Day 01
Arrival at Accra and Transfer to KNUST Guesthouse
- Arrival at Kotoka International Airport, followed by a drive to stay at KNUST Guesthouse.
Ghana · Safari
15-Day Northern Ghana Highlights Tour with Mole Safari and Castles
The journey
Trip highlights
- 01 Visit Mole National Park for a sunset safari drive and morning safari walk
- 02 Explore Tongo Hills and shrines in a traditional beliefs community
- 03 See the Ashanti King's palace museum at Manhyia in Kumasi
- 04 Walk the Kakum National Park canopy walkway above the forest
- 05 Visit Elmina and Cape Coast slave castles, both UNESCO World Heritage sites
- 06 Discover Lake Bosomtwi, the sacred meteorite crater lake
- 07 Experience British Accra through James Town and Makola market
- 08 Visit Sirigu and Paga, including the famous crocodile pond
Explore the amazing culture of northern Ghana and beyond on this 15-day journey through national parks, historic monuments, colorful markets, and local communities. Travel from Accra to Kumasi, Mole National Park, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Elmina, and Cape Coast, discovering Ashanti heritage, traditional crafts, sacred landscapes, and wildlife along the way. Meet local people, visit fair trade and women-led initiatives, and learn about Ghana's colonial and slavery history at UNESCO World Heritage castles. The tour also includes nature experiences such as Lake Bosomtwi, Kakum National Park, and safari activities at Mole National Park.
Lake Bosomtwi is a huge circular lake believed to have developed as a result of a meteorite impact and is considered sacred by the locals living along its banks.
From the itinerary
At a glance
What this trip includes
Duration
15 Days
Tour type
Shared
Activity level
Moderate
Accommodation
Included · Standard
Transport
Included
Wheelchair access
Not applicable
Cities
Kumasi, Cape Coast, Accra, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Elmina, Kakum National Park, Mole National Park
Languages
English
Day by day
The itinerary
Day 02
Explore James Town, Makola Market, and Bead Trading
- There will be an itinerary discussion at breakfast. Drive to a phone shop to get a local SIM card and credit cards if necessary.
- Drive past James and Usher forts through the James Town community to visit James Town fishing port and observe local fishing activities by the James Town people.
- Visit the fabric section of Makola, the largest marketplace in southern Ghana, and stop at Sun Trade, a fair trade bead shop encouraging a sustainable beads industry in Ghana.
Day 03
Travel to Kumasi and Visit Manhyia Palace Museum
- Travel to Kumasi to stay at Kumasi Royal Lamenta Hotel in the capital of the Ashanti Region, and visit the Ashanti King's palace museum at Manhyia to learn about the history of the Ashanti Kingdom.
Day 04
Adinkra Traditions in Ntonso and Sacred Lake Bosomtwi
- Stay at Royal Lamenta, visit Ntonso to observe and practice the use of Adinkra symbols for printing Adinkra fabrics, and then return to visit Lake Bosomtwi. Adinkra is a symbol with traditional meanings, printed by hand on handwoven fabrics. Lake Bosomtwi is a huge circular lake believed to have developed as a result of a meteorite impact and is considered sacred by the locals living along its banks.
Day 05
Journey to Mole National Park and Sunset Safari
- Depart from Kumasi after an early breakfast to stay at Mole National Park in the Savannah Region. Experience a sunset safari drive to see wild animals.
- Stop at Larabanga Mosque, historically believed to be the oldest in Ghana.
Day 06
Morning Safari Walk at Mole National Park
- While at Mole, engage in a group safari walk in the morning to see animals, and visit Zaina Lodge for a drink.
Day 07
Travel to Tamale via Daboya and Visit a Shea Initiative
- Depart from Mole after breakfast to stay at Tamale Decent Lodge in the capital of the Northern Region, with a drive through Daboya.
- While in Tamale, visit an organization empowering women in shea butter processing. This part of Ghana is known for growing shea nuts, hence the development of industries that process them into various products.
Day 08
Travel to Bolgatanga and Visit Community Foundations
- Drive farther north in Ghana to Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region and stay at Comme ci Comme ca.
- Visit Mama La-aady, an orphanage home started by a single woman who sacrificed her resources to bring street children together into a home and care for them.
- Visit G-Lish Foundation, an organization encouraging rural women with skills in basket weaving to sustain the Bolgatanga basket industry.
Day 09
Basket Weaving, Sirigu, and Paga Crocodile Pond
- Visit Baba Tree Foundation, a fair trade organization engaging local people in basket weaving and exploring potential markets for Bolgatanga baskets.
- Drive to enjoy views of the extreme countryside of the Upper East, with a loop through Sirigu, known for its traditional paintings made by women.
- Continue to Ghana's northern border with Burkina Faso, also known for its crocodile pond, where visitors may touch or sit on a crocodile. The Upper East is known for its straw basket weaving in Ghana.
Day 10
Tongo Hills, Shrines, and Traditional Rituals
- Drive back to stay at Tamale Decent Lodge, with a visit along the way to Tongo. Observe ritual performances by fetish priests, pay homage to the Tongo chief, and walk among the Tongo rock formations. Tongo is a traditional beliefs community with a large area of amazing rock formations and shrines in almost every home.
Day 11
Return to Kumasi via Kintampo and Tanoboase
- Depart Tamale after an early breakfast to stay at Kumasi Royal Lamenta Hotel, with stops at Kintampo Waterfalls and Tanoboase Christoboase Monastery.
Day 12
Kakum Forest Walk, Canopy Walkway, and Elmina Castle
- Head for Elmina in the Central Region to stay at Coconut Grove Bridge House.
- Visit Kakum National Park along the way, where we engage in a walk through Kakum forest to study herbal plants and trees.
- Experience a walk on Africa's number one canopy walkway with amazing views of the forest canopy, then depart Kakum with a stop for a drink at Hans' Cottage Hotel and enjoy a lovely view of weaver birds and crocodiles.
- Drive to Elmina and walk the streets to enjoy views of local fishing activities, then visit the slave castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a castle tour to learn about colonialism in Ghana and slavery in West Africa.
Day 13
Cape Coast Castle and Return to Accra
- Depart from Elmina to stay at Accra KNUST Guest House, with a stop at the famous Cape Coast slave castle, a sister castle to Elmina slave castle and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where many enslaved people exited to the Americas.
- Go on a walking tour in the castle to continue learning about colonialism in Ghana and slavery in West Africa, and visit the culture center in the castle.
Day 14
Shop for Indigenous Krobo Glass Beads in Accra
- Shop for a strand of indigenous Krobo glass beads from a local producer, including bracelets, necklaces, lockets for men and women, or ladies' waist strands.
- Drive to visit Tet and TK Beads, where you can find a variety for yourself or loved ones at home to show them Ghana. Return to KNUST and take the rest of the day off.
- While cooling off for the day, enjoy a sunset with a laborious walk down to Osu Oxford Street by yourself for sightseeing or to have a drink in one of the chain restaurants and bars along Oxford Street.
Day 15
Accra Culture Center Visit and Departure
- Visit Accra Culture Center, Ghana's largest cultural market, and meet various artisans. Have lunch and end the tour with a drive to the airport.
The route
Where you'll travel
The fine print
Trip details
What's Included
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Driver/guide and all other road expenses
- Entrance fees
What's Not Included
- Extra hours on a safari drive and walk at Mole National Park and Shai Hills Resource Reserve
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes and light clothing
Know before you go
- There is only a certain amount of preparation that you can do, and one thing you need to keep in mind about traveling in Ghana is this: if you can stay flexible, keep an open heart, and adjust to Ghanaian time, you will always love to come back for sure.
- Visa: A visa must be obtained prior to arrival and is required for all travelers except nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Zimbabwe. You cannot get a visa or entry permit on arrival at the airport. However, visas can be extended once you are in the country. Please give yourself plenty of time to contact the Ghanaian embassy in your area to find out the latest requirements, as it may also take some time to receive your visa.
- Vaccinations: Check for necessary vaccinations a couple of months prior to your visit. You will need a Yellow fever vaccination, and remember to bring your health certificate, as this will be checked by Customs. Even though Ghana is working very hard toward malaria eradication, you are also advised to consult a travel clinic well in advance so that you may begin the usual anti-malaria care.
- Currency: Ghana's official currency is the Cedi. We might not be able to arrive at the bank during business hours, especially on Saturdays and Sundays when banks are closed, so it would be a good idea to bring a mix of American dollars, an ATM card, and a Visa card so you can use ATM machines. Also, in a pinch, American dollars will be accepted in some transactions.
Logistics
Meeting & route
Meeting point
Accra Kotoka International Airport, Ghana
Tour start
Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey
Your 15 days finish where they began, in Greater Accra Region.
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Starting from
USD
2,830
/person
Book This Tour
Starting from
Estimated room rates
Single Room
$2,830.00 — $3,429.00
Double Sharing
$2,830.00
When
Travellers
Rooms
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