Feb 3- Mole Park

Posted on: February 5th, 2012 by Clarke 1 Comment

Today and tomorrow mark our days to relax and to travel to the far north of the country. We have a small safari planned in Mole National Park. Setting out at 6:45 before the rooster awakes, we drive until 9:15 where we stop for gas in Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo region. It is hard to believe we’ve been driving for two and a half hours already. After a quick stretch, we cram back into the van and continue our journey north.

Slightly north of Kintampo are some famous waterfalls and we stop for an hour to enjoy their beauty. Some of the more adventurous try to climb the slippery falls, getting completely soaked in the process. Good thing the mercury is above 35 again! A few group pictures and a lot of refreshing splashing around later, we head back up the 152 stairs to our van and continue the journey.

Enjoying the Kintampo Falls

"I bet I can get closer to the falls that you..."

"I bet I can get closer to the falls than you..."

Melissa by the falls

Group shot

We turn west off the paved highway onto a dirt road. For those looking for an authentic African off-road experience, we certainly get it! A puddle is to ocean as bumpy is to this African road! There are literally no words to describe the experience of being packed in an overloaded van going over this landscape. Suitcases fly everywhere and our bums leave the seats many times. And all this happens while we’re literally only going 15 km per hour.

When we asked this morning how long our trip would take, we heard it would take between five and six hours. Eight hours of driving later, we arrive at 3:45 at Mole Hotel, the only accommodation in the 4,840-square-kilometer park. The rooms are nice and the view is incredible. It’s perched overlooking two watering holes where you can see wildlife drinking or bathing. Baboons walk around the hotel grounds and a few warthogs dart in and out of the bushes.

At 4:30, we pile back into our van with a guide. He’s holding a 338 caliber rifle and we head straight into the bush. Following another worn, dirt road, our next two hours are spent learning about the variety of wildlife. In all, we see five large Indian elephants (just kidding, they’re African elephants), innumerable monkeys, birds you’ve only seen on the Discovery Channel, and several types of antelope. A fabulous mini-safari, which we’ll remember for a long time!

Night brings a beautiful outdoor dinner and a gorgeous swim. The long day of rough roads fades as we all call it an early night in our rooms.