In a piercing yellowed flash, before my consciousness could even comprehend the prank that had just been pulled, a monkey nailed me with the goop of what I’m really hoping was left-over banana and mounted my head. Laughter erupted as a sea of monkeys began to explore the jungle gym that was my friends and I. Never in my wildest dreams could I have anticipated such a start to our time in Ghana – it was quite literally bananas.
The mastermind behind this exotic endeavor, our tour guide Vincent Nugah (Vince), started his business to take tourists “off the beaten path” and connect them with Ghanaian nature, culture, and heritage.
Moodofhope Tours got its first booking in November 2023 and has since been offering professional tour guiding and planning services, specializing in ecotourism, in Ghana’s Volta region. “It has been slow, but I’m enjoying it. I’m very passionate about showing people Ghana through experiences that engage their curiosity, hearts, and minds.”
Ecotourism is central to Moodofhope’s philosophy. It is defined by the Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) as, “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved.”
Vince feels that traveling in this way benefits both locals and tourists alike. “Through our visits we are able to build schools and communities. The money you spend on my tours goes back to the local economy and supports people in so many ways.”
As a freelance adventure planner, Vince crafts personalized packages for his clients “Before I develop an itinerary, I try to get a sense of what the tourist wants. I want to get their interests. Are you an outdoor tourist? Do you want to do more historical tours? I try to figure it out and then I put everything together.”
For my friends and I, Ghana’s waterfalls, cocoa farms, and of course monkey sanctuaries were of the utmost importance. To say that Vince delivered all of these experiences and more would be an understatement.
In the span of two short days we found ourselves swimming in the spray of the tallest waterfall in West Africa, tasting chocolate so dark it was borderline astringent, and getting mobbed by monkeys in the greatest way possible.
One additional stop that Vince scheduled was a visit to a local school in Ghana’s Volta region. He wanted us to connect with the children by handing out pencils that he provided. I felt a little hesitant about how we would be received and whether or not this gesture would come across as genuine.
He later explained that, “It’s symbolic. I’m doing that for a reason. I try to give back because that’s how I used to feel when I was a kid at that school and tourists would visit. We adored it so much.” Within seconds of our arrival we were getting pulled in every direction by wide-eyed children in plaid jumpers and collared shirts. I have never seen such sheer excitement brought about by something so simple.
“They are not the same pencils that we see in our village and so we adore them and take special care of them. So whenever I take a tour to these villages in the Volta region, we present pencils.”
In doing all of this Vince finds himself in a Moodofhope and he shared a story with me that his grandfather used to tell him.
“A farmer was passing by and his cow tumbled into a deep dry well. The man was trying to get it out but he couldn’t. Passersby would tell him, ‘old man, poor old man, your cow has tumbled into a well. You can’t bring it out so just bury it and go away.’ The man was helpless and hopeless so he started to bury it. He didn’t want to leave it there to cry and cry and cry. As he began to bury it, something miraculous happened: the cow would shake it off. The sand would fall beneath it and this continued until the same sand that was meant to bury the cow, propelled it up. So you see, the situation was very hopeless but if you put in a little effort, you will see that it doesn’t have to be that way. The sand that is supposed to be used to bury you, gives you hope and gives you life.”
He further explained that his business, Moodofhope Tours, was born out of a seemingly hopeless situation but he, like the cow, shook off the sand and used it to propel him forward.
For Vince, Moodofhope Tours is a vehicle for transmitting hope. His philosophy is threefold. He has hope for himself and for his company, for his community and for his country, and for the tourists who come to visit. “Everybody hopes. It’s what keeps us moving forward and I want to give people that through ecotourism.”
Plan your Ghana tour at https://moodofhopetours.com/contact/
My goodness this looks like educational and fun. Well written kid.
Thank you so much
What an adventure and such an exciting experience that gave you an appreciation for a simple and beautiful culture. So much fun!