Northern Eco Adventure

Located 700 km north of Accra, the capital of Ghana, Mole National Park is home to more than 90 species of animals. The Mognori village, occupied by people who were hunters by tradition, is located just outside the Park boundaries. And in an intriguing way, each depends upon the other for success.

At 4660 square kilometers, Mole is the largest park in Ghana and provides viewing opportunities for travelers willing to make the trek. The few human residents in the park area were relocated prior to its designation as a preserve. However, poaching remains a problem and if unchecked will adversely affect wildlife and the potential for tourism.

The Mognori Eco Village is the result of a project designed to improve living conditions by using tourism to replace hunting as a source of income. By providing an opportunity to learn about and experience life in a traditional bush setting, the village further enhances the tourist appeal of the area. The park and the animals help to attract tourist--tourists visit the eco village, and the village helps to preserve the animals and their habitat. It's called eco-tourism which is really another name for sustainable tourism.

Semester at Sea participants were able to experience both the wildlife park and the eco village in a single day. After an early morning orientation by park rangers, experienced armed guides led the voyagers through dry stream beds, across grasslands and around watering holes in search of wildlife. The several hour trek yielded sightings of kob, waterbuck, bush buck, crocodiles, baboons, monkeys and elephants.

After a few hours to rest and refuel, the group took a short drive to the eco village where they were greeted by residents ranging in age from infants to elders. They received an orientation about the eco village project and were given a lengthy tour learning how to process cassava roots, make Shea butter, and about the meaning of the intricate designs on the stucco exteriors of the thatched roofed dwellings. They were introduced to the village elder, met the medicine man, and participated in a traditional drumming and dancing exhibition.

After leaving the village, all agreed that this was not an orchestrated tour through a theme park staffed by college students wearing native garb. But it did provide a rare opportunity to meet indigenous people and experience living conditions in an authentic setting.