Travel to Mole National Park

We set off excited for our safari and chance to see some African animals, not fully realizing the travel required in order to get to Mole National Park – or the lasting memories the ten of us would make while spending fifteen hours packed in a small van. Here is a minute-by-minute recap of the day’s events.

7:00am – Breakfast at the St. James Guesthouse.
8:00am – Took a group picture and then departed from Senchi Ferry.
9:02am – Jammed to Kenny Rogers.
9:45am – Tim learns he has to pee.
10:30am – We are offered the chance to stop at a restaurant but decline.
1:05pm – We stop for lunch. Tim goes pee.
2:30pm – After waiting an hour and a half for food, we are finally back on the road.
3:40pm – Filled up with gas with the van still running.
4:00pm – We turn off the highway onto a dirt road…our first “shortcut.”
4:30pm – Spirits were high. Played the movie/actor game.
6:28pm – Still not there.
7:00pm – We place bets on when we will arrive in Mole.
7:30pm – We see a sign that says 136km to Mole. We’re think we are getting close!
7:40pm – We stop and the driver asks directions. “We are going to Mole Park, Mole Mole Park.” Four group members jump out of the van and relieve themselves in the bushes.
7:42pm – We turn the van around 180 degrees. So too does our morale. Our driver decides to take a “shortcut.”
8:04pm – We turn off on another shortcut…another dirt road. Group morale sinks even lower.
8:16pm – Alex tries to crack jokes to lighten the mood. No laughter.
9:35pm – Car sickness strikes the group.
9:55pm – The road turns into pavement. Tentative excitement in the van.
9:58pm – The road becomes dirt again. Group morale sinks to its lowest point yet.
10:10pm – Tessa and Molly see a red flashing light and claim it is the ranger tower in Mole and that we have been circling the park for the last four hours. Tim says it is just a mirage. Molly and Tessa cope by laughing, even though no one else thinks it is funny.
10:28pm – Still not there.
10:34pm – The driver pulls the van over and we all hold our breaths as we suspect a flat tire. Luckily not.
10:46pm – We finally arrive, but the lodge doesn’t have room for all of us. Five of us sleep there and five sleep on the roof. By that point, any place out of the van sounded great!

The next day of elephant hunting, baboon chasing, and sunset watching more than made up for the challenge of getting there…looking back it was good “group bonding time.” :)