Mole National Park and the savannah edge at Larabanga

Mole National Park near Larabanga spreads across Guinea savannah and steep scarps in northern Ghana, with wildlife and wide skies.

Mole National Park in northern Ghana is a broad Guinea savannah landscape near Larabanga, where open grassland and riparian corridors meet steep scarps. The park was established in 1958 and re-designated a national park in 1971, giving it a long conservation history.

Mole National Park and the northern savannah

The park covers 4,577 km2 of fairly undisturbed Guinea savannah and is Ghana’s first, largest and most prestigious protected area. Its setting in the Savannah region places it among the country’s clearest examples of inland savannah parkland.4,577 km2 of savannah

The Forestry Commission describes the park as lying on savanna and riparian ecosystems at an elevation of 150 m, with a sharp escarpment forming the southern boundary. That combination gives the place a strong physical profile even before the wildlife is considered.elevation of 150 m

Larabanga, the gateway settlement

Larabanga is the nearest named settlement in most descriptions of the park, and the entrance is reached through it. In practical terms, that makes the village part of the park’s identity even when the scenery itself remains the main attraction.

The wider setting belongs to West Gonja District in the Northern Region of Ghana, and park documents place Mole within the Savannahland Tourism Destination Area. The combination of district, region and protected landscape helps explain why the name is usually linked with Larabanga rather than with a large city.

Wildlife, water and open country

Mole is known for elephant country, but the park also holds buffalo, roan, kob, hartebeest, waterbuck and several primate species. Birds are part of the landscape too, with over 300 species recorded and 742 plant species listed in conservation material.over 300 birds

Water is a visible part of the setting, with river valleys, gallery forest and two named waterfalls, Polzen and Kparia, mentioned in park material. The landscape also carries archaeological and cultural traces, including ancient caravan routes that passed through the area.two named waterfalls

Visiting Mole National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The park is reached through Larabanga in Ghana’s Savannah Region. Tamale is the main larger city name that appears in descriptions of the route.
• The terrain includes open savannah, riparian corridors and a pronounced escarpment. That mix is a defining feature of the park’s landforms.
• The official language is English and the currency is the Ghanaian cedi.
• Conditions on the mountain change with the seasons; the local cable-car operators and alpine clubs provide information.

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Frequently asked questions about Mole National Park

Where is Mole National Park?

Mole National Park is in northern Ghana near Larabanga, in the Savannah Region and West Gonja District. It lies in a savannah landscape with river valleys and a southern escarpment.

What does a visit to Mole National Park involve?

The park is a savannah reserve with elephants, antelopes, primates and birdlife. Its landscape combines open country, riparian strips and steep ground.

What makes Mole National Park distinctive?

Its core identity comes from being Ghana’s first and largest protected area, with a formal history dating to 1958 and 1971. The combination of Larabanga, the savannah setting and the escarpment gives it a clear sense of place.