Hidden gems in Tamale
Skip the tourist circuit. These Tamale spots are the ones locals actually send their out-of-town friends to.
Top spots in Tamale
Mole National Park
OutdoorsLarabanga (3 hr)
Ghana's biggest park — elephants and antelope from the lodge waterhole.
Larabanga Mosque
CultureLarabanga (3 hr)
13th-century Sudanese-style mud-and-stick mosque — West African Mecca.
Tamale Central Mosque
CultureCentral
Striking minaret-topped landmark at the heart of Dagomba Tamale.
Cultural Centre Tamale
CultureCentral
Smock weaving, calabash carving and live Dagomba drum lessons.
Mognori Eco-Village
OutdoorsMognori (3 hr)
Canoe safari on the Mole River — homestays and shea-butter workshops.
Tongo Hills
OutdoorsTongo (2.5 hr)
Granite outcrops, sacred shrines and the Tengzug palace tour.
Where to eat
Mike's Place
$$Continental / Ghanaian · Central
Garden seating, cold beers and the best guinea fowl in town.
Swad Fast Food
$$Indian · Central
Quick samosa, biryani and butter chicken — long-time NGO favourite.
Sparkles Restaurant
$$Ghanaian · Education Ridge
Tuo zaafi, ayoyo soup and grilled tilapia under thatched gazebos.
Crest Hotel Restaurant
$$$Continental · Sakasaka
Air-conditioned dining, salads and pasta — slow but reliable.
Luxury Beach Restaurant
$$Pan-African · Lamashegu
Outdoor courtyard, live highlife band on Friday nights.
Frequently asked
- Locals' under-the-radar picks include Mole National Park, Larabanga Mosque, Tamale Central Mosque. These are the places that don't show up on the first page of mainstream travel guides.