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Nzulezu Stilt Village—A Unique and Magical Mystery Place!

Ghana

By Osei AgyemangPublished 5 years ago 8 min read
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In the capital of Ghana, Accra, I drove for seven hours to an endless charming village with forests on the surface of the water and sighed with relief. I placed out of the boat, waited patiently for it to turn to the opposite side, pulled my small bag out of the canoe, and headed straight for the village of Nzulezu, Ghana. It's about 15 minutes drive and 25 minute walk to this frabjous stilt. Here we go, half the fun. Nzulezu is located in the middle of Lake Amansuri and is made entirely of wood with traces of raffia. Nzulezu has a special atmosphere to celebrate all visitors. The village of Nzuleza on the Tandane Lake hill is about a 35 minute canoe ride from Beyin near this extraordinary stilts. Nzulezu means "surface of the water" in the language of Nzema in Ghana. An impressive feature of Nzulezu’s charm is that the wooden rooms are five meters above the lake.

History Of Nzulezu

The population of Nzuleza migrated from Mali, the West African city of the ancient Ghanaian empire. It is adduced that, before settling in Nzulezu, they were severely persecuted from Watala by foreigners in their territory. They had a lot of gold. Therefore, these unknown people planned to live with them in the same area just to get closer to the gold. The dispute over the proposal turned into a wild war. The Nzulezus soon fled to settle where this aliens could not find them.

The story is that, a hermaphroditic animal, a turtle, took them away from Mali. For strange reasons, out of the 43 households who traveled to Mali, only one person could speak to the gods through the journey of Burkina Faso (West African neighbors). First, they all settled in Wenchi and Techiman in Brond Ahafo region of Ghana. They moved to Shama and Esipon in western Ghana and finally settled in Nzulezu.

They settled very comfortably at Nzulezu. They built rafts to seal their stay on the water/lagoon. Later, they realized that there was a strong wind in this area, which sometimes caused a flash flood. Some of them moved to the nearest lagoon, called the Abbey, which looked more comfortable without strong winds. In this dangerous situation, they were led here by a turtle. For this reason, turtles have now become sacred animals for the people of Nzulezu. Up until now, turtles were highly respected. Ceremonies are held every year in honor of this turtle. As usual, the Chief of the village visits the sanctuary a few minutes from the village every year. The following ceremonies are held for the elders and the "holy" turtle. In fact, the Chief is the only person who can go and perform the rituals.

The landscape is amazing when the sky reflects the colorful nature of the sky through the water and the woods. Interesting thing about these reflections is that, sometimes they create double images, making it a bit difficult to detect from afar which route appears real. It's incredible to see all the village roads, pillars, and streets made out of Rafia. These sticks are said to be very helpful on various ways. On weekends, there are all sorts of home events, including non-dangerous games on Saturdays.

The Kids

You cannot begrudge the children of Nzulezu as they play around with ease without falling off. Born and raised here, they are very conversant with the village. A few household here, have lifejackets that can support anyone, especially children in unforeseen cases. The government has plans to immediately offer free lifejackets to every household.

Dealing With Wastes

In a setting like this, one would wonder how they manage their waste. Upon a careful deliberations of how the scattered rubbish could be tackled, the Chief and his elders agreed and engaged the services of a reputable waste management firm to help deal with the waste on a weekly basis. Waste bins were provided to every household to control that unclean surroundings of Nzulezu. Now, the face of Nzulezu has totally changed. A few years ago, it was a different story thanks to the hardworking leaders of Nzulezu and the government of Ghana. The government looked at this whole waste control problem from a different perspective. As an attraction center, they thought of the income to be derived from here, thus the involvement in solving this puzzling circumstance.

Life at Nzulezu

Life at Nzulezu is very interesting. Many people wonder how events like fufu pounding (traditional food in Ghana) can occur, especially considering the weight with which this food carries when a vigorous action is applied. Meeting with one of the oldest people of this unique attractions, he noted that schools, internships, baptisms, and all other important activities on the lake were held without fear. It is also believed that sacred lakes prevent the possibility of such disasters as the plague.

The stilt was not related to the demands of modern life, like electricity. Nzulezu now offers the best energy connection anywhere. Visitors are always intrigued by the lifestyle of Nzulezu people. During a tour of this unique village, you will approach a building, which is clearly considered a place of worship. Religion is active here because there are charismatic and Catholic churches. Life here is almost the same as living on non-water. The city has been identified as one of the fastest growing tourist or tourist centers in West Africa. Nzulezu is divided into two parts. One section for apartments and the other, commercial business purposes. Interestingly, in Nzulezu, there there are lifeguards in jackets who are on standby for any unforeseen situation. Students are very comfortable, especially knowing how original the school is with its licensed medical facilities. As a first time sightseer, you would be carried away by the nuclear settlement and arrangement of the wooden structures built on the surface on the water. Enjoy the beautiful fishes jumping out of the water and row on the surface of the water.

According to what the guide said, the fish assume that the inhabitants are not accessible at a particular time. Nzulezu is the most beautiful place in the ecosystem. This is a purely natural place that attracts visitors from all over the world. It is near the village of Beyin, about 90 kilometers west of Takoradi in western Ghana. The Chief and elders of Nzulese have done everything possible to keep the area clean to attract sightseers from all over the world. The village is a popular destination in Africa.

Fun Activities

Visitors or tourists are always considered special and are treated to “crazy” entertainment. Children, including entertainment lovers, are not left out in the fun. Swimming, diving, boat trips, water skiing, bonfires, photoshoots and other memorable activities are available. To organize an event that fits your historical book, you need to think about an endless budget. You can take a picture of the album at a certain point in the tour.

Marriage Life at Nzulezu

People from Nzulezu who were hunted from Mali were all not citizens of Ghana. They were mixed with citizens of other countries, including Malians who married the indigenous people of Nzulezu. At first, Nzemas used their native language “Wusere,” but due to mixed marriage, “Nzema” replaced the language.

How Do You Get to Here?

As a new visitor, find out the easiest way to travel in this adventure. After arriving at Ghana's landing spot—Kotoka International Airport, all you need is to visit the lounge. Hop into a commercial public bus, taxi, or an uber who are all over the airport. Alert the licensed driver that you are travelling to Nzulezu. Travel through from Agona Nkwanta to Beyin (in the Western region of Ghana). At Beyin, you continue your final journey by way of a canoe from a dock, which is about an hour away. During the passage of the famous river Ankobra, there is a crossroads with the inscription "NZULEZU." On arrival, you are required to pay an entrance fee of $10 at the tourism desk on the premise Nzulezu before your tour.

Best time to travel

You can travel to Nzulezu throughout the year except June and July. These are months of continuous rains. Due to the story behind their existence, the people of Nzulezu do not play pranks with their traditions. They adhere to the norms and taboos of the land. All other days are opened for business, but Thursdays, a day known to be a sacred day, is an exception. No one, including the inhabitants, are to engage in any strenuous activity.

Time of visit is 8:00 AM—16:00 PM (GMT)

Population of Nzulezu

The population of Nzuleza is about 700 people, including men, women, and children.

Source of Income

Considering their residence, everyone will anticipate that the people of Nzulezu will jump on fishing as their main occupation. Unfortunately, this is a different story. Of course, fishing is one of the income, but not main. The major source is agriculture. Many of them are engaged in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits sold in the nearby town of Beyin and its surroundings.

Available Hotels Near Nzulezu

There are quite a number of standard hotels in Nzulezu and its environs, ready to welcome all guests. These hotels offers a range of affordable rooms and an excellent customer service for visiting vacationers. They offer standard rooms for your stay.

  • Maaha Beach Resort
  • Karela Hotel & Resort
  • Tenack Hotel & Resort (in Beyin, near Nzulezu)
  • Axim Beach Hotel
  • Praba Guest House
  • African Queen Lodge

And other beautiful hotels whose customer services that are just great are ready to warmly welcome you.

Other Attractions Near Nzulezu

The fortress of Apolonia is another spectacle of attraction close to the village. The reserve has the largest rainfall in Ghana and is the basis of the colonial period of Ghana.

Honors

Nzulezu, with his unique experience, has received several awards in Ghana and Africa. It is one of the 25 most beautiful beaches in Africa, it has been the most visited resort in Ghana over the past decade, and has won many awards in the tourism industry. They all follow the originality of the village. Nzulezu is a real magical and mystical celebration. Enjoy this special city, where words cannot explain the scene.

About the Author

Osei Agyemang is a passionate, creative writer and editor with a zeal for creating exciting and innovative content. Osei is also a junkie fan who loves to visit and tell interesting sites around the world. He is a useful National artist who has studied Psychology and Journalism. Osei just loves writing and is also a Fashion enthusiast.

Email: [email protected]

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About the Creator

Osei Agyemang

https://www.oseiagyemang.com:

A passionate writer who creates exciting and innovative contents. Osei Agyemang is also a tourism fan who loves to travel around the world. He has studied Psychology and Journalism.



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