Edition 9

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
9
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Larabanga Mosque
one of the biggest
elephant sanctuaries in
Africa. The largest of
Ghana's National Parks
and situated in the heart
of the Guinea savannah
woodland ecosystem, it is
home to 93 mammalian
s p e c i e s . 3 3 r e p t i l e ' s , n i n e
amphibians and an estimated 300
species of birds. One hundred and
seventy kilometers west of Tamale in
the West Gonja District.
The scenic ride to Mole, though rough,
is ideal for adventurous visitor. Game
protection and viewing roads have
been developed within the park.
Tourist facilities exist,make sure you
buy your own food and drinks for the
journey. The 4-hour journey to the park
from Tamale is not very good as the
roads are not exactly perfect but it is
also an exciting trip to make. This is the
best equipped of the country's park
reservations.
In the South-Western corner of the
region, is the Bui park which is noted
for its hippopotamus population. It has
a savannah and riverine landscape
that encompasses a portion of the
Black Volta River.Part of this park
extends into the Brong Ahafo Region.
In Tamale, Daboya, Sabari, Nasia,
Mole, Bui, among others, have exotic
birds suitable for watching pleasure.
The savannah vegetation has a scenic
beauty of its own interspersed with
rare species of flora and fauna.
Baobab trees and ant-hills are part
and parcel of this savannah natural
vegetation of the region.Other aspects
of the savannah scenery and views are
the Nakpanduri and other hilly areas of
the northern parts of the region,
p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e G a m b a g a
Escarpment.
There are sacred groves that are
Huts
traditional nature
reserves created
around shrines.
Notable among
t h e m a r e t h e
J a a g b o a n d
Malshegu Sacred
Graves. The Jaagbo
Shrine, situated at 30
kilometres from Tamale, consists
of about 25 acres of conserved and
preserved vegetation of medicinal herbs
and near extinct and mysterious plants
around the Jaagbo fetish. Among the
vegetation of the grove is the “mystery tree”
with marks of the hooves of a horse. The
Malshegu Sacred Grove is at Katalga,
about 12 kilometres from Tamale.
The region is well known for its peculiar
architecture of round huts with conical
thatched roofs, which provide a particular
scenic view. Among the relics of the past,
which throw considerable light on the
Busanga bicycle
history of the people of the region, are the
archaeological sites at Yikpa Bonso, in the
West Mamprusi District, with relics of the
Komas dating back to the nineteenth
century (19th C). Other relics of interest in
the region are at Jentilkpe and
Kpaesemkpe.
Ancient mosques are a particular aspect of
the relic legacy of the region which under
pin the long history of Islam in the region.
The Larabanga Mosque, which is of
Sundanese architectural origin, dates back
to the 13thC but the Bole Mosque, also of a
similar Sudanese architectural origin, was
built later.
While the Banda Nkwahta and Malew
Mosques were built in the 18thC, imitating
older mosque designs, the Zayaa mosque
in Wulugu, is not only of the 20thC but is
peculiar in that it is an uncommon storeyed
traditional design of historical and military
interest.
Waakye
Although the Northern Region may not
be as popular among tourists visiting
Ghana, it should not be overlooked when
wanting to experience everything Ghana
has to offer.
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