Savannah Safari weekender, A WangoWango signature adventure
In his piece on March 18, 2023, our columnist (Bentsifi’s Tattle) and curator for WangoWango, Pajohn Betsifi Dadson, wrote about a road trip to the Savannah Region in the northern part of the country.
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For the “Savannah Safari” weekender, Pajohn as he is commonly referred to, promised a “lively road trip quest for wildlife in the Mole grasslands of the Savannah” and that’s exactly what he delivered to the small group of adventurers who went up north with him.
The WangoWango crew know their stuff
The group set off in the early hours of Friday, March 24 and by 6 a.m. had arrived at a secluded lawn at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi just on time for breakfast.
The tour was curated by Pajohn Bentsifi Dadson
Although the initial plan was to have breakfast at the Rattray Park, the lawns at KNUST made a perfect substitute. Also, the well-kept washroom a few metres from where the team had settled made it easy for them to freshen up while Pajohn and his team set up for breakfast.
The gentlemen on the WangoWango team know their stuff; in little time, under the trees, breakfast was ready. Crunchy steamed vegetables, omelettes, sausages, croissant and assorted bread served with a choice of hot tea or coffee.
Parts of the beautiful Fuller waterfalls
With a number of stops to do before dusk, time was of great essence and the WangoWango team wasted no time packing once guests were done eating.
In a little over an hour, the group had boarded the bus heading to their next stop; Fuller Waterfalls at Yabraso, near Kintampo.
The ride from Kumasi to Kintampo took about three hours but there were short stops along the way for stretches.
The Fuller Waterfalls is a hidden gem and according to Pajohn, he chose that site so his guests could enjoy the serene and concealed nature of the place.
At the falls, tourists were welcomed with the chirping of birds and the sound of water gushing but there was no sign of the water till a descent down the rocky path leading to the falls.
Having experienced how fast the team offloaded their mobile kitchen at Kumasi, it was not surprising when they set up again at the front of the waterfalls to prepare lunch.
However, the speed with which they prepared the ampesi ( cooked yam and ripe plantain), rice with veggies (emphasis on crunchy veggies) and grilled pork and chicken was admirable.
Lunch at the Fuller Waterfalls at Yabraso
Apparently, they had prepared the stews — tomato gravy and "ntroba abom" (garden egg stew) and kept them in food warmers so all they had to do was warm and it was ready to serve.
Even the children from the local community who later came by to swim were surprised such “a table” could be laid in a short period.
For dessert, they served mango, pawpaw and banana, bought from some traders along the main road.
The Fuller Waterfalls gave the travellers the break and rest they needed for the final stretch of the journey.
By 7 p.m, the group had arrived at the rustic Watergate Lodge, a newly opened lodge just at the entrance of the Mole National Park.
Its owner, Mr Reagan Masud, helped the team unpack and allocated rooms to guests. By now, you should know the
WangoWango crew don’t joke with delighting the taste buds of their guests. While the owner of the lodge showed guests around, the crew had spotted a good place to set up for dinner.
One would have assumed that after travelling throughout the day, the guests would retire to their beds early but that was not the case as most of them stayed up till almost midnight conversing about how they would sleep in a forest with wild animals and how differently the lodge was compared to other places they had been to.
“I think the washrooms give the typical Maldives vibe set in a forest,” Francis, one of the revellers said, setting the group into bouts of laughter.
Day two
We decided to skip breakfast because by now, you know what Pajohn and his crew are capable of when it comes to food.
On the second day, the team made a quick stop at the Damango Market and proceeded to the Larabanga Mosque and the Mystic Stone which are not too far from each other.
At the Larabanga Mosque, the group learnt about the history and significance of the place.
At these sites, local tour guides took the team through the history and significance of the sites and after some photo opportunities and prayers, the minivan moved to the Mognori Eco Village, about 20 minutes away from the Mole National Park.
At the village, there were stops at the home of a woman who made shea butter, the local herbalist and a tour through the serene town to see how they lived. (See stories from the village in subsequent publication.)
The Imam (right) at the Mystic Stone saying a prayer for the group.
By 4 p.m., the team were back at the Mole National Park ready for the two-hour safari.
The night was climaxed with a “lantern-lit dinner” offering a variety of meals and drinks to choose from.
Ready for the evening safari at the Mole National Park
The ride to and from the Savannah Region was tiresome but Pajohn and his team made sure to add exciting stops and notable among them were the “fufu summit” at Techiman and the “Kofi Brokeman party” (roast plantain) on the bus.
According to Pajohn, his team was not focused on just touring sites but also curating unique and memorable experiences for their guests.
The team got to experience the elephants of the Mole National Park
“There’s clearly a difference between organising a tour that sends people along with a guide, and what we do, which is to curate an itinerary that considers so many specific things.
We have a team come along our trips, with all the necessary equipment to create just the right atmosphere and experience considering many things including terrain, and especially timing!
“So, you may have visited all the tourist sites in Ghana. It’s time to do it again, this time, with the WangoWango crew. And experience something different. Having dedicated some many years building these exciting experiences, We have, over the years, learned what to present to make each tour more enjoyable and memorable”.
Another point worth noting is how the team ensures that they clean all sites visited before setting off, even when the locals insist they leave the rubbish.
At the Fuller Falls, for instance, some schoolchildren offered to clean up the place but the team insisted they did that themselves before setting off.
Lantern-lit dinner in the wild
“One of the things we take pride in is our environmental footprint. We are extremely conscious about where we go, what we do there and what we leave there. We have zero tolerance for single use plastics. We always try to reuse our containers and receptacles.
We always carry bin bags and practice responsible rubbish disposal,” Pajohn explained.