National park · Ghana
Mole National Park
Give Mole two nights: walk with an armed ranger at 06:00 or 16:00, watch elephants from the motel escarpment between safaris, and come Jan–Apr when the water hole pulls animals in. Skip it if you have only three days in Ghana.Give Mole two nights: walk with an armed ranger at 6:00 AM or 4:00 PM, watch elephants from the motel escarpment between safaris, and come Jan–Apr when the water hole pulls animals in. Skip it if you have only three days in Ghana.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4,840 km²1,869 sq mi
approximate
Established
1971
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
None
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At a glance
- Country
- Ghana
- Area
- 4,840 km²1,869 sq mi
- Ghana's largest national park; gazetted as a national park in 1971 after being a wildlife refuge from 1958 (check exact boundary area).
- Established
- 1971
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Mole is Ghana's largest protected area and its only practical savannah safari: 4,840 km² of woodland and grassland on a sandstone escarpment above a permanent water hole. You do not drive yourself around looking for animals — you walk or ride with an armed ranger, and the rest of the day you watch what comes to drink below the motel. It is a long way north of Accra, so it works as a two-to-three-night stop reached through Tamale, usually paired with Larabanga and the Upper West.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1971.
Size and age
4,840 km²1,869 sq mi · national park since 1971
Ghana's largest national park; gazetted as a national park in 1971 after being a wildlife refuge from 1958 (check exact boundary area).
Why go
- Walking safaris with an armed ranger — on foot, not from a vehicle window.
- Elephants, antelope, bushbuck, warthog, baboon and monkeys in one of West Africa's better-stocked savannah parks.
- The motel sits on a cliff over a water hole: the cheapest wildlife viewing in Ghana is from a chair.
- Larabanga's mud-and-stick mosque is 3 km down the road, so the trip carries a second stop.Larabanga's mud-and-stick mosque is 1.9 mi down the road, so the trip carries a second stop.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecBest
- JanDry, dusty, animals concentrated at water
- FebDry and hot; good visibility
- MarHot; elephants at the water hole daily
- AprBuild-up heat; first rains due
- MayRains start; grass grows, animals scatter
- JunWet; some tracks soft
- JulWettest stretch; fewer visitors
- AugRain easing; green park
- SepRains taper; lush and quiet
- OctDrying out; grass still high
- NovDry season returns; comfortable heat
- DecDry, cool nights, clear viewing
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elephants at the water holeNov–Apr · Most reliable in the dry season, early morning and late afternoon. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Antelope, bushbuck, warthog, baboon and monkeysAll year · Seen on most walks and drives year-round. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Resident and migrant birdsNov–Mar · The dry season brings water birds to the shrinking pools. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| LionsAll year · Present but rarely seen; the last confirmed sighting was in 2004, so do not plan around them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Tamale
Daily bus to the park, or a chartered taxi, or your own car on the paved road via Damongo and Larabanga.
2.5–3 h by car; about 6 h by bus
Open the page →
From Accra
Fly or take a long bus to Tamale first, then continue by road; the park is not a day trip from the capital.
1 day
Open the page →
From Larabanga
Motorbike taxi or private drop along the 3 km road to the motel; no shade, so carry water if walking.Motorbike taxi or private drop along the 1.9 mi road to the motel; no shade, so carry water if walking.
10–20 min
From Wa
Daily Metro Mass bus to Larabanga, then a tro-tro or lift to the park.
3–4 h to Larabanga
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Motel escarpment and water hole | Cliff-top viewing platform, restaurant, pool and rooms above a permanent water hole. | Open to guests and day visitors; the easiest wildlife viewing in the park. |
| Walking safari zone | Open woodland and grassland below the escarpment where rangers lead morning and afternoon walks. | Armed ranger only. |
| Driving safari circuit | The wider park reached by chartered 4x4, covering more ground and different water points. | Armed ranger and vehicle only. |
| Larabanga and the southern approach | Village with the mud-and-stick mosque, 3 km from the motel on the park road.Village with the mud-and-stick mosque, 1.9 mi from the motel on the park road. | Open; small entry arrangement at the mosque — check locally. |
Sketch map
- 1Mole Motel and safari office · Headquarters≈9.700, -1.833Approximate; park headquarters area on the escarpment.Map ↗
- 2Water hole below the escarpment · Viewpoint≈9.695, -1.838Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Larabanga · Village≈9.683, -1.867Approximate; 3 km from the motel.Approximate; 1.9 mi from the motel.Map ↗
- 4Damongo · Town≈9.083, -1.817Approximate; regional capital on the southern approach.Map ↗
- 5Tamale · Ranger station≈9.401, -0.839Approximate; nearest airport and bus departure point.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, foreign visitor | GHS 60 | person | 2026 estimate; the rate was GH₵60 for foreigners and GH₵30 for Ghanaians in late 2024 — check current rates at the gate. |
| Park entry, Ghanaian visitor | GHS 30 | person | 2026 estimate; student rate is half, but foreign university IDs are not always accepted. |
| Walking safari with armed ranger | GHS 50–150 | person | 2026 estimate; paid at the safari office, price depends on group size — check. |
| Driving safari (chartered 4x4, up to 7 people) | GHS 400–700 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; ranger fee usually separate — check. |
| Mole Motel double room, fan | GHS 650 | room | 2026 estimate from late-2024 rates; A/C double about GH₵820, A/C chalet about GH₵1,150. |
| Zaina Lodge room | GHS 5,000–10,000 | room | 2026 estimate; the in-park luxury option, further from the gate. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry ticket permit or guide
Armed ranger for any walking or driving safari permit or guide
Walking outside the motel grounds permit or guide
Park rules
- Ranger escort
- Walking or driving outside the motel grounds without an armed ranger is forbidden.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from park management — check.check
- Camping
- Allowed at the campsite near the motel and at other sites in the park; warthogs and baboons raid bins, so store food in a vehicle.
- Litter and fires
- Carry out all rubbish; no fires outside designated areas.
- Wildlife distance
- Follow the ranger's instructions; never approach or feed animals, and do not walk between an elephant and water.
Where to stay
In the park
Mole Motel
Rooms from hostel-style to A/C chalets on the escarpment above the water hole; restaurant, pool and the safari office.
In the park
Zaina Lodge
The luxury option further inside the park; much higher rates.
In the park
Park campsite
Camping near the motel with running water; watch your food.
Near the park
Larabanga guesthouses
Savannah and Salia Brothers guesthouses, 3 km away, the budget fallback.Savannah and Salia Brothers guesthouses, 1.9 mi away, the budget fallback.
Near the park
Damongo
Regional capital about 20 minutes south of Larabanga with more services.
Safety
Heat on the exposed Larabanga road medium
Wildlife on foot medium
Bad road on public transport medium
Malaria high
Accessibility
- The motel, restaurant and viewing platform are reached by car with short, mostly level walks.
- Walking safaris cross uneven bush and are not suitable for limited mobility; a driving safari is the practical alternative.
Visiting lightly
- Hire the park's own rangers rather than arranging wildlife walks outside the gate.
- Do not buy wildlife products or pay for staged animal encounters.
- Take your rubbish back to Tamale or Damongo; bins in the park are raided by baboons.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mole National Park?
In late 2024 the gate charged about GH₵60 for foreign visitors and GH₵30 for Ghanaians, with a half rate for students. Treat those as a 2026 estimate and check at the gate, because rates change. Safaris, ranger fees and rooms are separate.
What are the best hikes in Mole National Park?
There are no marked self-guided trails. The walking safaris led by armed rangers at about 06:00 and 16:00 are the hikes: two to three hours on flat, open bush below the escarpment. A chartered 4x4 covers more ground if you want distance rather than a walk.
When is the best time to visit Mole National Park?
December to April, in the dry season. Water sources shrink, so elephants and antelope concentrate at the water hole below the motel and sightings are most reliable. May to October is wet, the grass is high and animals spread out.
Can I walk around Mole National Park on my own?
No. Walking or driving outside the motel grounds without an armed ranger is forbidden. Book at the safari office when you arrive; groups form from the guests staying that night.
How do I get to Mole National Park?
Through Tamale, the nearest airport. A car on the paved road via Damongo and Larabanga takes about 2.5–3 hours; the daily bus takes around 6 hours. From Larabanga it is 3 km to the motel by motorbike taxi or lift.
Where should I stay at Mole?
Most people stay at the Mole Motel inside the park, which has the viewing platform over the water hole and the safari office. Zaina Lodge is the luxury alternative further in, and Larabanga has budget guesthouses 3 km away.
Will I see lions at Mole?
Probably not. Lions are present but rarely recorded; the last confirmed sighting was in 2004. Elephants, antelope, bushbuck, warthog, baboons and monkeys are what you should expect.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go