Tamale, Ghana

Summary
Volunteer and live in northern Ghana.

Programs

   • Community Development

Location
Tamale is the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. It takes 11 hours by bus to reach Tamale from the capital city Accra. The population is about 300,000, with a significant number of expats and foreign volunteers in the region.

Language
English is the official language and widely spoken. The primary local language is Dagbani. Other languages include Akan, Ewe, and Ga.

Accommodations
You will stay with a local Ghanaian family who will provide you with your own room, most meals, include you in family activities, and generally help you adjust to and learn about their culture and country. Our families can host more than one volunteer at a time, so you can stay in the same house with your friend(s) or partner. You can also stay in separate host families that are very near to each other. The host families have been hand-picked and trained by our local Ghanaian Coordinators.

Meals
Meals usually consist of meat (beef or chicken), beans, potatoes, and a wide variety of other vegetables and fruits. Vegetarians are easily accommodated by our host families.

Communications
We strongly suggest that you have a mobile phone while in Ghana. You can bring an "unlocked" GSM phone from home or buy a mobile phone in either Accra or Tamale for 40-100+ USD. Our local Coordinator can provide you with a free local SIM card for your phone. For Internet access, there are shops about 10-minutes away from your host families. Your host family will also have a phone that you can use for emergencies and local calls.

Transportation
Our local Tamale Coordinator will pick you up at the airport in Accra, and accompany you by public bus to Tamale (11 hours). On a daily basis in Tamale, volunteers are driven from their host family to the volunteer project for free, then back home at the end of the day. At the end of your program, your Coordinator will accompany you back to Accra and take you to the airport.

Health & Safety
Tamale is very safe in terms of personal safety as well as health. The biggest problem faced by volunteers is usually an occasional upset stomach as their bodies adjust to the food and water and warmer climate. There is also the risk of malaria, so check with your travel doctor to see if malaria medication might be appropriate. There are medical clinics and hospitals in Tamale that can handle basic and serious medical problems.

Climate/Weather
The climate of Tamale is very hot and mostly dry. High temperatures range from 87 F in August to 102 F in March. There is a brief wet season in August/September. Click here for the current forecast.

Sightseeing & Activities
There are many sightseeing and cultural events to see in and around the Tamale area and the Northern Region. Some of the highlights include the Tamale Central Market, Mole National Park, Larabanga Mosque, Kintampo Water Falls, Paga Crocodile Ponds and the Paga Nania Slave Camp.