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Published: September 1st 2012
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We departed Abor for the last time in the wee hours of the morning. Our short time at the hospital now complete, we were off for a few days of sightseeing through Ghana before our unfortunate departure home. Our three hour ride back to Accra ensued (most of which I slept through) and when we arrived we met our driver and our guide named Cosmos. Gaby also came by to say hi to us and it was so good seeing him again. We then made our way north for 12 grueling hours. Approaching the north the road was no longer paved and we hit brutal stretches of nausea inducing path, until we finally reached the northern region and Mole National Park. Everyone was so wiped, and thanks to our crammed tro-tro, really sore. Needless to say it was an early night for all.
The next day I awoke and was able to see with clarity where we were actually situated. And it was utterly magnificent. From our rooms we were able to view vast stretches of park with easily seen game such as water-buck, antelope, warthog, baboons, etc. We geared up and then headed down into the park with our
rifle bound guide named Calma, and hiked along as the day grew hot. We passed many types of previously mentioned game as well as some smaller creatures like birds, butterflies, and highway networks of driver ants that many larger animals feared for their ability to overrun and consume all in their path. Everyone, though, was hoping for a glimpse of an African savannah elephant and our guides knew it. Before long a herd was located and we were treated to an up-close view of these gorgeous animals. We snapped away with our cameras and were lucky because we were the first of all the groups to reach them. It was a nice climax to the morning. We then headed back to have a late breakfast, and then I took a nice nap in the comfy bed.
Soon after we were on our way to see a mystic stone, which legend states could not be moved since time immeasurable. It was known long during the times of the trans-Saharan trade routes and then became an important symbol to the Muslims in the region. From there we traveled to the village of Larabanga, which is home to the oldest mosque in
Ghana which was mud build and whitewashed. I thought that architecturally it was pretty cool. The guides gave us some history about the place and it's importance in west Africa and mentioned there's a Qur'an almost as old within. We were only allowed around the exterior of the building. Many children ran up to us, some asked for food and money, but most were just curious to the newcomers. The village itself was very interesting for its rural beauty showcasing houses with straw huts and animals roaming wherever they chose.
We returned for lunch and afterwards some used the pool while some of us sat at the lookout perch and admired the game from afar. It was a spectacular place to be. We intended to rent a truck to do more game viewing that afternoon, but in an instant the skies opened up and a massive barrage of rain started to pelt us. This was the first true rain I had experienced in Ghana and it was furious. Marina and myself decided to hightail it back to the room, and we became utterly drenched in the process. The Duke was already inside, relaxing comfortably as he played a game
on my tablet. We watched the rain for a bit before we watched some movies on the tablet and eventually dosed off.
I went to get the other girls for dinner and discovered them loud and energetic. They had polished off a bottle of Gin and were in a really good place. At one point they became a mass of drunk (see pic) and I appropriately feared for my well-being. Enviously, I figured I needed to catch up with some beer. And that's what was done through dinner and beyond into the evening.
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