Wa, capital of the remote Upper West, is a town of striking architecture and a gateway to the Wechiau hippos. Here’s how to hire a car or driver to explore it.
GHThe CarRentalGH Team Updated 18 October 2026 · 5 min read
Representative photo via Wikimedia Commons — replace with your own
Wa, the capital of the Upper West, is one of Ghana’s most remote and distinctive regional towns — a place of striking Sudanese-style mud architecture, unhurried pace and a strong sense of its own culture. It’s the gateway to the far north-west, including the renowned Wechiau hippo sanctuary on the Black Volta. Distances up here are long and transport sparse, so a hire car — ideally with a driver who knows the region — is the practical way to explore.
Why hire a car in Wa
The Upper West is spread out and off the main tourist trail, which is exactly its charm — but it means the sights are far apart and hard to reach without your own transport. A hire car lets you reach the Wa Naa’s Palace, the Wechiau hippos and the region’s villages and markets on your own schedule, over the long distances this corner of the country involves.
Car Rental in Wa — car hire across Ghana with CarRentalGH Photo via Wikimedia Commons — replace with your own
Exploring the Upper West
Wa Naa’s Palace — a beautiful example of Sudanese mud-and-stick architecture.
Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary — hippos on the Black Volta, a community-run reserve.
Gwollu — historic slave-defence walls near the Burkina border.
Markets and villages — the unhurried culture of the far north-west.
The right vehicle
For the town and main roads, a saloon works; for the rougher tracks to the sanctuary and remote villages, an SUV or 4x4 is wiser. Given the remoteness, a driver who knows the region is a sensible choice.
Rates and delivery
Guide rates: a saloon around GH₵ 800 self-drive or GH₵ 900 with a driver, an SUV around GH₵ 1,200–1,300, before fuel; full list on our rates page. We can deliver in Wa or arrange a vehicle and driver for the long journey up.
Hire a car in Wa
Tell us your dates and plans and we’ll confirm one clear price with a driver who knows the region.
Tell us your dates, your trip, your group size, and self-drive or a driver. We’ll confirm the vehicle and one clear price. No payment on the website.
Rates and distances are guide figures reviewed October 2026. Delivery and long-distance hire are quoted on the route.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car in Wa?
Yes. We offer self-drive and with-driver hire in Wa and across the Upper West, and can deliver the vehicle to you or arrange a car and driver for the journey up.
What can I explore from Wa?
The Wa Naa's Palace and its Sudanese mud architecture, the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary on the Black Volta, the historic Gwollu walls, and the region's markets and villages.
What car should I hire in Wa?
A saloon for the town and main roads; an SUV or 4x4 for the rougher tracks to the hippo sanctuary and remote villages. Given the remoteness, a driver who knows the region is wise.
How far is Wa from Accra?
Wa is in the far north-west, a long journey. Many combine it with the wider north or fly part-way and drive. We can arrange a vehicle and driver for the trip.
How much does car rental cost in Wa?
As a guide, a saloon is around GH₵ 800 self-drive or GH₵ 900 with a driver, and an SUV around GH₵ 1,200–1,300, before fuel.
GH
The CarRentalGH Team
Written by the CarRentalGH team in Accra. We rent cars, run airport pickups and drive clients across all sixteen regions of Ghana every week, so these guides come from the road, not a desk.
