Tongo-Tengzuk Cultural Landscape and Sacred Shrines

The Tongo-Tengzuk Cultural Landscape and Sacred Shrines is a cultural landscape of balancing rock formations and sacred Talensi ancestral shrines, set at and near the base of a horseshoe-shaped chain of hills. It lies in the small town of Tengzuk, also known as Tongo, in the Talensi-Nabdam District of Ghana's Upper East Region, roughly 15 km southeast of Bolgatanga. Tongo is the district capital; the Tongo Whistling Rocks are given as about 10 km from Bolgatanga.

Among the shrines, the Ba'ar Tonna'ab Ya'nee shrine is the most recognised. The site is a destination for Asante traditionalists, who call it Nana Tongo. The Talensi people of these hills are believed to have lived in the area for centuries and are mainly agriculturists. Between December and February, the harmattan wind is known to cause a whistling sound as it blows through the rocks.

Notable features include the Hiding Caves, where the local chief took refuge and commanded his forces against the British around 1911, and the Hyena Caves, where the chief and other leaders met during that battle. A tour includes visits to a model home, the hills, the caves, the Chief's house and the shrine. The sacred Bat Tree at Baare, 3 km from Tengzuk, is also of interest.

In late October each year, the Boar Dam festival is performed to celebrate the harvest, centred on the Ba'ar Tonna'ab Ya'nee shrine and other Talensi ancestral shrines. A secondary account describes the Tongo Hills as covering about twenty square kilometres, with giant baobab trees, boulders and rebuilt classic Talensi cylindrical homes with miniature doorways, and lists a Golob Festival in March and a Bo'araam Festival in October–November.

Tours of the hills and shrines are arranged by the Upper East Regional Museum in Bolgatanga (P.O. Box 86, Bolgatanga; +233 38 2023327), which is open 8:30am–5:30pm daily. A community listing gives site hours of 9:00–17:00 and a separate phone number, +233 20 668 7316. A GMMB page states a tour fee of GhC 10.00 for non-Ghanaians, with a discount for Ghanaian visitors, but the page date is unclear and the fee may be outdated. Confirm current hours, fees and tour arrangements before travelling.