Introduction

Ho is only three hours from Accra, yet for most Ghanaians it may as well be another country. The air is cooler, the streets are quieter, and the hills on the horizon are not a backdrop — they are the destination. The Volta Region receives over two million visitors annually, but Ho itself — the region’s capital — remains one of the most underexplored cities in Ghana. The waterfalls, mountains, wildlife sanctuaries, and cultural sites packed into a radius of one hour’s drive from the city centre would keep a curious traveller busy for a week. Most visitors spend a single night.

This guide changes that. Whether you are driving up for a long weekend from Accra, planning a conference retreat, or simply looking for a reason to finally make the trip, here are the seven experiences that make Ho worth the journey — and why Hotel Stevens on the main SSNIT Flat Road is the perfect base for all of them. Everything on this list is within 45 minutes of the hotel. The location score from Hotel Stevens guests is 5.0 out of 5, and once you arrive, you will understand why.

1. Wli Waterfalls — West Africa’s Tallest Waterfall

Let’s start at the top. Wli Waterfalls — pronounced ‘Vlee’ — is the highest waterfall in West Africa, plunging 80 metres over ancient cliffs into clear natural pools below. Fed by the Agumatsa River flowing from neighbouring Togo, the falls sit inside the Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary, a lush forest teeming with over 200 species of birds and 400 species of butterflies. The name itself is poetic: Agumatsa means ‘Allow Me to Flow’ in the Ewe language.

There are two trails. The lower falls trail is a gentle 2.2 km walk through semi-deciduous forest, crossing nine footbridges, and takes about 30 to 40 minutes. It is suitable for all fitness levels and ages — the path is mostly flat, shaded, and extraordinary. At the base, a colony of fruit bats roosts high on the cliffs, and the mist from the falls is refreshingly cool even in the dry season. The upper falls trail is a serious 3 to 4 hour return hike requiring a guide, but rewards the adventurous with isolation, sweeping mountain views, and a swimming hole you are likely to have entirely to yourself.

Practical tips: arrive early (before 9am) to beat the heat and catch the bats before they disperse. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes — the trail can be slippery in the wet season (April to October). Bring water, a light rain jacket, and a camera with a good lens for the spray. Entrance fees apply at the visitor centre. A guide for the upper trail is mandatory and bookable on-site.

From Hotel Stevens Wli Falls is the first thing many Hotel Stevens guests do on a Saturday morning — it is 45 minutes by car on well-surfaced roads. Return in time for the pool and a long lunch.

2. Volta Lake — The World’s Largest Artificial Reservoir (30–60 min from Ho)

The statistics alone are staggering. Lake Volta covers 8,502 square kilometres — making it the largest artificial reservoir in the world by surface area. It was created in 1965 by the Akosombo Dam, which simultaneously resettled over 70,000 people from 740 villages, flooded nearly 850,000 hectares of forest, and became the primary source of Ghana’s hydroelectric power. Standing at the shoreline near Kpandu or Dzemeni, the scale is hard to process. The far bank is not visible. The surface changes colour as the sun moves.

For visitors, the lake offers canoe rides with local fishermen, sunset views that rank among the most serene in Ghana, and a window into the fishing communities that have rebuilt their lives along the water’s edge since resettlement. Boat cruises are available from Kpandu Torkor, and the lake’s island of Dodi has become a growing eco-tourism destination. If you simply want to sit by the water and feel the distance between you and Accra growing, a lakeside lunch on the Kpandu shoreline will do it.

Best paired with Volta Lake makes an excellent afternoon after a morning at Wli Falls — the calm water is the perfect counterpoint to the thundering falls.

3. Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary — Ghana’s Most Intimate Wildlife Experience (45 min from Ho)

For over 200 years, the Mona monkeys of Tafi Atome have been considered sacred by the village community — messengers of the gods, protected by traditional law before conservation became a concept. In 1993, working with the Peace Corps, the village formalised this protection into one of Africa’s most successful community-based ecotourism projects. Today, a thriving population of Mona and Patas monkeys inhabits the 28-hectare sacred grove surrounding the village.

What makes Tafi Atome genuinely special is the intimacy of the experience. A local guide leads you into the forest and calls the monkeys with a sound the community has used for generations. Within minutes, they appear — leaping from branch to branch, then descending within arm’s reach. With a few bananas (purchased at the visitor centre), the Mona monkeys will climb onto your arms, sit on your shoulders, and look at you with the direct, curious gaze of a creature that has never learned to fear humans. It is one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in West Africa, and it costs almost nothing. The entire guided walk takes 60 to 90 minutes.

Tourism revenue has funded electricity for the village, improvements to the school, and a community clinic. When you visit, you are directly supporting conservation and community development.

4. Tagbo Falls, Liati Wote — The Hidden Waterfall (60 min from Ho)

Less visited than Wli but no less beautiful, Tagbo Falls in the mountain village of Liati Wote is reached by a lovey 40-minute flat hike from the visitor centre through a forest thick with butterflies — over 300 species have been recorded in the area. The falls cascade into a cool, clear swimming pool at their base, and the surrounding forest amplifies the sound until you feel it in your chest before you see it.

Liati Wote itself is worth the drive. The village sits in the shadow of Mount Afadjato, Ghana’s highest mountain, and the views of the valley below as you approach are among the most photogenic in the Volta Region. For those with the time and energy, Tagbo Falls and Mount Afadjato can be combined into a single full day — the trailheads start from the same location. Guides are available at the visitor centre.

Two-waterfall itinerary Serious travellers often pair Wli Falls in the morning with Tagbo Falls in the afternoon on the same day — it is a full but magnificent day in the Volta hills.

5. Mount Afadjato — Ghana’s Highest Free-Standing Mountain (60 min from Ho)

Standing at 885 metres above sea level, Mount Afadjato is Ghana’s highest free-standing mountain and one of the most rewarding hikes in West Africa. The name comes from the Ewe language — ‘Afadja’ refers to an itchy bush the early Ewe migrants encountered on the slopes, and ‘to’ means mountain. The name translates, evocatively, as ‘ at war with the bush.’

The trail is approximately 3 km long and takes around 2 to 2.5 hours to complete, with steep inclines and rocky terrain in the upper section. A local guide is required and bookable at the visitor centre in Liati Wote. The reward at the summit is panoramic: on a clear day you can see across into neighbouring Togo, across the Volta Region’s green hills, and — on the clearest mornings — catch a distant glint of Lake Volta to the west. Start early. The mountain has little shade and the ascent is significantly more comfortable before 9 am.

6. Volta Regional Museum — The Cultural Anchor of Ho (5 min from Hotel Stevens)

Established in 1973, the Volta Regional Museum is one of Ghana’s oldest regional museums and a genuine cultural treasure. Its collection of Ewe artefacts — traditional musical instruments, kente weaving tools, ceremonial dress, and historical objects — provides the contextual lens through which everything else you see in the region makes more sense. The migration stories, the festivals, the architecture of the villages you pass through on the way to the waterfalls — the museum connects all of it.

Unlike the natural attractions, the museum requires no hiking boots and no full day. It is a perfect rainy-morning option, a cultural anchor before heading into the hills, or a quiet way to spend a Sunday hour before the drive back to Accra. It is located five minutes from Hotel Stevens by car, making it the most accessible item on this entire list.

7. Ho’s Food and Market Scene — The Taste of the Volta Region

No travel experience is complete without eating well, and in Ho, the food tells the story of the Volta Region more directly than any museum could. The Volta Regional Market near the city centre is one of the most vibrant weekly markets in eastern Ghana, with stalls selling local spices, smoked lake fish, hand-woven fabrics, and produce you will not find in Accra’s supermarkets. The market buzzes hardest on Saturdays and is worth at least an hour of unhurried wandering.

For visitors who want to experience Volta cuisine at its best — without the uncertainty of finding the right chop bar — Hotel Stevens’ restaurant is consistently praised as the best food in Ho by guests and local reviewers alike. The palava sauce, ademe soup with eba, and grilled Volta Lake tilapia are the dishes to order. They are cooked fresh, drawn from local ingredients, and represent a culinary tradition that most visitors from Accra have never encountered. The restaurant is open to guests and non-guests alike — and for many Hotel Stevens visitors, it becomes the default dinner plan every evening of their stay.

How to Split These Across Two Days

Day 1: Arrive at Hotel Stevens, check in, and spend the afternoon at the Volta Regional Museum (5 min away). Evening: dinner at the hotel restaurant — palava sauce and grilled tilapia are the starting point. Day 2: Early start to Wli Falls (45 min). Return by midday, lunch, then afternoon at the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary (45 min). Return to the hotel for a pool swim before dinner. Day 3 if you have it: Mount Afadjato in the morning, Tagbo Falls in the afternoon, Volta Lake sunset before the drive back to Accra. This is the Volta Region at its best, and Hotel Stevens is your base for all of it.

Conclusion

Ho offers more natural and cultural variety than most Ghanaians realise — and all of it sits within easy reach of one central base. Whether you are planning a solo adventure, a family weekend, or a couple’s escape, Hotel Stevens puts you at the heart of everything the Volta Region has to offer. Spacious rooms with balconies, a swimming pool, a restaurant serving authentic Ghanaian cuisine, and free parking for over 80 vehicles mean you return to comfort after every outing.

Ready to explore Ho? Book your stay at Hotel Stevens and use it as your Volta Region base. Free parking, free breakfast, and a pool waiting when you return. →  Book your room at hotelstevens.com

Hotel Stevens guests rate our location 5 out of 5 — because everything on this list is on your doorstep.