Wa

Understand

Wa is the capital of the Upper West Region of Ghana and is the main city of the Wala people. The majority of the inhabitants are Muslim. It is the seat of the Wa-Na, the Paramount Chief of the Wala traditional area. Features of the town include several mosques, the Wa-Na Palace, a museum and a nearby hippopotamus sanctuary. The town serves as a transportation hub for the northwestern part of Ghana, with major roads leading south to Kumasi, north to Hamile and Burkina Faso, and northeast to Tumu and the Upper East Region. There is also a small airport.

A small ex-pat community offers places to stay for couch surfers.

Get in

OA, STC, and Inter city busses busses from Tamale, Kumasi, Tumu, Bolgatana, and Accra if you're brave you can also tro all the way to Wa

Get around

good tro tro service in Wa good taxi service biycyles recommended for longer stays, though Wa lacks the bicycle lanes of Tamale Wa is a small city, and most places can be walked to, though its best avoided during the heat of midday

See

A great view of Wa and the surrounding sahel from the top of Ombo Mountain (accessed near Kalieo on the Nadowli road) Wicchau hippo sanctuary, which is home to more than 50 hippos An ancient, and crumbling, mud and pole mosque, behind the newer central mosque Wa's prolific kasbah, the old part of the city located around the central mosque, known for its narrow, windy streets and passages The impressive new University of Development Studies campus Annual Dumba festival is the main traditional event of Wa. It is typically held in late September to correspond with the harvest. The highlight of the year was a ceremony in which the Wa-na stepped over a small cow lying on the ground. According to traditional belief, if any part of the chief or his clothing touched the cow, he would probably die within the year. If on the other hand he stepped over the cow successfully, he was guaranteed a successful coming year. The sprawling 'Ministries' quarter of town Slave caves and 2km square clearing of unique termite hills shaped like giant mushrooms in nearby Sankana (near Kaleo) The Black Volta River, which serves as the border between Ghana and Burkina Faso, just West of Wa The serene School of the Deaf The beautiful School of the Blind Impressive colonies of weaver birds in large trees downtown Graves of former Wa Na (Wa chiefs) by the palace Tombstones of former British colonial administrators The graves of famous slave traders Central market, which is bustling every sixth day, but more…