An elephant walking across open red earth at Mole National Park, with low trees and a hazy sky behind

Route · 16–18 days

The whole board

Accra → Volta highlands → Kumasi & Ashanti → Mole & the Savannah Region → Tamale & the Northern Region → Upper East & Upper West

The whole board16–18 days

Start from this route

The shape of the journey

South to north in one journey: Accra, the Volta highlands, Kumasi, walking with elephants at Mole, Tamale, and the painted houses of Sirigu, then a flight back to Accra.

The drive from the highlands to Kumasi and from Kumasi to Mole are full days; we break them. The flight back from Tamale saves two days on the road. (to verify) (to verify) (to verify)

Start from this route

The whitewashed mud-built mosque at Larabanga with its pointed buttresses and protruding timbers, beside a large tree

House by house

Nights are suggestions. We adjust them to your pace, the season and the festival calendar.

Stop 01
Accra 2 nights
Arrive, rest, and meet the city through its old quarter and its galleries.
Stop 02
Volta highlands 3 nights
Via Akosombo to the highlands: Wli Falls, Afadjato and the monkeys of Tafi Atome.
Stop 03
Kumasi & Ashanti 3 nights
Court, market and makers. A long but beautiful drive west through the forest belt.
Stop 04
Mole & the Savannah Region 2 nights
North to the savannah, broken at a waterfall or a weavers' town. Two dawn walks with the elephants.
Stop 05
Tamale & the Northern Region 1 night
Larabanga on the way, guinea fowl for dinner.
Stop 06
Upper East & Upper West 3 nights
Bolgatanga's weavers, a night at Sirigu, the ponds at Paga. Then back to Tamale for the flight to Accra.
Stop 07
Accra 1 night
One last night by the sea before the flight home.

Good to know

Length

16–18 days, including arrival and departure days.

Roads and flights

The drive from the highlands to Kumasi and from Kumasi to Mole are full days; we break them. The flight back from Tamale saves two days on the road. (to verify)

Best season

November to March is the most reliable window for most of this route. See when to go for each region.

Rooms

Comfortable rather than lavish outside Accra, and we say which. See stays.