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Mole National Park
Mole National Park is the largest and most frequently visited national park in Ghana. It is reasonably well set up to cater for tourists and although it is more expensive than many other parts of Ghana it is well worth a visit.
Travel to Mole National Park, visa requirements
Mole is described as 'easy to get to', well this isn't entirely accurate but it is certainly easier than many other places in Ghana! Your options are:
Bus - Daily services run from Tamale, regional capital, to Mole, these take approximately 6 hours and leave Tamale mid-afternoon and Mole early morning (c 5am). This is the most reliable way of getting to Mole on public transport. Other buses also run from Bole to Tamale, stopping at Larabanga (approx 3km from Mole)
Tro-tro - Run from Tamale and Bole, stopping at Larabanga, but be warned the road is bad and it won't be a comfortable journey.
Chartered Taxi - It is possible to charter a taxi in Tamale to take you to Mole, this will probably take about 3 hours and will be a very bumpy and quite expensive journey but perhaps worth it if time is short.
Private Car - Realistically you will need a 4x4 to be able to cope with the roads, should take you about 3 hours from Tamale; by far the most comfortable and most expensive way to travel to Mole. Foreigners are for the most part excluded from driving in Ghana, so rentals come with drivers, and should you stay over night the driver's lodging expense will be included in rental fee.
Get around
Within the park your only realistic option is to walk (be aware that walking outside the motel grounds is strictly forbidden unless you have an armed ranger with you). A few taxis are available in nearby Larabanga (3km away), but the road between Mole and Larabanga is hot with very little shade so if you are planning on walking between the two remember to take lots of water.
Mole National Park attractions and sightseeing
Mole has the widest range of wildlife in Ghana. You'll see elephants, antelope, bushbucks, monkeys, warthogs, baboons and other smaller wildlife.
It is rumored that lions exist in the park but even the wardens haven't seen any traces for a few years. The last lion sighting in August 2004 was immediately followed by serious poaching incident resulting in the capture and killing of a male lion the following day.
City tours
Within the park itself:
- Go on a walking safari with an armed ranger. These usually take place in the late afternoon (c4pm) and the early morning (c6am), depending on the number of people staying you should be able to have a ranger for each group. This is a wonderful experience and a real opportunity to get close to the wildlife.
- If you have your own 4x4 you can go on a driving safari (again with an armed ranger), this gives you the opportunity to cover a much wider area of the park
- Or you can just relax at the motel's viewing platform which overlooks a watering hole, if you are lucky you will get to see herds of elephants grazing and bathing
- The motel has a swimming pool for those who are bored with nature
Surrounding area:
- Larabanga has the oldest, and best preserved example of a mud and stick mosque in Ghana. Although it is worth a visit if you are going to Mole the experience does tend to be a bit mercenary and you are not allowed inside. If you are interested in mud and stick mosques, it is a better bet to visit the ones in the Upper West region.
Shopping, Mole National Park souvenirs
The only souvenirs available are some old postcards and maps. If you're a smoker, make sure to bring enough sigarettes of your own, these are not available at the park's accomodation or anywhere near.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
The motel has a restaurant attached which serves reasonable western style and local food, although the prices are slightly higher than in other parts of the north, this is your only option in Mole. It is worth bearing in mind that although soft drinks are available most of the time, evening meals have to be ordered lunchtime.
Mole National Park nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
The motel restaurant serves the usual range of 'minerals'
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
A wide range of accommodation is available at the motel from budget hostel style accommodation to en-suite chalets with fan overlooking the watering hole. The prices are higher than in other parts of the north (approximate range in March 2004: 35,000-180,000 cedis) but again the motel is the only option for accommodation. Be aware that the electricity supply at the motel is only powered by generator and is only available in the evening (approx 6pm-11pm), likewise the water supply is a little erratic. These problems aside it is still a pleasant place to stay and its location - set on a cliff overlooking a watering hole - can't be bettered.
For the more adventurous travellers, it is possible to camp out in Mole, however the camp site is a good five or six hours walk away from the Motel so be sure to set off by midday because it becomes difficult to navigate after dark, especially given the speed at which the sun sets! If you do get stuck it is possible to camp out on the track but its not advisable - especially if you are planning on renting a tent at the camp site - you will end up covered in ant bites! Also make sure you take this route with a guide as they are very sensitive to the environment and wildlife patterns so they are essential for safety.
If you cant afford the prices at the Mole Motel (They often tell you the cheaper rooms are full up), you can take a short-ish walk to the nearest village by taking a right turn out of the park and travelling for about 5-6km down the road to Larabanga - n.b. although there is no public transport along this route you can often hitch a lift in a car with some locals. In Larabanga there are two guesthouses - The Savannah and Salia Brothers guesthouse, run by both of the Salia brothers. These offer twin rooms at around 25,000-35,000 cedis per person. The guesthouses are more likely to accommodate large groups.
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