Bolgatanga

Getting to Bolgatanga

Getting to Bolga takes commitment. Most travelers fly into Tamale and continue north by road, or take an overnight coach all the way from Accra or Kumasi. The road north from Tamale is good and the savanna scenery makes the hours pass.

The town itself is compact and easy to cover by taxi or on foot. If you are heading to Paga or the Tongo Hills, arrange a taxi for the half day and agree the price upfront.

Food in the Upper East

Upper East cooking is built on millet and sorghum. Tuo zaafi with dawadawa or baobab leaf soup is the daily staple, and millet porridge starts the morning. Meat lovers should try the grilled and peppered specialties at the local spots, washed down with pito, the traditional sorghum brew served calabash style.

Chop bars here are authentic and inexpensive, and the flavors are bolder than many southern visitors expect. See our Ghanaian foods guide for the dish names worth learning.

The craft market: baskets and leather

The Bolgatanga craft market is the main event for shoppers. The straw baskets are the stars: check the tightness of the weave, the quality of the leather handles and the finish before you buy, and expect to bargain. Leather goods, straw hats and smocks woven in northern styles fill out the stalls.

Buy from the market rather than middlemen where you can, and remember that a well made basket will outlast a decade of shopping trips. Our business listings are still thin this far north, so if you trade here, add your free listing.

Day trips: Paga and the Tongo Hills

Paga, near the Burkina Faso border, is famous for its sacred crocodile ponds, where guides handle the resident crocodiles and visitors can get startlingly close. It is an easy half day from Bolga. In the other direction, the Tongo Hills hold the Tengzug shrines, dramatic rock formations with deep spiritual significance for the Talensi people.

Both trips are best with a local guide, which your hotel can arrange. For wider northern planning, see our Ghana tourism guide.

Frequently asked questions