Ghana - West Africa - page 435

Bus STC buses go to Accra (C40, 12 hours, daily), Kumasi (C25, six hours, daily), Cape
Coast and Takoradi (C33 to C35, 13 hours, twice a week). The daily Metro Mass bus to
Mole National Park (C5, four to six hours) leaves in theory at 2.30pm (but in practice
much later) from the bus station behind the Total petrol station. Buy a ticket in advance or
arrive at the bus station well before the scheduled departure time to be sure of a seat.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Mole National Park
With its swaths of saffron-coloured savannah, Mole National Park ( 027-7564444, 024-4316777;
www.molemotelgh.com ; adult/student C10/5, car C4, driver C5) offers what must surely be the cheapest
safaris in Africa. There are at least 300 species of bird and 94 species of mammal, includ-
ing African elephants, kob antelopes, buffalos, baboons and warthogs.
The park organises walking and driving safaris (2hr safari per person C6; 7.30am & 3.30pm) . If
you do not have your own vehicle, you can rent the park's for C100 for the two-hour sa-
fari; park rangers are happy to let you pool with other travellers.
The safaris are excellent and sightings of elephants are common from December to
April. You're guaranteed to see other mammals year-round, however. Sturdy, covered
footwear is a must; if you come without, the rangers will insist on lending you a pair of
Wellington boots for a fee of C2.
Sleeping & Eating
Mole Motel HOTEL $$
( 024-4316777, 027-7564444; www.molemotelgh.com ; Mole National Park; dm C24, r without/with air-con C70/
90, bungalows C105; ) The park's only accommodation, Mole Motel is overpriced, with
tired rooms and blasé service, but the location is stupendous (and the pool a godsend): at
the top of an escarpment, with a viewing platform overlooking plains teeming with wild-
life. There's also a reasonable restaurant, serving a mix of Ghanaian and international fare
(mains from C12 to C18). The hotel gets very busy, so make sure you book well in ad-
vance.
Getting There & Away