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Voykit pocket guide · Ghana
Sirigu
Half a day to a full day: see the painted houses and buy baskets, then move on to Bolgatanga or Wa. Not a base.
Sirigu is a small village in the Upper East Region known for its traditional painted houses, basketry and pottery. The women-run SWOPA cooperative drives the local economy. Most visitors stop for a few hours on the way between Bolgatanga and the border or Mole National Park.
- Country
- Ghana
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Mar–Jun (hot and dusty), Jul–Oct (rains make roads muddy)
- Stay
- 0–1 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₵200–350 excl. bed · Mid GH₵350–600 excl. bed · High GH₵600+ excl. bed (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
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Basket (small, handwoven) | GH₵30–80 |
| Pottery bowl | GH₵20–50 |
| Meal at a local chop bar | GH₵15–30 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | GH₵5–8 |
| Taxi Bolgatanga–Sirigu (one way) | GH₵80–120 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TML · Tamale Airport
- About 3–4 h by road; the nearest commercial airport.
Typical fares
- Taxi Bolgatanga–Sirigu
- GH₵80–120, about 30 min (check)
- Tro-tro Bolgatanga–Sirigu
- GH₵15–25, about 40 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
Sirigu is walkable; a local guide or taxi from Bolgatanga (about 30 min) is the easiest way to reach the painted houses.
See and do
Known for
- Traditional painted houses and wall paintings
- Basketry and pottery
- SWOPA women's cooperative
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bolgatanga | Taxi or tro-tro, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Nandom | Taxi or tro-tro, about 1 h | 1 h |
| Wa | Taxi or tro-tro, about 2 h | 2 h |
| Mole National Park | Taxi or tro-tro to Larabanga, then park vehicle, about 3–4 h | 3–4 h |
Sleep
- SWOPA guesthouse compound
- Five traditionally decorated rooms inside the cooperative compound; one self-contained, four share a bathroom. Mosquito-proofed.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Mmaremmah-ray |
| Thank you | Pʋʋsʋkapoo-soo-kah |
| How much? | Aŋa ligri la?ah-ngah lee-gree lah |
| Goodbye | Yirimayee-ree-mah |
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
- Roads can be rough after rain; a 4×4 is useful in the wet season.
- The village has no bank or ATM; bring cash in cedis.
- Photographing people or their homes: ask first and expect a small fee.
Sirigu is safe; petty crime is rare. The main risks are road accidents (drive only in daylight) and heat. Carry water and sun protection.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sirigu yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Traditional painted houses and wall paintings
- Basketry and pottery
- SWOPA women's cooperative
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Sirigu, revision 5336936 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5336936
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sirigu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.