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.

See

• 1 Bolgatanga Library. 8am to 5pm. The Bolgatanga Library is a notable design of award-winning American architect J. Max Bond, Jr., who was influenced by Le Corbusier. Bond lived in Ghana for four years in the 1960s, escaping racism in the United States. The Bolgatanga library was his first major project while working for the national construction company. The design features perforated walls and an "umbrella" shaped roof, so the structure remains cool and well ventilated. free. (updated Feb 2023)
• 2 Sumbrungu Painted houses. 6AM - 10PM. One of the most distinctive features in the Upper East Region are the traditional villages that dot the landscape. These villages generally feature round thatched roof huts, painted with decorative motifs in striking colors. A beautiful example of traditional paintings is found in the village of Sumbrungu, eight kilometers from Bolgatanga on the way going to Paga. (updated Feb 2023)
• 3 Bogatanga Markets. 6AM - 10PM. Bolgatanga offers two main Markets. The Old market and the new market are located near the Bolgatanga Bawku Road. Here you can buy anything from food stuffs to wristlets to smocks, a traditionally northern-Ghana piece of clothing. (updated Feb 2023)

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.

• 1 Top Hotel Ghana (Few meters from the Asankunde Memorial Hospital), ☏ +233 501530248. A hotel with Free Wi-Fi, Free breakfast, Free parking, Pool, Laundry service, Kid-friendly environment,
  Restaurant, and Airport shuttle. GHS 600 - 800 per night. (updated Feb 2023)

Go next

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