Mole National Park
See elephants at Ghana’s wildest national park.
Mole (pronounced Mo-lay) National Park is Ghana’s biggest wildlife sanctuary. There are 93 mammal species in the park, including buffalo, warthog, hippo and several kinds of antelope. The main draw, however, is the chance to spot elephants close up.
Until Zaina Lodge was opened, Mole Motel (027 756 4444, molemotelgh.com) was the only hotel inside the park. Situated on the edge of an escarpment and looking out over a waterhole, it’s not uncommon for elephants to pay sneaky visits to the hotel’s swimming pool in the dry season. The park office next to the motel acts as the meeting point for localised game walks. Despite the hotel and park office, however, there’s very little in the way of tourist infrastructure. This is seen by many as a positive thing, and one consequence is that it’s become an important place for scientific study, particularly in relation to poaching and sustainability.
Two hours from the motel by bike, Mognori is a friendly ‘eco-village’ offering canoe trips and village walks – these include encounters with weavers, local medicine men and the village chief. If requested a day in advance (via the park office), the community will also showcase their traditional drum and dance performances. Some families provide basic overnight stays and, during the dry season, accommodation can also be found on top of the mud houses, under the stars.
The main hub for reaching Mole National Park is Tamale, a calm and amenable town in northern Ghana. Orange Metro Mass buses leave daily heading for Mole Motel – tickets should be bought early. In Tamale pre-trip, try Saam Hotel.
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Mole National Park
