew the importance of this fact and could guide people to see it. It may be prudent to develop a network of trails that are designed to see specific species i.e. the “White-Crowned Cliff Chat” trail, or the “Moho” trail.

b) Neem Removal

Invasion by exotic Neem Azadirachta indica is a major problem. The full and final removal of Neem trees from SHRR would restore the indigenous vegetation of the Accra Plains within the park. This will allow SHRR to become the first preserve of indigenous vegetation of the Accra Plains, an important fact considering the destruction of natural vegetation due to development on the Accra Plains in the last decade. This will improve the carrying capacity of the park for wild game and attract birdlife. Neem requires full uprooting to remove it. Cutting the trunk merely encourages its vigorous regrowth. SHRR is quickly becoming a park completely dominated by this invasive species and a serious effort needs to be made to eradicate this tree before it becomes too costly to remove it.

c) Geological Self-Guided Trail (GEOPARK)

SHRR qualifies as an African park venue that would benefit from a self-guided geological trail. This is a concept that has started in South Africa and is a wonderful way to educate visitors on the landforms, rock types and geological processes that led to the landscapes they are enjoying in the park. The Accra Plains comprises boulder inselbergs that are unique to Ghana and worthy of being a central feature of a geological trail (inselberg = “an isolated hill, ridge or small mountain that rises abruptly from a virtually level surrounding plain”). Such trails involve erecting pillars with weatherproof and durable site-specific information plaques at certain views or outcrops around the park that are of educational interest. Diagrams and maps are usually included on the plaque in an exciting educational format. An example would be the diagram below explaining how inselbergs form. An example of such a trail exists in the Pilanesberg National Park near Sun City, South Africa.


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Figure 6: The mode of formation of an inselberg on the Accra Plains. The circles represent rocks that become loosened by the weathering of an orthogonal jointing pattern in the rocks. The dots represent the soil profile. As the landscape erodes down, so these loose boulders become exposed,

often balancing carefully on top of each other as seen at Twin Rocks Quarry nearby to SHRR.

Some aspects that would be interesting to visitors are:

Inselberg landforms,

Garnet, biotite, feldspar and quartz crystals in gneissic rocks and how they formed,

Earthquake lines and local earthquake history affecting Tema and Accra,

Metamorphic rocks and how they formed,

Examples of weathering and erosion on the Accra Plains (chemical and mechanical erosion). Rangers will not need to be trained in the geological aspects as the trail is self-drive (or walk) and is self-explanatory and would not be charged separately by the park. Teachers from the Greater Accra Region regularly contact me to lead their school groups on geology trips appropriate for the educational level of the school children. SHRR has served as an excellent venue for such trips. A well-planned geological trail will enable teachers to lead their own school groups on such trips if the geological plaques are worded effectively. Such information plaques would add to the appeal of SHRR and the range of activities to do within the park. The African Geoparks Network (AGN) was formed in 2009 with the aim to identify, promote, and advise on the importance and preservation of geological sites in Africa in collaboration with other stakeholders. This initiative is supported by UNESCO, IUGS and the Geological Society of Africa. It aims to “build long-term bridges among people interested in geoheritage, geotourism, geoconservation, environment and sustainable development (researchers, policy makers, economists, geopark and natural heritage sites and local community administrators and leaders,


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NGOs, business operators, Medias and individuals) in order to make them a lever of local sustainable development in Africa.” http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=125770764128152&v=wall www.africangeoparksnetwork.org The AGN substantiates the need for this approach as follows: “Why create an African Geoparks Network in Africa even if there no geopark recognized by UNESCO? The geological history of Earth from Archean to Quaternary is inscribed in Africa‟s rocks which are very well exposed in fascinating geological landscapes which were shaped by different orogenies and where rocks are extremely varied. Many sedimentological, paleontological, petrographical and structural witnesses of the history of Earth are of exceptional quality in Africa and many of these witnesses are unique, very educational and deserves to be preserved and presented to visitors, specialists or not, in a less academic and more widely accessible way. These sites are even more attractive as their geographical, historical, architectural and traditional frames are exceptional. The AGN are calling all geoscientists who are working in Africa to send photos of geological sites of scientific and/or educational interest or having scenic beauty to be published on the AGN website. I believe SHRR is a good contender for this. The First International Conference on African and Arabian Geoparks will be held in El Jadida, Morocco from the 21st to 28th November, 2011. I would also like to believe that owing to the current developments at SHRR being supported by large mining interests, who owe their existence to the study of geology, that creating a self-guided geological trail would be close to their hearts as it is what they epitomize and symbolize. I would like to suggest that the geotrail be sufficiently funded by these organizations to create strong and durable, carefully planned and presentable educational plaques that can educate people for decades.

d) Fire Rescue and Military Training environment

These government organizations have an ongoing need to train effectively and do not currently train sufficiently with ropes in natural settings. I have heard that the military have abseiled off the rock pillar just south of SHRR main gate at the sign that reads “Israel Junction”. In South Africa all such organizations train at the rock climbing areas and have contact with the climbing community. Near the SHRR main gate there is a large military base which would likely make use of the climbing area at SHRR and any abseiling facility it provides.

http://www.facebook.com/%23!/group.php?gid=125770764128152&v=wall

http://www.africangeoparksnetwork.org/

Rock Climbing SHRR April 2011

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