Mole Game Reserve – A must see for every Tourist
Located in the Tamale Region of Northern west Ghana, 3 hours drive from Tamale, is the Mole Game Reserve. Covering an area of 4,912square kilometres of land,
Moving from Accra, take a bus to Kumasi and then to Tamale. Buses move from the Tamale main station to the park every 1pm and 2pm each day. If you want to be more adventurous, you could rather take a bus from Tamale heading towards Wa and alight at Larabanga. At Larabanga, there are Motor riders who will give a cool ride of about 2km to the park at a moderate fee.
Entrance fee into the park is 5 Ghana Cedis. On entering the park, Bush pigs welcome you and walk side by side with you most of the time. They have become a sort of companions/friends to visitors. Baboons also come along in groups on some days but don't get very close to visitors.
The park has all the modern facilities that will make your stay memorable. It has very accommodating rooms and dormitories. Rooms have air condition, television and all the facilities that will your stay very comfortable. The Dormitories have shared toilets and baths, a ceiling fan, and nice windows that allow good room ventilation. Each dormitory takes up to six persons. It actually costs 10 Ghana Cedis per night for a dormitory and 30 Ghana cedis and above for the rooms. There is also a camping option at 5 Ghana Cedis with which you would need to come along with your mosquito nets.
The park also boasts of a bar where you can have drinks of all kinds whiles being entertained to television shows, music and movies. U can also cool off in a magnificent swimming pool opened from 7am to 6pm daily. Animals can also be viewed from the swimming pool; it has such a lovely location. One hundred feet down to a waterhole below, crocodiles cruise, antelope graze, elephant bathe and monkeys play.
The tour of the park is optional. With just 3 Ghana Cedis, a park guard will take you on a 2 hour walk through the thick forest for you to experience for real the animals you may never have seen in your life. On a lucky day, you may see all the animals you have always wanted to see. Even on an unlucky day, you are sure of seeing Water Bucks in groups, Baboons and all kinds of Birds. For the scary ones, you can also do the tour in your car or in a tour bus provided by the reserve. U can book your tour at the reception or with the park information centre at anytime. Tours are done at 7am, 3pm and 5pm.
No need to worry about food because the park serves both local and continental dishes at affordable prices at its nice restaurant. A good local meal can also be purchased at a canteen in the park for 1.50 Ghana cedis.
Getting back from the park is also no stress at all. Buses leave the park at 4am each morning to Tamale. U have the great pleasure of having the locals join you in the bus since the bus from the park doesn't get anywhere full. U may use the bus or take a motor ride to the town and board a metro mass to wherever you are going. And if you want to take along something for remembrance, the tourist shop at the park is there to offer you a range of post cards and other gifts that depict the park and the culture of the northern region.
The Mole experience is great and every tourist must see.
By Martin Nana Baffoe Pieterson
Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com