Things to do in Ho and the Volta Region

Why the Volta Region is worth the drive

If Accra has left you hot and a little frazzled, the Volta Region is the antidote. Head east and the land rises into green hills, the air turns noticeably cooler and the pace slows right down. This is Ghana's outdoors: waterfalls, forest trails, sacred groves and the vast shine of Lake Volta.

As a Kasoa-based team who run this loop regularly, we think it is one of the country's most underrated corners. It rarely feels crowded, the welcome in the villages is warm and genuine, and you can pack real variety into a long weekend.

Ho, the regional capital, is the natural base — well placed for day trips in every direction, with places to stay and eat and a relaxed, small-city feel. For a broader route that includes the region, see our Ghana 7-day itinerary. If you are easing east from the capital, the ridge towns and Aburi Gardens on the Akuapem ridge make a lovely cool-air stop on the way.

Wli Waterfalls and Mount Afadja

Two sights anchor any Volta trip. Wli Waterfalls, near Hohoe, is the tallest in West Africa and the region's headline act. The lower falls are an easy, flat walk through forest with a guide; the upper falls are a longer, sweatier hike for those who want to earn the view. The cliffs above are home to colonies of fruit bats — look up.

Mount Afadja (often written Afadjato) is Ghana's highest peak and a genuinely steep little climb. It is short but demanding, and the summit view over rolling hills into Togo is a fine reward. Go early before the heat, wear proper shoes and take plenty of water.

If you enjoy being on your feet, our hiking in Ghana guide sets these walks alongside the country's other trails. Guides are arranged locally at each site; confirm current fees on arrival.

Monkeys, mountains and lakeside calm

Beyond the big two, the region rewards slow exploring. At Tafi Atome, a community sanctuary protects troops of mona monkeys that come down to greet early-morning visitors — a gentle, joyful stop, especially with children. Nearby Amedzofe is one of Ghana's highest settlements, with a short walk to the Ote waterfall and cool, misty views.

Then there is Lake Volta itself, one of the world's largest reservoirs. Towns like Akosombo, near the great dam, offer boat trips and lakeside lodges where the water simply stretches away. It is the perfect place to end a busy few days doing very little.

Getting there and getting around

Ho sits around three to four hours east of Accra by road. The drive itself is pleasant, especially the stretch that skirts the lake, but the sites are spread out once you arrive and public transport between villages is limited and time-consuming.

For that reason we usually recommend a private car with a driver for the Volta Region — it turns a fiddly logistical puzzle into a smooth, flexible few days, and lets you stop for photos and roadside food whenever the mood strikes. Our guide to getting around Ghana explains the options honestly if you would rather go independently.

Whichever way you travel, allow more time than the map suggests; the joy here is in not rushing.

Practical tips and honest caveats

A few honest notes. The best months are the drier ones, when trails are firmer and roads easier, though the waterfalls are naturally fullest after rain — a genuine trade-off, and our month-by-month weather guide helps you time it. Bring insect repellent, sun protection and cash, as card payments are rare outside the bigger hotels. Mobile phone signal is patchy in the hills, so download maps and directions before you set off each morning.

Site fees and guide charges change, so please confirm current prices when you arrive rather than relying on old figures online. And speak to a doctor or travel clinic about malaria precautions before any trip into rural Ghana — this is not the place to guess.

Do all that and the Volta Region will likely be the part of Ghana you talk about most when you get home.

Plan your Volta escape

Waterfalls, monkeys, a proper mountain and a lake that runs to the horizon — the Volta Region packs Ghana's best of the outdoors into one green, restful corner, with Ho as your comfortable base.

As a team who live in Kasoa and run this loop regularly, we are happy to shape a trip around your pace, whether that is an energetic long weekend or a slow lakeside unwind. Message us on WhatsApp or start planning today.

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