The Volta Region is a thin piece of lush forested land situated between the Volta Lake and Togo inhabited by primary the Ewe people. This area is probably the best area for Eco-tourists to visit in Ghana, with its many community based tourism projects and the off the path feel.
The Volta has an interesting history in that it was part of the former German colony of Togoland, then became a French Colony before integrated into Ghana at the time of independence. Soon after independence the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah commissioned the building of the Volta dam which created the largest man-madereservoir in the world which separated the Volta region from the rest of Ghana. Not only is the history different from the rest of Ghana but so is the geography. This area boasts the tallest mountains, and has more significant elevation changes than other areas in Ghana. From the shores of lake Volta, the green hills and mountains rise up to the Togo border, making for a little cooler temperate climate, that is great for exploring and hiking. All these reason combined with the friendly people and affordability make the Volta region one of the greatest places in Ghana to spend some time and slow down and get a feel for life there.
One of our Guides George is from the Volta and he loves to take visitors there and show them his home, and farm’s of his friends and family.
Activities: Hiking Biking Waterfall pool swimming Wildlife viewing (primarily primates) Interacting with villages with community based tourism programs Learning about bead making, kente weaving, and other local crafts
Wli Waterfall
Highlight Destinations:
- Aburi Botanical Gardens
- Tetteh Quarshie cocoa farm
- Cedi Bead Factory
- Borti Falls
- Kalapka Resource Reserve
- Avatime hills
- Amedzofe Falls
- Mt. Gemi
- Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary
- Agummatse (Wli) Waterfall
- Kyabobo National Park
Day 1:
Upon arrival at the Accra airport you will be met by your guide (driver/Guide/cultural ambassador) who will introduce you to the amazing Ghanaian hospitality that you will come to love. You will be driven to one of the following hotels for the night.
After settling in and relaxing a bit you will have dinner with your guide so you can begin to get to know each other. Soon it will be time to turn in for the night to get some good rest before the next day’s adventures.
Day 2:
Aburi Botanical Gardens
Time to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and drive into the cool hills to the north of Accra. First stop is the Aburi Botanical Gardens, where you will get to see first hand so many of the beautiful plants and flowers that inhabit Ghana and Tropical Africa. You will get to see where your cinnamon comes from, along with Cocoa, and other everyday items that you use back home. Back on the road you will stop at the Cedi Bead Factory on the way to the Volta Region. At the bead factory you will see how glass bottles are recycled and made into beautiful glass beads. You will also get to purchase some of these beads at a great price. In the evening you will arrive in Ho and stay the night at Chance’s Hotel or Freedom Hotel.
Day 3:
Mt. Gemi
Following breakfast you will take advantage of the cool morning and bike into the Kalapka resource reserve and hopefully be gifted with the site of some wildlife before the heat of the day when even they disappear. Back on the road you will ascend into the Avatime hills where you will spend some time on foot exploring Amedzofe waterfall, climbing Mt. Gemi, and descending into a valley of mist to Biakpa to stay the night at the beautiful Mountain Paradise lodge.
Day 4:
Enjoy the Avatime hills, taking advantage of any of the activities you did not get to during the prior day like the river gorge hike, hiking to Amedzofe waterfall, or climb Mt. Gemi, do some mountain biking or explore the villages of Amedzofe, and Biakpa. You can also just choose to relax and enjoy the views and quiet scenery.
Tafi Atome
Day 5:
In the morning you will continue with a hike to Tafi Atome village and Monkey Sanctuary where monkeys have traditionally been sacred to the village for hundreds of years. This is a wonderful example of traditional African conservation still at work. This community based ecotourism project also offers short day hikes to the surrounding areas and tours of the village. You can spend the morning looking around this beautiful area. Continuing on the road to the north the next Stop is Ho Hoe for lunch. In the afternoon you will take a short drive out of Ho Hoe into the hills to Wli and check into the Waterfall Heights Lodge.
Day 6:
You will have the option of hiking to the Agummatse (Wli) Waterfall, probably the most significant waterfall in the area, said to be the highest in West Africa, there is some contention though as to if that title applies to the elevation of the falls or the height which the water falls. Either way it is a spectacularly beautiful sight and nice hike, with the potential for a dip in the pool at the bottom. Alternatively you could take a short hike to the falls in the morning and then head up the road a little ways and then you can hike to the Eco-Village of Wli Todzi staying the night in a home stay. From there the upper falls is an easy hike. If the homestay and longer hike are not for you, you can enjoy the comfort of Waterfall heights one more night.
Day 7:
Leaving Wli and the falls behind you will head further north to Ghana’s newest National Park Kyabobo. Here you will check into the beautiful national park guest house not too far from the foot of the park and the breast mountians. If you have the energy, an evening bike ride around the area is a great way to get a feel for your new surroundings.
Hiking in Kyabobo National Park
Day 8:
There are so many things to do and see in and around Kyabobo. There ar a number of great day hikes, one going up a creek revine where you cross the creek close to 17 times as you wind your way up to find a refreshing waterfall, you can stop there or continue up the steep path to the even larger upper falls. On the outskirts of the park you can hike to a series of villages that are called the hanging villages because of the way they cling to the side of the mountains. Some travelers say the hanging villages remind them a lot of those in Nepal. There are falls that can be visited near the villages or you can visit the chief, where you will drink some local gin and poor libations to the spirits.
The Breast Mountains, Kyabobo National Park
An overnight expedition into the park can be arranged for a truly unique experience. Mountain bike are available and would be a great way to explore the villages that surround the park. If you are at Kyabobo during the right time of the year you can even inner tube the river that is the border between Ghana and Togo, what a great way to cool off.
Day 9:
Waterfall in Kyabobo National Park
You will get another day to explore this wonderful national park some or just enjoying a leisurely walk or getting into some more adventure activities.
Day 10:
On the last day of the trip you will drive back to Accra at a leisurely pace with some stops for food and at some great places to get some crafts.
Check out our add-on adventures, a beach stay add-on or the North add-on trip would be a great extension to this trip to get to experience even more of Ghana.
Option A: Traveling in a sedan with the following accommodation
View from Akofa Guest House
Night 1: Rising Phoenix Magic Resort, in Accra
Nights 2: Chances Hotel, in Ho
Nights 3-4: Akofa Guest House, in Amodzofe
Night 5: Waterfall Lodge, in Wli
Night 6-10: Kyabobo Guest House, at Kyabobo National Park
Single Traveler $1895
Two Travelers $1750/person
Four Travelers $960/person
Option B: Traveling in a sedan with the following accommodation
Kyabobo National Park Guest House
Night 1: Pink Hostel, in Accra
Nights 2: Freedom Hotel, in Ho
Nights 3-4: Akofa Guest House, in Amodzofe
Night 5: Waterfall Lodge, in Wli
Night 6-10: Kyabobo Guest House, at Kyabobo National Park
Single Traveler $1929
Two Travelers $1816/person
Four Travelers $1025/person
Option C: Traveling in a sedan with the following accommodation
The Coffee House at Mountain Paradise Lodge
Night 1: Afia African Village, in Accra
Nights 2: Chances Hotel, in Ho
Nights 3-4:Mountain Paradise Lodge, in Biakpa
Night 5: Waterfall Lodge, in Wli
Night 6-10: Kyabobo Guest House, at Kyabobo National Park
Single Traveler $2055
Two Travelers $1834/person
Four Travelers $1042/person
What does this tour include?
This tour includes:
- Transportation during the length of the tour while in Ghana
- Driver/Guide
- Accommodations
- Breakfast
What does this tour not include?
You will be responsible for the following costs:
- Airfare to and from Ghana (usually around $1300 to $2000)
- Activities and entrance fees (budget around $200)
- Tips
- Lunch and Dinner (budget around $325)
- Survivors and crafts
