Mole National Park, Ghana.

After a noisy night at the border we were quickly stamped into Ghana and were on our way by 7.30am.  I slept very well but everyone else didn't.  The music was played from about 10pm and was still playing when we left at a volume that made it like sleeping in a night club all night. We later found out that the music had started as a way of celebrating the life of someone who had just died.  The music starts when the death is announced. Bit odd really.

We had a day and a bit drive north to Mole National Park where we would spend the rest of the day, night and the following morning.  Compared to going on safari in east Africa there us nothing really to see in Mole in terms of big animals with elephants being the main attraction.  However a 2 hour safari is a fraction of the price of the safaris in the east. 

We all went on a safari starting at 11am which apparently is the best chance to see elephants.  All 9 if us clambered onto benches attached to the top of an empty jeep.  Who knows how all our weight was held!  After an hour driving we did see some elephants as they crossed the track in front of us and then we saw some having a bath as the watering hole. 

Most of the group wanted to spend the evening in a tree hide next to a water hole.  I wasn't particularly bothered as I knew I wouldn't seen any animals when I was asleep anyway.  We went with the majority vote and all put in a extra few dollars each so that we could take the truck out and spend the night there instead of the public campsite.  I was planning on sleeping in the tent anyway and Sawa in the truck, but it was a good job as the park had double booked the tree hide so we would never have all fitted there after all.  Elephants were seen in the evening amongst the surrounding trees and one was seen outside the truck overnight, not by me though.  The whole night's experience seemed a bit pointless as the guides weren't quiet until about midnight therefore scaring wildlife off. 

The national park was a great stop. The highlight for me though was definitely the baboons that walked into the truck.  The 1st time, I wasn't in the truck but saw the huge baboon walk in, have a rummage through the stuff on the seats and then hop out the window.  I think Saskia, Paisley and Kate got the fright of their lives as they were in the truck.  Later another baboon came and had its head in my locker under the seat. I quickly closed the seat down on its arm whilst screaming and quick thinking Dave came to my rescue by whacking the baboon in the face with a broom.  Don't think it liked that!