Ghanaian Spirit and Mole National Park

After departing from Tamale, we began to make our way to Mole Park for the night. The drive to the park was an adventure in itself when our van broke down half way there due to the poor road conditions. We were lucky enough to find a person willing to take all eight of us to Mole the rest of the way. We all found it very interesting how a complete stranger was willing to help us out. You sure don’t come across that kindness in the States. Even though our new friend, Sim, isn’t from Ghana, it just proves how the Ghanaian spirit can rub off on anyone.

Riding in the back of Sim’s truck through the twists and turns of Africa was definitely a highlight of our trip. We never imagined we’d be off-roaming through the back roads of Ghana, but it is a memory we will never forget. It was such a surreal experience…just like you see in the movies!

Much to our surprise, Sim’s generosity didn’t end there. After arriving at the park, he invited us to join himself and his friends on an afternoon safari where he utilized his past experiences in the park to ensure we were able to witness all the great aspects of Mole Park. We all piled back into the truck and set off to see the animals.

We were very lucky to track down the elephants within minutes. As the photos depict, we were able to get extremely close to them and boy were they a sight to see! We learned that the elephants here in the park are savannah elephants and they are a much friendlier breed than other elephants. The ones we were able to witness had been pushed out of their herd as a result of old age. While they may be 50 years old they are still some of the most beautiful animals on earth!

As we continued on our safari adventure, we saw a variety of animals including warthogs, baboons, and antelope. Many people have told us that the animals will come knocking on our doors late at night, but we shall soon see!

Today surely was a day filled with excitement! Not many people can say they got to see wild elephants up close and personal, have driven through the middle of Africa, or have felt the pure kindness of a stranger. It will surely be one for the record books!