Mole National Park

In Northern Ghana, Mole National Park protects 4,840km² of undulating dry savannah woodland habitat. Terrain is mostly flat, apart from the Konkori Escarpment, on which the two hotels - Zaina Lodge and Mole Motel - are perched. The two main rivers, Lovi and Mole, flow seasonally and are tributaries of the White Volta River. There's a number of permanent waterholes, too, where game viewing can be very rewarding. Larger mammals which frequent the park include elephant, Western buffalo, hippos, warthog and a variety of antelope, with Buffon's kob, roan, Western hartebeest, Defassa waterbuck and bushbuck being seen most often. Spotted hyenas also occur. Of the five primate species present, visitors most hope to observe the agile patas monkey.

During night drives, mammal-watching fans come to seek the likes of Senegal galago, Gambian and slender-tailed mongoose, African civet, common genet, scrub hare, crested porcupine and red-flanked duiker. The yellow-winged bat is also high on the list of mammal watchers. At night, lucky birders might also see the spectacular standard-winged and long-tailed nightjars.

Mole has an impressive bird checklist, with visitors coming to seek species such as Senegal parrot, northern carmine bee-eater, blue-bellied roller, yellow-crowned gonolek and bearded barbet.

The park is most conveniently accessed by means of a domestic flight from Tamale, capital of the Northern Region, and we recommend a two or three-night stay.