Accra → Kakum / Cape Coast → Takoradi
Arrive and rest in Accra, visit Kakum, then continue west in daylight to a Takoradi airport-area hotel—without backtracking to Accra by road.
The purpose
A mission journey with room to breathe.
The schedule deliberately alternates travel, rest, community engagement and nature experiences. Every major transfer now includes realistic buffers for older travelers, current road conditions and airport procedures.
Travelers are active mission participants
The visits with Linda’s school colleagues in Tongo and Dankwa Basic School near Bawjiase are opportunities for listening, teaching, professional exchange and relationship-building—not observational tourism.
Research status: route and flight planning was rechecked October 3, 2026. February 2027 airline schedules, road conditions, security guidance, park access and vendor prices must still be reconfirmed before final payment.
Your route at a glance
A map that works without an outside map service.
This self-contained map cannot lose its background tiles or labels. Use the three large buttons to emphasize the complete journey, the southern section or the northern section.
Takoradi → Accra → Tamale → Tongo → Mole
Takoradi–Tamale is not nonstop. The flight connects in Accra; Tamale is also the planned overnight break between Tongo and Mole.
Accra → Bawjiase / Dankwa → Accra Airport
Return to Accra, visit Dankwa Basic School, stay near Bawjiase, then return for the U.S. flight.
Read the route in order
1
AccraArrival, rest and southern base · Feb 6–7
2
Kakum / Cape CoastHotel Feb 8; park Feb 9
3
Takoradi AirportAirport-area hotel Feb 9; first flight Feb 10
4
TamaleAirport gateway Feb 10 and 15; road-break overnight Feb 12
5
TongoRest and school-colleague mission exchange · Feb 10–12
6
Mole National ParkInside-park lodging and vehicle safari · Feb 13–15
7
Bawjiase / DankwaSchool mission visit and overnight · Feb 16–17
Private road transferDomestic flight
Day by day
The corrected February itinerary.
Use the filters to focus on mission work, travel, rest or nature. “Planning window” means the time includes traffic, road-condition and senior-comfort allowances rather than an unrealistically perfect drive.
Travel dayFri · Feb 5
Depart Portland for Ghana
Begin the international journey from Portland International Airport. A morning-arrival option leaves PDX around 7:00 a.m. and connects at JFK; a longer, lower-pressure alternative connects through Amsterdam and arrives Accra in the evening.
Airport targetAbout 3 hours before PDX departure
Booking ruleOne protected ticket; no self-transfer
AssistanceRequest mobility support when booking
Day 1Sat · Feb 6
Arrive in Accra
Morning arrival is the working plan. Allow 90–120 minutes for immigration, baggage, documents and a restroom stop, followed by a private transfer to the residence. The remainder of the day is reserved for settling in, meals and sleep.
Example landing7:35 a.m. via Delta/JFK
Formalities7:35–9:35 a.m. planning block
Transfer15–75+ minutes; residence-dependent
Day 2Sun · Feb 7
Rest and gentle Accra experience
A flexible recovery day with an optional natural beach, market or light cultural experience. Activities remain short and may be skipped if travelers need more time to adjust.
MorningSleep, breakfast and hydration
OptionalBeach, market or cultural stop
EveningEarly dinner and rest
Day 3Mon · Feb 8
Travel to the Kakum / Cape Coast area
Take the N1 west through the Kasoa–Winneba–Cape Coast corridor, then R82 toward Kakum. The day is intentionally a hotel-transfer day, with no pressured park program after the drive.
Depart7:30 a.m. from Accra
Comfort stopAbout 9:30–9:50 a.m.
Arrive12:30–1:30 p.m. planning window
Day 4Tue · Feb 9
Kakum visit, then continue to Takoradi
Check out before the park visit. Complete the canopy or ground-level alternative in the morning, have lunch, then travel west in daylight to an airport-area Takoradi hotel. This avoids the long road return to Accra and avoids a pre-dawn Cape Coast–Takoradi transfer.
Park8:00–11:00 a.m.
Lunch / depart11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Takoradi hotel4:00–5:00 p.m. planning window
Day 5Wed · Feb 10
Takoradi → Accra → Tamale, then Tongo
There is no scheduled nonstop Takoradi–Tamale service. Use the early Takoradi–Accra sector, allow approximately four hours in Accra for baggage collection and re-checking, then fly to Tamale. Continue to Tongo only if the vetted driver can complete the route safely before darkness.
Working flightsTKD 7:40/7:50 → ACC 8:30; ACC 12:20/12:30 → TML 1:30/1:40
Road145–150 km · allow 3½–4½ hours
Safety gateIf delayed, sleep in Tamale—never force a night drive
Day 6Thu · Feb 11
Rest in northern Ghana
A full recovery day after the flight and road transfer. Meals, hydration, laundry if needed and an optional short local visit only.
LodgingTongo-area accommodation
ActivityOptional and light
PurposeEnergy recovery
Day 7Fri · Feb 12
Linda’s school exchange, then reposition to Tamale
Hold the mission-centered professional exchange in Tongo during the morning. After an early lunch, travel south to Tamale in daylight and sleep there. Moving the final Tongo overnight to Tamale removes the single exhausting Tongo–Mole road day.
School exchange8:00–11:30 a.m.; finish by noon
Depart Tongo12:30–1:00 p.m.
Tamale hotelAbout 4:30–5:30 p.m.; allow 3½–4¼ hours
Day 8Sat · Feb 13
Shorter daylight transfer from Tamale to Mole
After breakfast, use the established Fufulso–N7 route through Damongo and Larabanga to Mole. Arrive around midday, check in, have lunch and rest. Mole’s airstrip is out of use, so this road transfer is the practical option.
Depart Tamale8:00–8:30 a.m.
Planning block2½–3½ hours with one comfort stop
Arrive Mole11:00 a.m.–noon; lunch and rest
Day 9Sun · Feb 14
Mole National Park safari
A guided vehicle safari is the accessible default. A walking safari is optional only after reviewing mobility and health needs. Staying inside the park protects the early wildlife-viewing window.
Default safari7:00–9:00 a.m. drive
MiddayBreakfast, rest and hydration
Optional3:30–5:30 p.m. second drive
Day 10Mon · Feb 15
Drive to Tamale and fly to Accra
Leave Mole early enough for an afternoon domestic flight. The itinerary protects the official two-hour airport check-in recommendation and retains later flights as disruption-recovery options.
Leave Mole7:30–8:00 a.m.
Airport target11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Target flightAbout 2:00 p.m.; provisional
Day 11Tue · Feb 16
Dankwa Basic School mission visit
Travel west from Accra via N1 and R15 to the Bawjiase area for school and community engagement, project discussion and an overnight stay. The school-gate GPS pin must be confirmed before the trip.
Depart Accra6:45–7:00 a.m.
Arrive9:00–9:30 a.m. planning window
Road bufferAllow 2–2½ hours; adverse 3–4
Day 12Wed · Feb 17
Return to Accra and depart
Return to an airport-area day room or residence for rest, repacking and a private airport transfer aligned with each traveler’s flight. For a 10:05 p.m. departure, the conservative airport target is about 6:05 p.m.
Leave Bawjiase9:00–9:30 a.m.
Accra targetNoon–1:00 p.m.
Airport3–4 hours before international departure
Researched route plan
Realistic road windows, not perfect-condition estimates.
The table separates distance or moving-time estimates from the longer Resource Together planning window used for travelers. Every long route includes stops and a safety buffer.
| Travel leg | Preferred route | Planning window | Current condition / decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accra → Kakum Feb 8 | N1 via Kasoa, Winneba and Cape Coast; R82 toward Kakum | 4½–5½ hours, including one senior-comfort stop | Road works and congestion are expected on the Kasoa–Winneba–Cape Coast corridor. No hard appointment before 2:30 p.m. Reported condition + buffer |
| Kakum → Takoradi Feb 9 | Return toward Cape Coast, then N1 west via Komenda/Kissi, Shama and Daboase | Approximately 3–4 hours from the park, including construction and a comfort buffer | The full Cape Coast–Takoradi corridor is under active dualisation. Move west after Kakum and sleep beside Takoradi Airport; do not drive this road before dawn on flight morning. Daylight staging |
| Takoradi → Tamale Feb 10 | TKD → ACC, baggage/re-check buffer, then ACC → TML | Two flight sectors + approximately 4 hours in Accra | No scheduled nonstop exists and the airlines do not guarantee onward connections. Use flexible fares, insurance and a generous buffer. Booking-dependent |
| Tamale Airport → Tongo Feb 10 | Airport connector → Duko → N10 via Savelugu, Walewale and Pwalugu → R158 | 145–150 km · 3½–4½ hours, including Walewale stop | Proceed only when the vehicle can leave by roughly 2:15 p.m. and the route/security check is clear. Otherwise use the Tamale contingency hotel. Daylight decision gate |
| Tongo → Tamale Feb 12 | R158 → N10 south via Pwalugu, Walewale and Savelugu | 3½–4¼ hours, including one comfort stop | The school exchange must finish by noon. Overnighting in Tamale replaces the final Tongo night and divides the former long transfer. Senior-first split |
| Tamale → Mole Feb 13 | Tamale → Fufulso → N7 via Damongo/Larabanga → Mole | 2½–3½ hours, including one short stop | Mole’s airstrip is out of use; the established road from Tamale is the practical route. Reject the deteriorated western shortcut through Daboya. Recommended route |
| Mole → Tamale Airport Feb 15 | Mole → Larabanga → Damongo → Busunu → Fufulso/N7 → airport via N10 | 165–175 km · 3½–4 hours | Leave 7:30–8:00 a.m. for a target 2:00 p.m. flight. Stay inside Mole the night before. Flight protected |
| Accra → Bawjiase Feb 16 | N1 west to Kasoa → R15 to Bawjiase → confirmed local school road | 2–2½ hours; adverse 3–4 hours | Exact school-gate pin is still required. A higher-clearance vehicle is preferable for the local segment. Pin to confirm |
| Bawjiase → Accra Feb 17 | R15 and N1; Adeiso/Nsawam alternative only if the main corridor is blocked | 2–3 hours; adverse up to 4 hours | Return by early afternoon and preserve a separate airport transfer aligned with each traveler’s flight. Departure buffer |
Every long road day
- Air-conditioned, seat-belt-equipped vehicle
- Restroom and stretch stop every 90–120 minutes
- 15–20 minutes of unhurried boarding time
- Water, snacks, medication and first-aid kit within reach
- Step stool and front-seat rotation when useful
Before each departure
- Full-size spare, jack, tyre tools and warning triangle
- Brakes, lights, air-conditioning and seat belts checked
- Full fuel; top up at Walewale and Tamale
- Charged phones, power banks, hotspot and offline maps
- Backup driver and emergency contacts confirmed
Daylight-only intercity travel
Long transfers should operate within approximately 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Road conditions, checkpoints and Harmattan visibility make late arrivals materially riskier.
72 hours, 24 hours and departure morning
Confirm airline status, weather, road works, security conditions, park access, driver, fuel and destination contact. Published times are not treated as guarantees.
Flight options
Working schedules with safer connection choices.
These October 2026 schedule results are planning examples for February 2027—not tickets. Ghana’s domestic airlines do not guarantee missed onward connections, so book directly, choose flexible fares, carry disruption insurance and preserve a generous Accra buffer.
Delta via JFK
Outbound example: PDX 7:00 a.m. Feb 5 → JFK → Accra 7:35 a.m. Feb 6. About 16 hours 35 minutes total.
Important: the observed 1 hour 34 minute JFK connection is legal but tight. Request assistance and book it only as one protected ticket.
KLM via Amsterdam
Outbound example: PDX 1:20 p.m. Feb 5 → Amsterdam → Accra 8:00 p.m. Feb 6. About 22 hours 40 minutes total with a 6 hour 35 minute connection.
This is longer and changes Day 1 to an evening arrival, but the connection has more recovery time.
KLM / Delta via Amsterdam and Salt Lake City
Return example: Accra 10:05 p.m. Feb 17 → Amsterdam → Salt Lake City → Portland 4:27 p.m. Feb 18. About 26 hours 22 minutes total.
The 3 hour 15 minute U.S.-entry connection at SLC is preferable to the observed 1 hour 59 minute JFK return for older travelers.
Takoradi → Accra → Tamale
Working pattern: TKD around 7:40/7:50 a.m. → ACC around 8:30 a.m.; ACC around 12:20/12:30 p.m. → TML around 1:30/1:40 p.m.
There is no scheduled nonstop. Allow at least three hours—and preferably about four—for baggage collection and re-checking. Reject the one-hour connection for this group.
Exact February inventory, baggage handling and whether both sectors can be issued together must be confirmed in writing.
Tamale → Accra
Target: an afternoon nonstop departing no earlier than approximately 1:30–2:00 p.m.
Leave Mole around 7:30–8:00 a.m. and preserve the official two-hour domestic airport arrival standard.
Airport and baggage standard: arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three to four hours before international departure. Do not assume bags transfer in Accra. Leaving the large international suitcases securely at the Accra residence and carrying a smaller north-trip bag will reduce connection risk and excess-baggage charges.
What the journey feels like
Rainforest, community and northern landscapes.
Corrected lodging plan
Eleven nights across seven bases.
Final choices should prioritize security, quiet rooms, private bathrooms, reliable power, air-conditioning, ground-floor access and practical proximity to the next day’s route.
Accra
3 nights
February 6, 7 and 15
- Secure residence on arrival nights
- Airport-practical location February 15
- Day room considered February 17
Kakum / Cape Coast
1 night
February 8
- On or near the Kakum road
- Early checkout and breakfast
- Ground-floor room requested
Takoradi
1 night
February 9
- Short transfer to TKD
- Early breakfast or packed meal
- Quiet ground-floor room requested
Tongo area
2 nights
February 10–11
- Near Linda’s school community
- Secure and restful
- Reliable water and power
Tamale
1 night
February 12
- South side or Mole-route access preferred
- Secure vehicle parking
- Driver room and meals included
Mole National Park
2 nights
February 13–14
- Zaina Lodge comfort option
- Mole Motel value option
- Early safari without extra road transfer
Bawjiase area
1 night
February 16
- Near the Dankwa visit
- Quiet final night
- Early Accra departure
Transparent cost planner
Adjust the assumptions and see the total immediately.
This is a planning calculator, not a booking quote. The international airfare allowance remains $2,200 per traveler. Park tariffs, named lodging and vendor quotes must be confirmed before payment.
Shared costs divide across the group.
Resource Together planning convention.
Includes no guaranteed baggage or seat-selection fee.
Working allowance; replace with the written airline quote.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and water.
11 nights across seven bases; replace after properties are selected.
Six southern days. Northern days use the SUV safety plan.
Six northern days; shared across travelers.
Park figures remain allowances until directly confirmed.
Enter only if the traveler needs it.
Applied to in-country costs; unused balance is credited back.
Before booking
Traveler and operations checklist.
Selections are stored only on this device so travelers can return to their checklist.
Research transparency
Primary planning sources.
These links let travelers distinguish official guidance, current reported conditions and Resource Together’s conservative planning decisions. External research links open in a new tab.
Airports and airlines
- Ghana Airports Company — passenger and airport guidance
- Ghana Civil Aviation Authority — current airport list
- Africa World Airlines — routes, baggage and assistance
- PassionAir — booking, check-in and current routes
- Current network check — no nonstop TKD–TML service
- Delta — check-in and travel-document guidance
- JFK Airport — international connection process
- KLM — protected connection guidance
Roads, weather and security
- U.S. Department of State — Ghana travel advisory
- UK FCDO — Ghana regional risks
- MyJoyOnline — Tamale–Bolgatanga road condition report
- Ministry of Roads and Highways — Winneba–Cape Coast project
- Ministry of Roads and Highways — Cape Coast–Takoradi project
- Ghana Meteorological Agency — current weather alerts
Parks and visitor planning
- Ghana Tourism Authority — Kakum National Park
- Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust — Kakum visit guidance
- Forestry Commission — Mole National Park
- Mole National Park — airstrip out-of-use notice
- Ghana Tourism Authority — Mole visitor and access guidance
- Presidency of Ghana — Bolgatanga airport development timeline
- Zaina Lodge — safari experiences