Mole National Park in Ghana

The Mole National Park is a protected area in Ghana, known mostly for its wildlife. – Joanne Jeanbourquin

“Mole National Park (MNP) is Ghana’s biggest National Park”[1] amongst seven and it is located in the district of West Gonja, in the North of Ghana. It covers about 4577 km2. [2] The history of this part of the country is linked to the fight against the slave trade and the Gonja, “a farming and hunting people of the far past”[3].

The park is managed by “the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, which is under Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.” [4] This protected area combines different resources such as landscape, infrastructure, geology, water, forest, fauna and history through the Mole National Park Museum. Two types of experiences are combined: educational and escapist. [5] Through nature conservation tourist might learn something and at the same time have fun through the activities offered in the park. For tourists visiting the MNP, wildlife is a major attraction, however, they also propose other nature-based activities such as “canoe safaris, community tours, cultural entertainment, visits to an ancient mosque, and visits to a mystic stone in nearby communities”. [6] NBT is an emerging industry in MNP[7] although they have still room for improvement. If they improve sustainable NBT, they could “provide both conservation and community benefits”[8].

Annexe :

Source : Map of MNP Ghana, Source: Acquah, E; Dearden, P; Rollins, R. (2016) Nature-based tourism in Mole National Park, Ghana. African Geographical Review, 35:1, 53-69, DOI:10.1080/19376812.2015.1088389

Joanne Jeanbourquin

 

Notes :

[1] Touring Ghana (2019). https://touringghana.com/mole-national-park/

[2] Acquah, E; Dearden, P; Rollins, R. (2016) Nature-based tourism in Mole National Park, Ghana. African Geographical Review, 35:1, 53-69, DOI:10.1080/19376812.2015.1088389

[3] Mole National Park (2019). http://www.molenationalpark.org/history.php

[4] Mole National Park (2019) http://www.molenationalpark.org/management.php

[5]  Kébir, L. (2019). Développement économique des ressources touristiques. Cours dispensé dans le cadre de l’enseignement du master en études du tourisme. Bramois: Université de Lausanne

[6] Acquah, E; Dearden, P; Rollins, R. (2016) Nature-based tourism in Mole National Park, Ghana. African Geographical Review, 35:1, 53-69, DOI:10.1080/19376812.2015.1088389

[7] idem

[8] Idem