10 Jun Mole National Park

Situated in the north-west region of Ghana, stands as the country’s largest and most esteemed wildlife sanctuary, spanning an impressive 4,849 sq km. Renowned for its diverse flora and fauna, the park is particularly famous for its substantial elephant population, boasting approximately 600 individuals, alongside various other primate species.

Wildlife:

Mole is home to an extensive array of wildlife, including 94 mammal species, over 300 bird species, 9 amphibian species, and 33 reptile species. The park features an impressive lineup of large mammals such as elephants, kob, roan antelope, hartebeest, waterbuck, bushbuck, warthog, buffalo, several duikers, baboons, and more. Predatory species like lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, caracals, aardvarks, genets, civets, and mongooses add to the park’s ecological richness. Occasionally, buffaloes roam around the park headquarters and lodge area.

Birds:

Mole National Park hosts a diverse avian population, including kites, Bateleur eagles, rollers, kingfishers, Egyptian geese, egrets, pelicans, and storks. Ground hornbills, flycatchers, malachite kingfishers, guinea fowls, and rock partridges are abundantly found. With over 300 bird species and 33 identified reptile species, the park provides a haven for bird enthusiasts and herpetologists alike. The park, nestled in grassland savannah, is accessible near the town of Larabanga, with the ephemeral rivers Lovi and Mole creating essential drinking holes during the extended dry season.

History:

Established in 1958 and redesignated as a National Park in 1971, Mole National Park covers 4,840 sq km of undulating terrain with steep scarps. Enveloped by pristine Guinea savanna, the park features gallery forests along rivers and streams. As the first Wildlife Protected Area in Ghana, Mole National Park spans two physiographic regions, with 65% within the Voltaian sandstones basin and 35% within the savannah high plains. The undulating topography, marked by flat-topped hills dominated by the Konkori scarp reaching up to 250m, characterizes the park. Part of the Volta River catchment, Mole National Park serves as a haven for numerous rivers that either cross or originate within its boundaries, draining into the White Volta River. It represents a relatively undisturbed Guinea Savannah ecosystem dominated by open savannah woodland.