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Back to Paga

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Voykit pocket guide · Ghana

Paga

Half a day: touch a sacred crocodile at the ponds, then visit the Pikworo Slave Camp. Not a base — sleep in Bolgatanga or continue to Burkina Faso.

Paga is a small border town known for its sacred crocodile ponds where visitors can safely touch live crocodiles, and the nearby Pikworo Slave Camp, a 18th–19th century inland slave-holding site. The town itself has one market and a few basic lodgings; most travellers stop for a few hours en route between Bolgatanga and Burkina Faso.

AbeaseAburiAda FoahAdaAdanwomaseAdenta EastAflaoAgonaAhwiaaAkwidaaApamAximBamboiBawkuPaga200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Ghana
Best months
Nov–Feb
Avoid
Apr–Oct (rainy season, some roads become muddy)
Stay
0 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
GHS
Money
Currency is the Ghanaian cedi (GHS, GH₵). Cards work in larger hotels, malls and some restaurants in Accra; most other payments are cash.
Daily spend
Budget GH₵100–200 · Mid GH₵200–400 · High GH₵400+ (estimate; check)
SIM and data
MTN has the widest coverage, with Telecel (ex-Vodafone) and AT as alternatives; SIMs need a passport and Ghana Card-style biometric registration for foreigners at a company shop — check.
Emergency
Police 191 · Fire 192 · Ambulance 193 · General emergency 112
Plugs
Types G, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin sockets are standard; bring a surge-protected adapter for power cuts ('dumsor').
Tipping
Chop bar or street food: Nothing.; Sit-down restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is added.; Driver day: GH₵50–100 a day.; Castle or park guide: GH₵30–60 per group.; Hotel porter: GH₵5–10.
Water
Not safe from the tap. Bottled water or sealed sachets from known brands are sold everywhere.
Toilets
Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; public toilets charge a few cedis. Carry tissue.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Motorbike taxi (short trip)GH₵5–10
Crocodile pond entryGH₵20–100
Pikworo Slave Camp entryGH₵60
Local mealGH₵15–30
Bottle of waterGH₵2–5

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

TML · Tamale Airport
About 4 h south by car; domestic flights from Accra

Typical fares

Paga → Bolgatanga (tro-tro)
about GH₵20–30, 1 h (check)
Paga → Navrongo (tro-tro)
about GH₵10–15, 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Walk — the town is small. Motorbike taxis cost GH₵5–10 for short trips.

See and do

Known for

  • Paga Crocodile Ponds
  • Pikworo Slave Camp
  • Border town with Burkina Faso

Day trips

WhereHowTime
BolgatangaTro-tro or taxi south on the N5, about 1 h1 h
NavrongoTro-tro or taxi south on the N5, about 30 min30 min
Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoTaxi or bus north across the border, about 3–4 h3–4 h

Sleep

Paga town centre
Paga Motel and a few basic guesthouses; limited services, bring cash.
Bolgatanga
Regional capital 1 h south, more accommodation and ATMs.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloAniaah-nee-ah
Thank youPulapoo-lah
How much?Ane nɛ?ah-neh neh
YesƐɛeh-eh
NoAyoah-yoh

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake with the right hand, ask after health and family; avoid: Starting with a question
  • Elders: Stand when an elder enters and let them speak first; avoid: Crossed legs in front of chiefs
  • Hands: Right hand for everything; avoid: Passing money with the left
  • Dress: Smart clothes for churches, offices and palaces; avoid: Beachwear in town
  • Photos: Ask first; offer to show the picture; avoid: Photographing police, soldiers or funerals without permission
  • Funerals: Weekend funerals are public events; guests wear black, red or white as the family specifies; avoid: Treating them as a sight

Scams and watch-outs

  • No ATMs in Paga — bring enough Ghanaian cedis.
  • Crocodile ponds: follow the guide's instructions exactly; the animals are habituated but still wild.
  • Border crossing to Burkina Faso: check visa requirements before you go.
  • Rainy season (Apr–Oct) can make the N5 Highway patchy; drive in daylight.

Paga is generally safe for tourists. The main risks are road travel at night and following the guide's instructions at the crocodile ponds.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Paga yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Paga Crocodile Ponds
  • Pikworo Slave Camp
  • Border town with Burkina Faso

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Paga

Kpɛn mɛ nɛ kpɛn kpɛn kpɛn

Take me to the crocodile ponds, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Kasem is the local language; English is widely spoken.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/paga). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.