A Guide to the Volta Region, Ghana: The Best Things to Do (2024)

9.2K

How I loved the Volta region in Ghana – the first place during my stay in West Africa where I could truly relax!

There are not a lot of foreigners in Ghana, which means that walking on the streets of cities like Accra feels like being a celebrity. People want to chat with you, take pictures with you and be your friend, they shout “obruni” (which means foreigner in Twi) and cars stop to ask for your number…

…and this happens ALL THE TIME.

Don’t get me wrong – Ghanaians are very friendly and extremely helpful people but it does get exhausting after a while. So I decided to escape into nature and headed to the eastern part of Ghana, to the Volta region.

The Volta region offers everything an outdoor lover could wish for. It’s home to Ghana’s highest mountain, West Africa’s highest waterfall, some amazing wildlife and beautiful lakes. This is the ideal region to escape the city, relax and enjoy everything nature has to offer.

Here’s a guide that will help you plan your travels in this part of Ghana. It includes the best tourist sites in the Volta Region as well as some useful information (when to visit, where to stay, etc.) at the end of this post.

Things to Do in the Volta Region of Ghana

So, let’s dive right into it! Here are the best things to do in the Volta Region.

1. Hike and swim at the Wli waterfall

The beautiful Wli Waterfall is the highest in West Africa. It’s locally known as the Agoomatsa Waterfall, which means “allow me to flow”.

When you’re visiting this waterfall there are two options: you can do the short hike or the long hike. The short hike will take you to the lower waterfall directly, which is a 40-minute walk through the forest.

I opted for the long hike and took the short hike to go back. The long hike will take you to the upper fall first and to the lower falls next.

It’s good to know that the hike to the upper falls is a somewhat challenging 2 to 3-hour walk uphill (in the African heat). The view is worth it, though, it’s a very beautiful hike.

This being said, I was so happy to reach the lower falls and take a refreshing plunge afterward!

2. Visit the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary

The Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary is a community-run sanctuary. Here, you can spend some time observing the mona monkeys that roam around freely in the forest. 

These monkeys were once sacred because it was believed that they were messengers from the gods. Back then, it was forbidden to kill them. When villagers started to convert to Christianity, however, more and more people ignored this restriction and killed these animals, which led to declining numbers.

The Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary was founded in 1993 to protect the monkeys and the forest. Thanks to this sanctuary’s efforts, the monkey population has increased.

3. Climb Ghana’s highest mountain

One of the best things to do in the Volta Region is to climb the highest mountain in Ghana. Mount Afadja stands at an elevation of 885 m (2.904 ft) above sea level and the view from the top is spectacular.

Climbing this mountain takes about an hour and this can be done with or without a guide. The hike is not that difficult but you will need an average physical condition to reach the top.

Once you reach the top of Mount Afadja, you will be rewarded with spectacular, 360-degree views. You can even see the neighbouring country of Togo from here!

4. Visit Lake Volta

If you want to relax and enjoy the scenery, Lake Volta is the perfect place to do so. This is a huge artificially-created lake in the Ghanaian countryside and it’s after this lake that the region was named.

At Lake Volta, you can either relax by the lake and take in the beautiful scenery or take a boat trip that starts in Akosombo.

Best Time to Visit the Volta Region

Ghana is a destination that can be visited all year, but it’s better to avoid the month of June, as this is the rainiest month.

The coolest months of the year are July, August and September. You can expect temperatures around 25°C (77°F) during these months.

Between October and June, temperatures can climb up to 30°C (86°F) or more and March is the hottest month of the year in Ghana.

I visited the Volta Region in October, and although it was pretty hot, the temperatures were bearable (especially compared to the time I visited the south of India during summer – this is not something I would recommend).

How to Get to the Volta Region in Ghana

The Volta Region is located in the eastern part of Ghana and the city of Ho is its capital. This city is 160 km (100 mi) from Accra. The best places to base yourself while exploring the Volta Region are Volta Lake and the village of Wli Afegame, though.

You can either take public transportation or a private car to get there, but the latter will be more expensive (don’t forget to negotiate the price).

If you’re taking public transportation from Accra, you will have to take a trotro (a shared minivan taxi) from Tudu Station (Accra) to Hohoe. This is a 200 km (124 mi) journey and the second part of the road is in very bad condition, which is why it takes around 5 hours to reach Hohoe.

The trotro will pass by Lake Volta, so if this is where you’re heading, you can ask the driver to drop you there.

If you’re heading to Wli Afegame, you will have to get off in Hohoe and take another trotro from here to Wli. As I arrived late in the evening, there were no more trotros and I had to take a taxi. This part of the journey will take another 45 minutes.

If you don’t want to organize things yourself, you can also take a 2-day tour of the Volta Region. This tour will bring you to the highlights of this region.

Where to Stay in the Volta Region

Apart from Lake Volta, all of the best things to do in the Volta Region are located around the charming village of Wli Afegame. So this is the best place to base yourself while you’re visiting this part of Ghana.

You will find plenty of guesthouses in Wli, however, many of these have bad reviews. This is why I can only recommend the guesthouse I stayed at and loved; Wli Waterfalls Inn.

• Wli Waterfalls Inn (⭐ 8.6/10, $): This affordable hotel offers clean rooms, an on-site restaurant and a garden. I stayed at Wli Waterfalls Inn for 3 nights and enjoyed my stay. The location is perfect and the host is amazing.

Map of the Volga Region, Ghana

You will find a map with all the places to visit in the Volta Region below. Click the pin on the map to see more information about each place.

The Volta Region FAQs

What is the Volta Region of Ghana known for?

Ghana’s Volta Region is famous for being home to the Wli Waterfall, which is the highest waterfall in West Africa. On top of that, you will also find the highest mountain in Ghana here, Mount Afadja.

What language is spoken in the Volta Region of Ghana?

Ewe is the language that’s most widely spoken in the Volta Region. This language is also spoken in Togo and Benin. The official language of Ghana is English, though.

When did the Volta region become part of Ghana?

The Volta Region became a part of Ghana in 1957. This was the year Ghana gained independence and became an independent country. Before, this region was known as the British Protectorate of Togoland and Trans-Volta Togoland.

Ghana’s Volta Region: Final Thoughts

The Volta Region was my favourite part of Ghana, and in my opinion, it’s a place you cannot miss during a visit to this country.

This region of Ghana is full of lush greenery, spectacular sceneries and beautiful waterfalls. It’s here that you will find the highest waterfall in West Africa and the highest mountain in Ghana.

All in all, if you’re a nature lover like me, you will LOVE the Volta Region!

Read more about Ghana:

• Solo Female Travel in Ghana, Togo & Benin
• The Kakum Canopy Walk in Ghana: A Complete Guide
• Slave Castles in Ghana: Cape Coast and Elmina Castle

Pin it for later:
Did you find this post helpful? Save it on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more travel tips and inspiration.