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Where it's at
Set in 1300 square miles of land, the Mole Game Reserve
is the longest fully established national park in Ghana.
The history is less honourable, however, with tensions between
the tourism promoting Government, and the displaced tribes
whom were forced to resettle in the boundaries of the park.
Gaming for food and sport has been made illegal and the dry
season combined with trampling of crops by elephants mean
the native people have suffered harsh times.
Wildlife
You can expect to see elephants, antelope, buffalo, monkeys
and crocodile, along with many colourful species of birds.
Lions also feature in the park, however it is recommended
you seek the assistance of a local guide. The benefit of this
park is that you can walk around and get closer to the animals
than in most other parks. Rangers are trained to take you
through in safety, and provide an inexpensive but worthwhile
trek to catch the best views of the wildlife here. It costs
approximately C/1500 (about US$0.17) an hour for a walking
tour with a park ranger and you can book these at the motel.
How to get there
The Mole Game Reserve is located in the Tamale region
of northwest Ghana; it is one of the easiest in terms of access
since you don't need your own vehicle to reach it. You can
take a daily bus from Tamale, Kumasi or Domongo
all the way to the park.
Accommodation
Lodgings are available within the park at the Mole Motel,
which incorporates a waterhole out front providing a convenient
spot for the residents to take an early morning drink, giving
guests a treat over breakfast. There are a range of rooms
available, from shared bunkhouses to VIP Lodges, from C/10,000
to C/20,000 (US$7.50-15). There is also a swimming pool and
restaurant at the motel, and you'll find the electricity and
water fairly reliable. There are also facilities for setting
up tents, which is a great budget option since they allow
the use of the toilet and shower block.
Be prepared
Entrance is c/1500 and you can visit all year round, however,
the best time to go to avoid the mosquitoes and see the most
animals is around Christmas time.
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