Tamale has its own airport with daily domestic flights from Accra — the journey takes about an hour and costs around $80-120 return, depending on how far in advance you book. Africa World Airlines and local carriers serve the route. Flying makes sense if your time is short; the alternative is a long road journey that is genuinely tiring.
The bus from Accra takes roughly 12 hours on the best days. VIP Bus and STC run air-conditioned coaches that are reasonably comfortable and cost around GHS 150-200 one way. They depart from Accra's Neoplan station and arrive at Tamale's central bus terminal. The road is mostly paved but long — bring food, a book, and low expectations for the toilet stops. Many travellers take the overnight bus, arriving in Tamale in the early morning, which saves a night's accommodation and means you hit the ground running.
Shared taxis and tro-tros connect Tamale to surrounding towns: Bolgatanga to the north (about 2 hours), Damongo and the Mole National Park area to the west, and Yendi to the east. For Mole specifically, a shared taxi to Damongo takes about 3 hours, then another vehicle for the final stretch to the park. Many travellers arrange a car hire in Tamale rather than dealing with multiple connections.