A weekend in Ho

Why Ho makes a great weekend

Ho is one of the most likeable towns in Ghana. It sits in a bowl of green hills in the Volta Region, backed by the distinctive cone of Mount Adaklu, and it moves at a gentler pace than Accra. There is no coast here, no big nightlife strip, just a calm regional capital surrounded by some of the finest scenery in the country. For a traveller who wants two days of fresh air, waterfalls and forest without a long expedition, it is close to ideal.

The town itself is compact and friendly, with a good market, decent places to eat and a handful of comfortable places to stay. What really sells a weekend here, though, is what surrounds it. Within an hour or two you have Wli, the tallest waterfall in Ghana and one of the tallest in West Africa, the monkey sanctuary at Tafi Atome, the hilltop village of Amedzofe, and the quiet roads of the central Volta that are a pleasure to drive.

As a Kasoa-based team who run Volta trips through the year, we think Ho is underrated by international visitors who stick to the coast and the castles. It rewards the extra few hours on the road, and a weekend is enough to feel you have properly been somewhere different.

Getting to Ho from Accra

Ho is roughly three to four hours from Accra by road, depending on your exact start point, the traffic out of the city and the route. There are two main ways in. The classic route crosses the Volta at the Adomi bridge near Atimpoku, a lovely stretch that lets you see the river, while the alternative runs down the coast towards Sogakope and then inland. Your driver-guide will pick the better option on the day based on road conditions.

Because it is a manageable drive, Ho works beautifully as a weekend. Leave Accra on Friday evening or early Saturday, and you are unpacking in the hills by lunchtime with the whole of Saturday afternoon and Sunday to enjoy. If you are arriving into the country, we can also collect you at Kotoka and run you out to the Volta, though most people prefer a night in Accra first.

The roads in the central Volta are generally good, with the usual stretches to watch for, and a driver who knows them makes the journey relaxed rather than a chore. Our getting around Ghana guide explains the transport picture more widely if you are weighing up your options.

Wli waterfall, the headline act

Wli, near Hohoe on the eastern edge of the region, is the reason many people come to this part of the Volta. It is the tallest waterfall in Ghana, tumbling down a forested cliff on the Ghana to Togo border, and the setting is genuinely special. Getting to the lower falls is a pleasant, mostly flat forest walk of around forty minutes that crosses a few small bridges, so most reasonably mobile visitors manage it. When you arrive, the spray, the roar and the colony of fruit bats on the cliff face make the effort worthwhile.

The upper falls are a different proposition, a steep, sweaty climb of a couple of hours each way that is only for those who are fit and properly shod. Most weekend visitors are very happy with the lower falls, and there is no shame in that. The pool at the bottom is refreshing after the walk, and the whole site is well managed by the local community with guides available at the entrance.

Bring proper footwear, water and something for the rain if the skies look uncertain, because the trail can be muddy. The falls are at their most dramatic in and after the rainy season, though they run year-round.

Monkeys at Tafi Atome and the Amedzofe hills

The Tafi Atome monkey sanctuary is one of the gentler highlights of the region and a firm favourite with families. The Mona monkeys here are considered sacred by the local community and have been protected for generations, so they are used to visitors and will come close, sometimes taking a banana from your hand under the guide's supervision. Early morning is the best time, when the monkeys are most active, and the community-run visit is a good example of tourism that genuinely benefits a village.

Amedzofe, one of the highest settlements in Ghana, is another rewarding stop if you have the time. From the village you can walk up to a viewpoint, and the fitter members of your group can tackle the trail towards Mount Gemi and the Ote waterfall. The air up here is cool and the views over the surrounding hills are among the best in the country.

How much of this you fit into a weekend depends on your pace. A relaxed trip might do Wli and Tafi Atome and save Amedzofe for a longer visit; an energetic group can string more together. We shape it around what you enjoy, and our hiking in Ghana guide has more on the walking here.

Ho town itself

Do not treat Ho purely as a base to sleep in. The town has its own quiet charm and is worth an unhurried hour or two. The central market is lively and a good place to see everyday Volta life, the food is honest and satisfying, and the setting beneath Mount Adaklu gives even a stroll around town a scenic backdrop. There are a few decent spots for a cold drink in the evening and to eat well without any fuss.

Adaklu itself is a proper hike for those who want one, a steep climb up the mountain that dominates the skyline south of town, with wide views from the top. It is not a casual amble, so factor in the heat and your fitness, but for keen walkers it is a highlight. The Volta Region is also the home of the Ewe people, and you will notice the language, the food and the kente traditions differ from what you may have seen elsewhere in the country.

If textiles interest you, the region has its own weaving heritage, and our kente and textiles guide gives the wider context of Ghanaian cloth.

Food, festivals and Ewe culture

The Volta is Ewe country, and the food reflects it. Alongside the national favourites you will find akple, a smooth fermented maize dish, served with rich okra or fish stews that are a regional signature. The fish here often comes from the Volta and the lake, and freshwater tilapia grilled or in soup is a treat. Simpler places serve honest banku, jollof and waakye, and the market stalls are the place for street snacks. If Ghanaian food is new to you, our Ghanaian food guide sets the scene before you arrive.

The region has a strong festival calendar too. The Hogbetsotso festival of the Anlo Ewe, celebrated later in the year further south towards Anloga, commemorates the migration of the Ewe people and is a colourful, meaningful event. Around the central Volta you may also come across smaller local celebrations depending on the season. If your dates line up with a festival we will tell you and factor it in, since these can transform a visit but also change what is open and how busy the roads are.

Above all, Volta people are welcoming and proud of their region. A little courtesy, greeting people warmly and asking before you photograph anyone, goes a long way and makes the weekend richer.

Where to stay in and around Ho

Ho has a reasonable spread of accommodation, from simple guesthouses to a few more comfortable hotels with pools and proper restaurants. It is not a luxury destination, but you can sleep well and eat well without difficulty. Staying in or just outside Ho keeps you central for exploring, while some visitors prefer to base nearer Hohoe if Wli is their main focus, which shortens the drive to the falls.

Because this is a compact weekend, we usually recommend one good base in the Ho area and day trips out to the falls and the monkeys, rather than moving hotels for a single night. That keeps the packing simple and the driving sensible. Standards and availability shift through the year, so rather than quote fixed rates we check what is genuinely available for your dates and match you to something clean and reliable.

Whatever your budget band, tell us and we will be honest about what each place is really like. We would rather set the right expectation than oversell a room. Breakfast is included at most of the hotels we use, and a few have pools that are very welcome after a warm day at the falls, which is worth asking about when you enquire.

A sample two-day weekend

Here is how a typical weekend flows. Saturday: leave Accra early, cross into the Volta and reach Ho by lunchtime. After settling in, drive out to Tafi Atome for the afternoon to meet the monkeys while they are active, then return to Ho for the evening. If you left very early, you might squeeze in a first look at the town market.

Sunday: an early start for Wli, doing the forest walk to the lower falls in the cool of the morning before the heat and any crowds. Cool off at the pool, have lunch near Hohoe, then begin the drive back to Accra in the afternoon, arriving in the evening. If you have a third day, add Amedzofe or Mount Adaklu for the fitter members of the group.

This is a flexible template, not a fixed schedule. Families often slow it down, keen walkers speed it up and add a summit, and photographers want to be at the falls first thing. For more ideas on short breaks out of the city, our Accra day trips guide is a useful companion.

Practical notes and honest caveats

A few honest pointers. The central Volta is greener and can be wetter than the coast, so the waterfalls are fullest after rain but the trails are muddier and the views hazier. If clear hilltop views are your priority, aim for the drier months covered in our best time to visit Ghana guide; if you want the falls in full flow, the rainy season delivers. Either way, pack shoes you can walk in and something light for the evening cool.

Wli sits right on the Togo border, but the falls themselves are firmly on the Ghana side and you do not cross anywhere, so no paperwork is involved. Carry some cash for community entry fees and guides, as card acceptance is limited out here. Sun protection, insect repellent and water are all worth having. Mobile signal is fine in the towns but patchy in the deeper forest and hills.

We will always tell you honestly if the weather or road conditions suggest reshuffling the plan. The Volta is a place to slow down and enjoy, and a weekend is enough to leave feeling you have had a real change of scene.

Let us plan your Ho weekend

A Volta weekend is far more relaxing when the driving, the timing and the base are handled for you. As a Kasoa-based team who run these trips regularly, we know the routes into the region, which order to visit the falls and the monkeys, and how to pace two days so you are not rushing from one thing to the next.

Tell us your dates, your group size and whether you lean towards easy sightseeing or proper walking, and we will send a tailored weekend plan and quote. We can keep it to a tidy two days or extend it into a longer Volta and Eastern Region loop taking in the lake and beyond.

First visit or return trip, we will make your Ho weekend easy, comfortable and genuinely refreshing. Message us on WhatsApp or use the enquiry form, and let us build it around you.

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