Safari at Mole

Our weekend at Mole National Park was really successful in that we were able to observe a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. Chance combines with the expertise of the ranger leading a safari, especially in the rainy season when the animals are not forced to visit the large watering holes close to the lodge. Luck was with us, however, both on walking safaris and on the one we took by vehicle through the reserve.
Have to admit that after two hours of traipsing through the tall grass and intermittent swampy areas in my high "Weltie" boots, with the sweat exiting from every pore in my body under the hot African sun, I barely had the energy to look towards our guide's outstreched arm pointing at creatures hiding a few yards away in the bush. Nevertheless, we were well rewarded by seeing baboons, monkeys, warthogs, various species of deer, huge elephants and a herd of water buffalo. Exciting!
Katie and I experienced too much of a close encounter as we took the last few bites of our breakfast sitting at an outdoor table. The baboons and monkeys near the lodge are notoriously agressive in grabbing whatever food they see. Before we knew it, an extremely agile monkey leaped on top of our table and midst dishes flying under a shower of spilt tea, he skillfully swiped his target- a small container of sugar cubes.
Jim and Conor, on the other hand, were placed in a much more precarious situation during their second safari walk (Katie & I were sitting this one out- choosing instead to have the monkey join us for breakfast). With a few large elephants just a short distance from where they were standing, two young girls started to walk towards one elephant who had already decided to approach their group. This was not very prudent to say the least as the ranger quickly had to run and call after the hopeful photographers to hastily retreat.
All in all, a great get-away from Tamale- about a three-hour trip partially on a paved road and the remainder on a typically bumpy dirt road, navigating the ruts.