Visit the Mole National Park!

……A new road now makes it possible to see elephants

Getting close to nature is good for the soul! If, like me, you live in a concrete jungle with choked gutters, then periodically, you need to set out of Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and other big cities and move closer to nature—to the real thing. Our cities don’t breathe because we continue to destroy the green spaces through which our abodes can breathe.

One place I strongly recommend that you visit with your family and friends is the Mole National Park in the Northern Region, to experience Ghana’s largest park and nature reserve. It is now fully open. Not that it was ever closed! It was the road to Mole that gave the feeling that the world-class Park was closed to tourists. A bad road is a pain and a curse, especially when the road leads to well-known tourist sites. How does Ghana brag of promoting its tourism sites when the roads that lead to those glorious sites are hellish and had never seen bitumen since God’s creation?

In 2012, I visited Mount Afadjato, the highest peak in Ghana. I stood at the foot of the 885 meters (2,904 feet) high mountain elevation and felt very small, in awe of nature. There are certain things that take you close to God. For me, they are clouds as experienced from an aircraft, waterfalls and mountains.

But to get to Mount Afadjato and experience God, you could lose your life because the road is a death trap waiting to kill you. The vehicle I travelled in almost summersaulted and I had to pray non-stop because of the horrible road. The only time I was at peace during the torturous journey was when I experienced the mighty mountain and the gorgeous Wli Waterfalls. No one needs to place life at risk just to experience a tourist site in Ghana!

In early 2013, I set out to experience the Mole National Park. There too, I journeyed on a dangerous road off from Fufulso on the main Kumasi-Tamale road. The road was full of contours, holes and bumps. On that road too, I had to invite God to be at the centre of the journey to grant travel safety and mercy. By the time we arrived at Mole, I had regretted setting out on the journey.

Enters a new road

But no more! The dangers on the 147.5 kilometre-long Fufulso-Sawla Road now belong to history. Now, as if you are traveling on the George Walker Bush N1 Highway in Accra, you can head off to the grandeur of Mole National Park to enjoy nature and experience some of the best things our Ghana can brag of. On the journey to Mole, right in the general neighbourhood just a few kilometres away, you can do some other sight-seeing as a bonus. The Mystic Stone and the ancient Mosque at Larebanga—are side-treats as you approach the Mole National Park.

The entire 4,840 Km2 land size of the Park is not fenced. It is a wildlife corridor that enables small or large wildlife to roam—as they have always done since creation and enjoyed their space. Without any cares in the world, the wildlife walk about and cross the new road, especially in the night. The new road is only occupying their space! When you set out to Mole, know that you will be driving through wildlife territory and through one of the gorgeous breath-taking forest reserves in Ghana.

There is a price for having a first-class road in the midst of wildlife. As much as the road is a nice and welcome addition, it is unnatural to wildlife. In some parts of the world, animal rights folks would have resisted the construction of such a major road because it runs through the natural habitat and neighbourhood of wildlife. The path and the animal: which is the eldest? Animals reign supreme. All roads come to meet wildlife because they belong to nature. The road does not belong to nature; yet, the road is needed as a means of enabling human beings to get closer to nature.

Of course, the wildlife in the Park do not see the road as belonging to human beings. It is within their territory. As a tourist attraction, the Park has needed this road for too long. Humans therefore have to walk the tricky tightrope of using the road wisely whilst remaining sensitive to the presence and needs of the wildlife who call the area home!

As traffic to Mole increases on the freshly-minted Fufulso-Sawla Road (funded by the African Development Fund), animals ran the risk of being knocked down, injured or killed by motorists. But the road does not have to become a slaughter house of wildlife! With sensible road usage, it is a safe drive.

Humans are naturally greedy and wasteful; animals are not. For instance, an animal will only kill what it can eat. When it has had enough to eat, it will not kill any more just because it is stronger and mightier than its victims! But humans will kill and kill; just because they can—either for fun or for the mere show of power and might! May be we humans should learn some powerful nature-sustaining lessons from animals! Wastefulness is unnatural.

Elephant sighting for a bonus!

The first time in my life I ever saw an elephant was in the Mole National Park in 2013. From a distance, I saw an entire family of elephants at the pond enjoying an evening bath to bring an end to a busy day of roaming the forest and foraging. I was in awe of nature at the sight of live elephants—not in a movie or magazine—but real living breathing moving elephants! To think that we have elephants in our country but most Ghanaians have never seen an elephant beyond periodic sightings on a television screen is unacceptable.

The elephant is a protected species worldwide. It is the largest land mammal in the world. And, it is endangered. If you are a meat lover, for you—meat is meat. But not so fast! It is illegal to buy or eat elephant meat so please don’t take your reckless love for meat anywhere near elephant meat. Next time you are at a restaurant and you are served one of those zoo-like soups, make sure it does not contain elephant meat! We must learn to observe wildlife rules and regulations.

Shea butter trees abound on the way and inside the Park. I asked the Park Manager Mr Farouk if human beings harvest the Shea fruits. He said no! It is harvested by the animals! Oh, so animals love Shea butter (nku) too! Ha!! I heard that there are buffalos in the Park. I would love to see a buffalo—from a very safe distance!

I will return to the Mole National Park next year. After two visits, I cannot say that I have seen all I need to see. For instance, there is a waterfall inside the Park. I saw photographs but could not get to it. I must see it and enjoy it. A new world-class lodge is almost completed; will open for business in September this year. Mole, watch out for me; I’m coming back soon!

By Doris Yaa Dartey

Email: [email protected]