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Also known as Bolga, bo er jia tan jia, Bolgatange, borugatanga, Bolagatanga

Bolgatanga (Frafra: Bɔlegataŋa), colloquially known as Bolga, is a town and also the capital of the Bolgatanga Municipal and the Upper East Region of Ghana. It shares a border to the north with Burkina Faso. Bolgatanga is to the north of Tamale. The town lies in the Red Volta Valley (which serves as a major migration route of elephants), with the White Volta and the cliffs of the Gambaga escarpment to the south of the town forming the southern boundary of the Upper East Region. As of 2021, the town has a population of about 142,509 people constituting females (74,659), representing 52.4 % than

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Place details

Locality: Upper East Region
Region: Upper East
Country: Ghana
Population: 81,958
Timezone: Africa/Accra

via OpenStreetMap · GeoNames

Travel guide

Understand

Bolgatanga lies 161 km (about 100 miles) from the north of Tamale. Bolgatanga is known for its crafts of the straw baskets, hats, and leather product that sells both locally and on the international front.

Get in

Public bus from Accra/Kumasi/Tamale is cheap and safer than the maniac private bus drivers. It takes 3 hours from Tamale and you have ready means of transport at any point in time. There is always a ready means at Bolgatanga to major cities like Accra; Kumasi, Mim, Ahafo, Cape Coast, Sunyani, Tamale, Tema, Ho, Wa, Elubo, Aflao, Techiman.

Private car from any medium sized town with driver is always faster and convenient.

Shared Rides: There are shared rides from the major cities that can pick about maximum of 8 people for a shared ride.

Get around

Taxi: Taking a taxi is the easiest way for tourists to get around in Bolga. Expect to pack 4-5 people into a cab before leaving so don't go anywhere in a hurry! Taxis can be found close to the market and bus loop along the Bolga-Tamale road.

Can do: You can also use the "can do" tricycles to commute around town easily and faster. It is very much cheaper than all other kinds of transport services. It is also airy.

Do

Visit the Craft Market where you can buy traditional goods and crafts such as woven baskets, cloth, jewellery and other souvenirs. The Bolga Market, held every three days is where the locals go to buy and sell veggies, grains, animals, cloth and other everyday needs. Go to experience the hustle and bustle of the crowd, and try your hand at bargaining. Take a day trip to Paga to visit the Crocodile Pond and pose with the crocodiles. You could expect to pay about 6 GHC for a photo with the crocodiles.

Buy

Bolga is known as the crafts centre of northern Ghana, with a large central market. Apart from items found elsewhere in Ghana, the so-called "Bolga hats" are made and sold there. Bolgatanga and its surrounding villages also comprise the largest producers of leather works, straw baskets and smocks in the country. The artists sell their works at the Bolgatanga Market, which is open every third day.