We recently went on a 3-day 'mini' African Safari to Mole National Park, located in Northwest Ghana. The larger safari's are in South Africa. But this was a great trip and we got to see many animals and enjoy a change of pace. The plane ride from Accra to Tamale was only one hour. Then we had a 2.5 hour ride in a safari van in order to reach our destination. We stayed at the Zania Lodge, which was very nice and comfortable. 

Here we are getting ready to board the plane for Tamale.







Arriving at the Tamale Airport.






This is the group of Senior Missionaries that went on the trip.  Here we are getting ready to get in the safari vans for our 3 hour trip to the Park.






This is the group receiving instructions from our guides. They also provided cold washcloths for use in washing our hands and faces. It felt great, since it was so hot and dusty.





These pictures are street scenes from Tamale.












As we were traveling, we saw this group of women doing their laundry in this small stream of water. 





Scenes on the side of the road. 





These are mud huts where many people live. We saw a lot of them.






These are Government school buildings.




The whole family going for a ride!

Part ll of our Mole Trip.



 

This is Elder Glanfied checking out the pool area after we arrived at Zania Lodge. The    accommodations were very nice and we all enjoyed the pool.


                                                                 
                                                                           
Since it was Valentine's Day, this is how the room was decorated when we arrived.


                                                                         


This is part of our group in the van going out for our first trip into the park to see animals. This is Jacob, our guide, explaining what we will be seeing.




We were not disappointed. We encountered this elephant not long after we began our excursion.



                                                           



                                                     

                                                   

                                                              


                                                                 


                                                       


                  




It was good that the elephants were walking away from us!

This is the next day and a different elephant. He crossed the road right in front of our safari van.










Jacob, our guide, Chris and Linda. Jacob was a fun guy and very knowledgeable.





Not too often you get to be in a picture with an elephant in the background.












Jacob and elephant.




Elephants weren't the only animals we saw. We saw a lot of monkeys.

These two monkeys are climbing trees

Down below the Lodge and our cabin, the elephants entertained us at the watering hole.They were fun to watch as they got in and out of the water and then put dirt on themselves. 

Part lll of our Mole Trip

This is our group ready to go back out for another morning of looking for animals to observe.
L-R  The Russell's, Haglund's, Eaton's, Pothier's, Jacob, our guide, and the Wakild's. The Glanfield's and Winegarden's were not in this picture.


                                                                           


Our guides provided a small breakfast for us each morning.




This is an example of a large termite hill. The guide is explaining how the termites work to build this. It is amazing!




A close-up look at the termite hill. The guide broke off a piece so we could see a termite come out of the hill. He explained that this termite was one of the defenders. After he surveys if there is any danger, he will go back in the hill and send out the worker termites to fill up the hole.




A few white tail deer looking at us. They blend in their surroundings so well that they are hard to see.



A warthog taking a nap in the shade.





Part of our group hiking up a steep hill.





This is a small pre-school for the children of the Park employees. Our guide Jacob has a little girl that attends.




Inside the schoolroom.







Cute children!




The children were working on the alphabet.









The walls were painted with great pictures of the animals.

                                                            Jacob and his little girl.