Your stay — GNAT Hostel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Tamale.
The Property — GNAT Hostel
GNAT Hostel is a no-frills, budget-friendly base in Tamale, popular with student groups and aid workers. The lobby feels like a functional school common room: tiled floors, plastic chairs, a noticeboard with local tours. It offers clean, basic rooms with air conditioning and mosquito nets, plus a simple on-site restaurant. Best for solo travellers or small groups who need a cheap, central spot to sleep and aren't after resort-style comfort.
Chronicles of Tamale
Tamale grew as a colonial administrative centre in the early 20th century, replacing Yendi as the Northern Territories' capital. Its grid of wide streets and low-rise buildings reflects British planning, while the central market and old mosque nod to its Dagomba roots. Today, Tamale is Ghana's fastest-growing city, a hub for agriculture and trade, and a gateway to Mole National Park. Its contemporary identity mixes Islamic tradition with a youthful, entrepreneurial energy, visible in its bustling motorcycle traffic and buzzing street-food scene.
Best Time to Visit
Full Tamale guide →Best months
November to February: the dry season, with cooler nights (20°C) and sunny days (32°C), plus fewer mosquitoes. Good for visiting Mole National Park and attending the Damba festival in January.
Peak / festival surge
July is a peak for cultural visitors, when the Bugum Chugu (Fire Festival) takes place in nearby communities. Hotel prices creep up 10–20% from the usual low rates. The rainy season also begins, so expect short, heavy downpours.
Budget shoulder season
March to May: temperatures soar to 38–42°C, but crowds are thin and GNAT discounts often apply. June and October offer lower humidity after the wet season peaks in August–September.
Weather & packing
Tamale has a single wet season (May–October) with intense, short storms; the rest of the year is bone-dry. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and sturdy sandals that can handle sudden mud puddles.
Live City Briefing — Tamale
- The Tamale airport expansion is complete, now handling direct flights from Accra four times daily (up from two).
- The new Tamale Interchange opened in early 2026, easing traffic jams on the Bolgatanga Road near the central market.
- The annual Bugum Chugu festival runs 2–4 July 2026; expect louder drumming and more night activity in the city centre.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to GNAT Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors, ideally the top floor, to reduce street noise from Tamale's central roads and avoid foot traffic from the entrance.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms near the ground floor or lobby area, as they pick up early morning check-in chatter and any street noise from the main road.
Best views
City or street view from upper east-facing rooms, given Tamale's grid-like layout and typical orientation towards main roads.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 or higher in a multi-storey building, assuming a standard configuration for a 3-star hostel in a compact city centre.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from taxis, motorbikes, and market activity around central Tamale, especially mornings and early evenings. No lift noise if choosing an upper floor.
Insider tips
1) If you're arriving late, call ahead so they can hold a room away from the entrance—no guarantee but worth trying. 2) Bring earplugs for the street-facing side; a fan or AC might act as white noise.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — GNAT Hostel
Free Wi-Fi in common areas only; speed adequate for email and browsing, not streaming.
No lift; 2-storey building with stairs only.
No newspapers or digital newsstand.
Check-in 14:00–22:00; early bag-drop allowed from 10:00; late check-out until 12:00 costs 50 GHS (request on arrival).
Free for day-of-check-out until 18:00; no overnight storage.
No step-free access; entrance has a step; no wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Free on-site parking for 5 cars (first-come, first-served). Nearest public car park: Tamale Central Market car park, 1 km away, 10 GHS per night.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; no incidental hold at check-in.
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ghanaian Cedi, GHS
Use forex bureaux in town for fair rates; avoid airport and hotel desks—they take a big cut.
Cards work in supermarkets and hotels, but street markets and taxis want cash. Mobile money (Momo) is widely accepted.
Restaurants: 10% if service is good. Taxis: round up the fare. Hotel staff: small note (5–10 GHS) for help with bags.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant sachet coffee from a kiosk, about 5 GHS
Jollof rice with chicken from a chop bar, about 15–20 GHS
Fried yam and fish from a street-side spot, about 20 GHS for a main
Central Market area and lorry stations have grills selling grilled tilapia, kenkey, and roasted plantain
Melcom and Shoprite are common budget supermarkets
Tamale Central Market for second-hand and new clothes; also the Aboabo market area for textiles
Shared trotro (minibus) 2–5 GHS per ride; from the airport, a shared taxi to town is about 5–10 GHS per head
Eat at chop bars not tourist restaurants. Use mobile money for lower transaction fees. Haggle at markets, always start at half the asking price.
Emergency Contacts
TamaleFor general emergencies, dial 112. For non-urgent police assistance in Tamale, call the Northern Regional Police Command on 037-202-2909. Hospital contact: Tamale Teaching Hospital on 037-202-5008. Keep a local SIM and charge your phone.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Tamale, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at GNAT Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Catholic Archdiocesan Guesthouse → Central Market (Tamale)
💡 Yellow taxis with 'L' plates are shared. Stand at the junction on Bolgatanga Road and wave one down. Tell the driver 'Abudu roundabout'—they'll drop you near the market. Less comfortable, but half the price of a private ride.
Tamale Airport (TML) → Catholic Archdiocesan Guesthouse
💡 Haggle outside arrivals—drivers often start at 50 GHS. Agree on price before getting in. The guesthouse is on the Bolgatanga Road, so tell them 'near the main mosque.'
Tamale Airport → Catholic Archdiocesan Guesthouse
💡 Ask the guesthouse reception to arrange this—they have a reliable driver who charges 45 GHS flat. You'll avoid the airport haggle entirely, and he knows the back route if traffic's bad on the Kumbungu Road.
Metro Mass Station (Tamale) → Accra or Kumasi
💡 Book a day ahead at the station near Tamale's central roundabout. VIP buses have AC and reclining seats—arrive 30 mins early to get a good seat. Avoid the last bus; it can be cramped.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at GNAT Hostel?
Request a room on the upper floors, ideally the top floor, to reduce street noise from Tamale's central roads and avoid foot traffic from the entrance.
Which rooms should I avoid at GNAT Hostel?
Avoid rooms near the ground floor or lobby area, as they pick up early morning check-in chatter and any street noise from the main road.
Is GNAT Hostel noisy?
Street noise from taxis, motorbikes, and market activity around central Tamale, especially mornings and early evenings. No lift noise if choosing an upper floor.
Which rooms have the best views at GNAT Hostel?
City or street view from upper east-facing rooms, given Tamale's grid-like layout and typical orientation towards main roads.
What are insider tips for staying at GNAT Hostel?
1) If you're arriving late, call ahead so they can hold a room away from the entrance—no guarantee but worth trying. 2) Bring earplugs for the street-facing side; a fan or AC might act as white noise.
What time is check-in at GNAT Hostel?
Check-in at GNAT Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does GNAT Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in common areas only; speed adequate for email and browsing, not streaming.
Is there a city or tourist tax at GNAT Hostel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near GNAT Hostel?
Jollof rice with chicken from a chop bar, about 15–20 GHS
What is the cheapest way to get around from GNAT Hostel?
Shared trotro (minibus) 2–5 GHS per ride; from the airport, a shared taxi to town is about 5–10 GHS per head
When is the best time to visit Tamale?
November to February: the dry season, with cooler nights (20°C) and sunny days (32°C), plus fewer mosquitoes. Good for visiting Mole National Park and attending the Damba festival in January.
Top Attractions in Tamale
💡 Best at dusk when the temperature drops and families come out. Buy a sachet of coconut or grilled groundnuts from the vendors for a few Cedis.
💡 Visit late afternoon when the light softens and the call to prayer echoes. Dress conservatively—long trousers and covered shoulders—and remove shoes inside.
💡 Go early (before 09:00) to see the produce sorting and avoid the midday heat. Keep valuables zipped away—crowds are dense. Try the fresh mangoes if in season.
💡 Take a local guide from the Tamale Cultural Centre for a small fee (about 10–20 Cedis) to explain the compound layouts and history. Wear sturdy shoes—paths are sandy.
💡 Bring small bills for the craft market—vendors haggle, but start at half the asking price. The museum upstairs is often empty; ask the attendant to unlock it if closed.