Mole National Park

Mole National Park, in the savanna of northern Ghana, is the country's largest and most important wildlife reserve and the best place for a safari in West Africa, a region with few such opportunities. Its rolling grasslands and woodlands are home to elephants, which famously wander near the park headquarters and lodge, sometimes to the waterhole below the escarpment viewpoint, along with antelope, warthogs, baboons and birds. Unusually, it can be explored on guided walking safaris, offering a rare chance to track elephants on foot.

What you actually see

• The elephants - the elephants near the lodge and waterhole.
• The walking safaris - the guided treks to track wildlife on foot.
• The escarpment viewpoint - the lodge overlook over the waterhole.
• The Larabanga Mosque - the ancient mud-and-stick mosque nearby.

When to go

November to April, the dry season, is best, when the wildlife, especially elephants, gathers at the waterholes and the vegetation thins; go in the early morning or late afternoon for the best sightings and cooler walking. The rainy season disperses the animals.

Honest expectations

It is remote, in the far north, so reaching it is a long journey by road or a flight to Tamale and then a drive, part of a bigger trip. The wildlife is far less dense than in East or Southern African parks, so temper expectations, though the elephants near the lodge are a highlight and the walking safaris a rare treat. It is West Africa's best safari rather than a rival to the great parks of the east and south.

Nearby

The ancient Larabanga Mosque and the northern towns of Tamale are within reach.