Bolgatanga

Bolgatanga is the capital of Bolgatanga municipality in the Upper East Ghana. It is a land of so many languages and dialects but dominated by the Farefari/Gurene speakers.

Understand
Bolgatanga lies 161 km (about 100 miles) from the north of Tamale. Bolgatanga is known for its crafts of the straw baskets, hats, and leather product that sells both locally and on the international front.

Get in

 * Public bus from Accra/Kumasi/Tamale is cheap and safer than the maniac private bus drivers. It takes 3 hours from Tamale and you have ready means of transport at any point in time. There is always a ready means at Bolgatanga to major cities like Accra; Kumasi, Mim, Ahafo, Cape Coast, Sunyani, Tamale, Tema, Ho, Wa, Elubo, Aflao, Techiman.


 * Private car from any medium sized town with driver is always faster and convenient.


 * Shared Rides: There are shared rides from the major cities that can pick about maximum of 8 people for a shared ride.

Get around

 * Taxi: Taking a taxi is the easiest way for tourists to get around in Bolga. Expect to pack 4-5 people into a cab before leaving so don't go anywhere in a hurry! Taxis can be found close to the market and bus loop along the Bolga-Tamale road.


 * Can do: You can also use the "can do" tricycles to commute around town easily and faster. It is very much cheaper than all other kinds of transport services. t is also airy.

Do
Visit the Craft Market where you can buy traditional goods and crafts such as woven baskets, cloth, jewellery and other souvenirs. The Bolga Market, held every three days is where the locals go to buy and sell veggies, grains, animals, cloth and other everyday needs. Go to experience the hustle and bustle of the crowd, and try your hand at bargaining. Take a day trip to Paga to visit the Crocodile Pond and pose with the crocodiles. You could expect to pay about 6 GHC for a photo with the crocodiles.

Buy
Bolga is known as the crafts centre of northern Ghana, with a large central market. Apart from items found elsewhere in Ghana, the so-called "Bolga hats" are made and sold there. Bolgatanga and its surrounding villages also comprise the largest producers of leather works, straw baskets and smocks in the country. The artists sell their works at the Bolgatanga Market, which is open every third day.

Eat
If you get hungry, try the many varieties of street food sold throughout town. You can get anything from avocados and mangoes to a more substantial lunch of waakye (beans and rice), jollof rice, or banku. Egg and bread is a delicious breakfast option, generally sold in the morning by enterprising ladies.

Drink
You can buy a soda or 'mineral' around town for around 1 cedi. Bags of water (sachet water) are available for around 20 pesewas. Foreigners should be careful about drinking local tap water, since it contains bacteria that their body is not used to. There are also local drinks such as 'pitoo' and 'palm wine'.

Sleep
Bolgatanga offers a range of hotels and smaller lodges. Most prominent and expensive is the Akayet Hotel.

Go next

 * Paga. Home of the sacred crocodile ponds
 * Tongo Hills. Landscape dominated by large granite formations