Mole National Park

Mole National Park covers 4,577 square kilometres of Guinea savannah in northern Ghana and is by far the country's largest and most-visited national park. The park is located 24 kilometres from Damongo, the district capital, and is reached by a laterite road that passes through small farming communities before entering the reserve through distinctive Ghanaian stone gate posts. The landscape is wide and open, dominated by acacia trees, tall elephant grass and a dramatic sandstone escarpment that forms the park's southern boundary and provides sweeping views across the savannah at sunset. Two ephemeral rivers, the Levi and the Mole, flow through the park during the wet season and leave behind a chain of water holes that sustain wildlife through the long dry season from November to April. The park lies at an elevation of around 50 metres above sea level, and the sharp southern escarpment creates a microclimate that supports riparian forest along its base.

The park is home to 93 mammal species including African elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and eight primate species, along with the endangered West African manatee in the river systems. The highlight for most visitors is the morning game drive, when vehicles follow the network of dirt tracks through the bush to water holes where animals gather at dawn. Elephants are commonly seen, often in family groups led by matriarchs, and the park is considered to have the densest population of forest elephants in Ghana. Lions are present but rarely seen; the more reliable large predators are the African civet and the African wild dog, though the latter are also elusive. The bird life is equally impressive, with over 300 species recorded including the Arabian bustard and the Denham's bustard.

The Motel Mole safari lodge, built in 1961 and renovated several times since, sits on a hillside within the park and remains the primary accommodation option, offering thatched-roof chalets with verandas overlooking the savannah. The lodge's swimming pool, bar and restaurant make it one of the most comfortable national park facilities in West Africa. The nearby village of Larabanga, which lies just outside the park boundary, is known for its historic mosque built in the Sudano-Sahelian style and is often visited as part of a park excursion. The park charges a nominal entry fee and vehicle fee, and guided walking safaris are available with armed rangers. Mole is a three-hour drive from Tamale, the regional capital, or approximately nine hours by road from Accra.

It is Ghana's largest and most biodiverse national park, offering the best wildlife viewing in the country with reliable elephant, buffalo and antelope sightings.

West Africa's first luxury safari lodge provides a comfortable base that is rare for the region.

The combination of savannah, riparian forest and the sandstone escarpment creates diverse habitats within a single park.