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Wander Among The Homes and Animals
atufft Says: The path to the mosque involved passing through the private residential area of town. There were a number of interesting homes and among them, goats and other animals.
atufft Says: The Imam's son invited us to walk to his father's house to meet him. The old man was comfortably seated, but blind. The son actually spoke good English, but his father knew only a couple greetings, but we were flattered by his efforts to show good hospitality. During the...
atufft Says: The Larabanga Mud Mosque does indeed merit more than just 5 photos, so enjoy these others. Note that the timbers emerging from the mud are both part of the structural building, and scaffolding for replastering the mosque, which probably needs to be done annually.
atufft Says: The Sudanese style mud mosque is quite common in West Africa, but this one claims to be very old. Guidebooks debate the age, some arguing the building dates back to the 14th century. The huge tree adjacent to the building is obviously younger than the building, since it has...
grets Says: Every two years the mosque needs restoration. Being of adobe construction, the rains cause untold damage to the mud bricks. Hence the little wooden poles sticking out of the walls. A large group of local people help in the restoration project, using mud and cow dung to...
grets Says: The mosque at Larabanga is reputed to be the oldest mosque in Ghana, and one of the oldest in West Africa. It is assumed to date from 1421, but there appears to be some disputes over the origin of the mosque – when it was built and who built it. Legend tells how an Islamic...
Pieter11 Says: The magic stone from the Larabanga myth is a standard part of a tour through the village. The stone however, has nothing special what so ever, excpet for its vague history. Read more about this myth in my general tip "History of Larabanga".
Pieter11 Says: It is possible to have a guided walk through the village. It's of course also possible to do so without a guide, but then you will not be able to see the special places, and it is easier to take pictures of the locals when there is a guide accompaning you.Larabanga is...
Pieter11 Says: The main attraction in the village of Larabanga is the old and famous mosque. It is said that the mosque was built here in the beginning of the 15th century, and therefore it eould be the oldest mosque in Ghana.The building is very typical for Northern Ghana with its mud and...
atufft Says: In Larabanga there is a "resthouse" which is very primative, but perhaps adequate for student travelers. The place itself is rather interesting, and for travelers with plenty of time, a visit to this guesthouse is worthwhile. The Imam's son and his friends showed us around....
Unknown: Breakfast in Larabanga
atufft Says: At the crossroads in Larabanga, there's a place were breakfast can be bought very cheaply. The food is safe and reasonably good, but not fantastic. Bottled beverages and canned goods are also sold here, so the place serves a dual role at a grocery. Nearby, vendors deep fry...
atufft Says: We shared a taxi from the bus station in Tamale to Mole National Park, but after leaving the park, the women returned to Tamale, while we chose to continue west to Wa. However, the bus that leaves Mole NP at 6AM heads toward Tamale. So, we took the bus as far as Larabanga,...
grets Says: One of the main drawbacks of visiting Larabanga is the self-confessed guides and little children who want to be your friend. The conversation starts out quite innocuous, with questions like “where are you from” and “what’s your name”, but invariably ends with requests for...
Pieter11 Says: A really annoying thing in Larabanga is the enormous amount of fake guides that hang around near the mosque. As soon as you get out of your car/bus you will be attacked by these -mostly- teenagers. They want to be your friend, they want to tell you about the mosque, but in...
grets Says: We visited a Dagarti village on the way to Larabanga. The village was small and very primitive by western standards. There was no electricity, nor a well in the village, and the women would walk two miles or more to fecth water, carrying it back in a large container on their...
Pieter11 Says: A long time ago, around 1400, an islamic traveller was making a journey through what now is Northern Ghana. At one point he found a big rock on the middle of the road. He removed it with all the strength he had, but when he returned the next day he found the stone at exactly...
Plan a Larabanga vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Larabanga locals
The path to the mosque involved passing through the private residential area of town. There were a number of interesting homes and among them, goats and other...
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The Village with the Oldest Building in Ghana
Visitors to Mole National Park might as well spend a few hours in the village of Larabanga, as it is located on the road leading to the park entrance. The old rusty buses that ply these dirt highways...
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Larabanga, village with The Mosque
Larabanga is a small, dusty and famous village in the Northern Region of Ghana, roughly between the cities Wa and Tamale, and right under Mole N.P. Larabanga doesn't have a lot to offer except for......
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The main reason for visiting Larabanga is to see the mosque, but the small villages around warrant a visit too. We spent a minimal amount of time in Larabanga itself, but quite some time with the...
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Larabanga is situated 16 km west of Damongo and only about 2.5 km away of the Mole National Park. This place is known for its ancient mosque. It is a common believe that this mosque is the oldest...
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This is the one of the oldest mosques in these areas, it dates back a few hundred years. It is made of mud and stand out in the middle of this dry savanna. Next to it is a baobab tree.
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