The past days had been wonderful. We felt like we had been living in a National Geographic documentary experiencing sights we wouldn’t have believed existed. Now we were beginning the final leg of our trip with the hope to see an elephant in the wild. We left the Gambaga in the afternoon facing a long five and one half hour drive to Mole National Park. The drive was long and probably where Covid-19 was freely shared between all riding in those vans.
We arrived at the park, were warned about the aggressive baboons that would enter our rooms if we didn’t keep the door locked, then tried to have a good night’s sleep. Early in the morning we climbed on a safari truck, anxious for what we might see. We hadn’t been out long when our guide was radioed news of an elephant sighting right in front of Zaina Lodge. Sure enough, there she was! Magnificant, calm, relaxed, standing and eating her breakfast. Truly awesome.
The safari trucks at Mole Hotel were funny outdoor platforms welded to the roof somehow. The benches seemed stable, and we made it back ok, so the contraption seems to work. Note the armed rangers riding with us. They were there to protect in case of a rouge animal plus they were a wealth of information!
Warthogs roamed around. Supposedly they are mean, but the rangers’ children played right next to them at their housing compound.
After the safari and breakfast, we completed the noon transfer to Zania Lodge. The accommodations were a little more upscaled, three delicious meals a day, with entertainment and safaris running throughout the day all included. If the vans weren’t the culprits for Covid, then the taxis from one hotel to the other probably were!
The Mole area was set aside as an animal reserve of about 3000 square kilometers by the government in 1958, but because of the tsetse fly it was designated a National Park in 1971. Apparently, animals host the flies and people living in the area were getting sick and dying from the fly bites. The natives were relocated from the area, which greatly reduced the mortality rate. While the park does not compare with other animal parks or safaris, it is a very beautiful and serene place. It’s most important claim to fame is it elephants.
We saw antelope, kob deer, baboons, monkeys, wart hogs, and elephants. The park also has leopards, lions and hyenas along with 344 bird species. We had a good time searching out birds for Grandson Lewis. The rangers were very helpful at spotting and identifying animals and birds.
We were so fortunate to have groups of elephants visiting the ponds outside our balcony multiple times during our stay. They came as if they knew we were waiting to see them.
Our Christmas Eve didn’t have snow, or sleigh bells, or candy canes, or beautifully wrapped gifts, but we did have elephants. Elephants a-plenty. During the second drive through the park in vehicles specially designed for safety and visibility, we came upon three male elephants at a small watering hole. As we walked through the brush to get a closer look, within about 30 yards, two of the elephants began to fight one another. Large trees were toppled, thick bushes flattened, and the ferocious noise was indescribable. We made a hasty retreat back down the narrow trail but could not resist turning to observe this magnificent, violent event of nature. At that moment, the smaller of the two fighters whirled and sprinted towards us on the very same trail upon which we were standing. At about 15 yards, our guide, who carried a 30.06 high powered rifle clapped his hands and shouted. The huge animal, we estimate to be about twelve feet tall, whirled about and tramped off into the tangled jungle. It was a heart stopping moment, to be so close this giant and fear that he could trample us and hardly know it.
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