TRIP DETAILS

You will be met upon your arrival at the Kotoka International airport in Accra with your tour leader/local guide. Our team will take care of you from here and offer you “Akwaaba” (welcome). We make the journey to your hotel by car. After the check-in your guide will brief you on the following days activities and answer any questions you may have. Depending on your arrival time, you can enjoy your early evening meal whilst acclimatizing yourself to West Africa.

Accommodation Alexis Hotel (Tema) 

Our first morning with you here in Ghana as we head for the open grassland savannah of Shai Hills Reserve hoping to see a good selection of species that include, Northern Crombec, Yellow−fronted Tinkerbird, Snowy−crowned Robin Chat, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Cardinal Woodpecker, Vielliots and Double−toothed Barbets, White−crowned Cliff Chat, Rock Martin, Red−shouldered Cuckoo−shrike, Violet Turaco, Senegal Parrot, Senegal Batis, Blue−bellied Roller, Swallow−tailed Bee−eater, Oriole Warbler, Black−cap and Brown Babblers, Copper and Splendid Sunbirds, White−crested Helmet−shrike, Croaking and Short−winged Cisticolas, African Thrush, Red−necked and Lizzard Buzzards, Lanner Falcon, Green Wood−hoopoe and Stone Partridge to mention a few species on offer here. 

We head for more familiar birding at the Sakamona Lagoon. There is usually an abundance of birds to see here depending on the level of water, we hope to see Black−winged Stilt, Senegal Thick−knee, Common Ringed, Grey and Spur−winged Plovers, Black−tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Wood and Common Sandpipers, Collard Pratincole, Marsh and Curlew Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, Long−tailed Cormorant, Squacco, Grey, Purple, Striated and Black Herons, Little, Cattle, and Intermediate Egrets. 

After a wonderful morning we set off towards Kakum National Park stopping for a slightly late lunch on route. Our accommodation will be close to Kakum NP and we aim to arrive in the early evening. On arrival we check in to relax and enjoy our evening meal and checklist in preparation for an early start in the morning.

Accommodation – Rainforest Lodge (Jukwa)

An early breakfast as we head for the world−famous canopy walkway at Kakum National Park which is approximately 15 minutes’ drive from our lodge. We aim to get to Kakum for first light enabling us to spend the most critical bird viewing hours 40 meters above the forest floor on the canopy walkway, which 7 platforms are large enough to support Telescopes. The 360 km² Kakum National Park protects secondary upper guinea semi deciduous tropical rainforest and it is a wonderful feeling being so close to the canopy of this beautiful forest.

Our main target species during our time on the canopy walkway are Violet−backed Hyliota, Chestnut−capped Flycatcher, the upper guinea endemics Sharpes Apalis, Brown− cheeked Hornbill and copper−tailed Glossy Starling, Bioko Batis, Blue Cuckooshrike, Little Green Woodpecker and the White−crested Hornbill. Other species we hope to see include Blue−throated Brown, Green, Collard, Johanna’s and the beautiful Buff−throated Sunbirds, Red−headed and Crested Malimbes, Rosy Bee−eater, White−breasted and Grey− crowned Negrofinch, Red−fronted and African Grey Parrots, Yellowbill, Western Black− headed and Black Winged Orioles, Rufous−crowned Eremomela, Splendid Glossy and Forest Chestnut−winged Starlings, Preuss’s Golden−backed and Yellow−mantled Weavers, Green Hylia, Golden, Slender−billed and Little Grey Greenbuls, African Green Pigeon, Yellow−billed Turaco, Emerald Cuckoo, Blue−throated Roller, Yellow−throated, Red−rumped and Speckled Tinkerbirds, Hairy−breasted and Naked−faced Barbets, Usshers and Little Grey Flycatchers, Cassins Honeybird and African Pied Hornbill to mention a few.

The raptors we have a chance to see include, Congo Serpent Eagle, African Harrier Hawk, Palm Nut Vulture, Cassins Hawk Eagle, European Honey and Red−necked Buzzards. Some of the more difficult but still possible species from the canopy include Long−tailed Hawk, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Yellow−footed Honeyguide and Black−collard Lovebird. After a wonderful morning we return to our lodge to freshen up and enjoy our lunch. During the heat of mid−afternoon, you will have the option of birding around our lodges, grounds, resting in your air−conditioned rooms, around the pool and bar or you could choose to go on a cultural excursion to Cape Coast castle. We re−visit the canopy walkway in the evening when our main targets will be the Brown−cheeked, Black and Yellow− casqued Hornbills, Great Blue Turaco, Brown Nightjar and Fraser’s eagle owl amongst other specials. Our evening will be spent at the lodges restaurant and bar discussing the day’s sightings, adding to our checklist, and enjoying the atmosphere of our surroundings.

Accommodation – Rainforest Lodge (Jukwa)

This morning we will be concentrating our time on the farmland scrub, forest edge and forest trails at Abrafo a section of forest habitat near to Kakum National Park. Our guides are always focused on getting our clients good views of all species and this morning is no different as we search for Pale Flycatcher, Black and White Mannikin, Brown−crowned Tchagra, Sooty Boubou, Puvel’s Illadopsis, Olive−green Camaroptera, Red−faced and Whistling Cisticolas, Lesser Striped Swallow, Fanti Saw−wing, Chestnut Wattle−eye, Naked−faced and Hairy− breasted Barbets, Frasers and Little−green Sunbirds, Yellowbill, Red−cheeked Wattle−eye, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Common Fiscal, Spotted Greenbul, Finsch’s Flycatcher Thrush, Yellow− whiskered and Red−tailed Greenbuls, White−crested Hornbill, African Harrier Hawk and the more sought after difficult species include Long−tailed Hawk, Red−billed Helmetshrike, Rufous− sided Broadbill, Chocolate−backed Kingfisher, Olive Long−tailed Cuckoo, Congo Serpent Eagle, Red−billed and Black Dwarf Hornbills.

We check out of our lodge after enjoying our lunch and set off westwards for what should prove to be a major highlight of your time with us here in Ghana. Our destination is Ankasa Reserve, Ghana’s only wet evergreen rainforest that is in near pristine condition. An exceptional forest in a remote location Ankasa protects many rare and sought−after bird and mammal species. There is a new lodge being built along the river on the boundary of this stunning rainforest, if this has not been completed prior to your tour commencement then we have a choice of where to stay being a local basic guesthouse 5 minutes’ drive to the forest or camping inside the forest itself. If you choose to camp at our private camp inside the forest, our camp leader and his assistants will be waiting to greet us on arrival. The tents are large with comfortable mattresses, pillows, and bed sheets for your comfort whilst we sleep. There are flushing toilets and cold private shower facilities a one−minute walk from our tents and our cook will keep us well fed three times a day with cold beers and non−alcoholic beverages available. The camp is supplied with mains electricity, and we also have a backup generator if needed. Most of our tour participants inform us camping here is a major highlight of their tour. If you are not happy to camp as mentioned previously, we can sleep at the nearby guesthouse. As we arrive in the late afternoon we settle into our chosen accommodation before heading out for early evening birding where we hope to see Frasers and Akun Eagle Owls. Your guide will also be looking for the legendary Nkulengu Rail, one of our previous tour participants was the first person to get a photo of this species in the wild. Our evening will be spent at our guesthouse or campsite enjoying good food, cold drinks, and the atmosphere of being at one with nature.

Accommodation – Guesthouse or Camping (Ankasa Reserve)

Such an incredible forest protecting so many rare and sought−after species we now choose to dedicate 3 nights here. Your guide will be up before first light listening for the unmistakable call of the Nkulengu Rail, if he locates this species, he will alert the group before breakfast. Staying so close to a birding location is always a bonus as time is not wasted travelling. After breakfast we set off venturing deeper into this lush forest with our main targets being the upper guinea endemics Yellow−bearded Greenbul, Rufous−winged Illadopsis and Green−tailed Bristlebill in addition to Ansorge’s, Icterine, Red−tailed and Western−bearded Greenbul’s, Pale−breasted and Blackcap Illadopsis, Forest Robin, White−tailed Ant Thrush, White−tailed Alethe, Shinning Drongo, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Yellow−spotted Barbet, White−throated Bee− eater, Chestnut−breasted Negrofinch, Blue−headed Wood Dove, Western Bronze−naped Pigeon, Yellow−billed and Great Blue Turaco’s, Black−capped Apalis, Grey−headed Bristlebill, Tiny Sunbird and Red−fronted Antpecker. 

Your guide knows where the speciality species are found inside Ankasa and it is important we give you the best opportunity to see them. Our company provide support landrover 4×4’s enabling us to navigate the difficult forest road ensuring we get to these sites at the best time of day, this also enables us to bird the remote trails around the pools where we have seen African Pitta on a few occasions. As we approach the watering holes located deeper inside the forest, we hope to see Crested Guineafowl on the road. Our target birds will include Hartlaub’s Duck, Dwarf Bittern, African Finfoot, Shining Blue, White−bellied, Blue−breasted and Dwarf Kingfishers. Forest raptors are always welcome, and we hope to see Long−tailed Hawk and Congo Serpent Eagle. We will scan the sky for Crown Eagle, Square−tailed and Fanti Saw−wings, Black and Yellow Casqued Hornbills in addition to Black Dwarf and Piping Hornbills. There are some rare species here and if we are lucky which we sometimes are we may see White−breasted Guineafowl, White−crested Tiger Heron, African Pitta, Grey−throated Rail, Dusky Long−tailed Cuckoo, Forest Scrub Robin, Blue−moustached Bee−eater, Red−chested Owlet and Akun Eagle Owl. Our evening is spent enjoying good food and discussing the days birding over a cold refreshing drink.

Accommodation – Guesthouse or Camping (Ankasa Reserve)

We will walk new forest trails in different parts of the forest for around 3 hours enjoying the exceptional biodiversity of this tropical habitat. At over 500 square kilometers of continuous wet evergreen rainforest, Ankasa is biologically the most diverse rainforest in Ghana and one of the most diverse in West Africa. Protecting over 800 vascular plant species, almost 650 species of butterfly, in addition to Forest Elephant, Bongo, Diana Monkey, Chimpanzee and several species of Pangolin and the most wanted West African bird species, Ankasa is a nature lovers paradise. After enjoying what nature has to offer, we head back to our camp and aim to set off for 9am after a wonderful 3 nights at this seldom visited location.

We set off back past Kakum National Park heading northwards stopping for lunch on−route before arriving at a remote village close to a small upper guinea rainforest in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. On arrival we head straight to Kwabena Sam forest and our target species this afternoon and evening include, Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher, Yellow− browed and Olive−green Camaroptera, Western Nicator, Puvel’s Illadopsis, Tit Hylia, Yellow− footed and Hairy−breasted Barbet, Green Crombec, Kemp’s Longbill, Black−cap Apalis, Blue− headed Crested Flycatcher, West African Wattle−eye, Red−cheeked Wattle Eye, Black− throated Coucal and Western Bronze−naped Pigeon amongst others. Depending on which nocturnal species we still need we can also stay after dark looking for owls and nightjars. After some good birding we check into our accommodation.

Accommodation – Pichartes Guesthouse (Bonkro)

Today is special and it is difficult to focus our minds on anything other than the afternoon visit to the Yellow−headed Picathartes nesting site. Slightly more relaxed breakfast as we are so close to the forest this morning. There are several trails we can enjoy; your guide will determine which one we take based on the bird species we have already seen and species we still need. 

Such a productive forest and species we could see include White−crested and Black−dwarf Hornbill, Gray−headed and Red−tailed Bristlebill, Rufous−sided Broadbill, Fire−bellied Woodpecker, Yellow−throated and Thick−billed Cuckoo, Forest Woodhoopoe, Blue Cuckoo− shrike, Sharpe’s Apalis, Black and White Shrike Flycatcher, Gray−throated Tit Flycatcher, Long− tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle and this is also the forest we where we have seen the extremely rare and difficult to see Western−wattled Cuckoo−shrike on the most occasions. Our specialist mammal tours also spend quality time in this forest location as it has been the best place for us to see Long tailed and Tree Pangolin. A well−deserved afternoon rest during the heat of the day. If rest is not for you then why not visit the school or head into the village to meet some of the locals. Our relationship with these communities is excellent and you will have the opportunity to join one of the families to see their cocoa farm or learn the process of gari that is made here. Our bar and restaurant are always open, and we will all meet to enjoy lunch before setting off to see the White-necked Picanthartes. 

There are 12 active nesting sites in this forest, and we will visit one of the largest colony’s that has approximately 30 nests, 16 of these active. As we set off on the walk through this beautiful forest you can see why it is one of the must−see species in the world, the whole experience adds to this mythical bird’s reputation. The walk should take between 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on your fitness levels. As we approach the nesting site, we need to be incredibly quiet as we take our seat on bamboo benches we have purposely made for your comfort. The overhanging rock face and small cave with mud nests sets the atmosphere as we wait for the birds to come back from foraging for snails, frogs, and insects during the day. It will be hard to contain your excitement as these legendary prehistoric looking birds hop and jump on the rocks whilst preening themselves just meters from our eyes (no telescope needed). Once we have enjoyed good views, we leave the birds in peace as we set off back through the forest to our accommodation and a well−deserved cold drink. Our hosts will have prepared a wonderful celebratory meal and we enjoy our evening, reflecting on one of the best birding days of our life. Staying in this remote local community is a definite highlight of our time together, meeting the locals and relaxing in this perfect setting. 

Accommodation – Picathartes Guesthouse (Bonkro)

An early start as we set off towards Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary and head back into the Upper Guinea Rainforest habitat where so many of Ghana’s sought−after special species are found. This morning we hope to see Tit and Green Hylias, Magpie Mannakin, Narina Trogon, Red− billed Dwarf and Black Dwarf Hornbills, African Grey and Brown−necked Parrots, Purple− throated Cuckoo−shrike, Black−throated Coucal, Golden−backed Weaver, African Piculet, Red− chested Owlet, Dusky Tit, Blue−headed Crested Flycatcher, Yellow−billed Barbet, Grey−headed and Red−tailed Bristlebills and the much sought after Yellow−footed Honeyguide amongst other species. We set off after a productive morning heading further south towards Atewa stopping for lunch on−route. After some rest and relaxation, we set of for the lower farmland bush at Atewa where we hope to see Black−necked, Maxwells Black, Compact and Grosbeak Weavers, Whistling Cisticola, Black−crowned and Marsh Tchagras, Emerald, Klaas’s, Levaillants and Yellow−throated Cuckoos, Red−bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Western Bluebill,

Tessmann’s Flycatcher and if we are lucky Baumann’s Greenbul and Bat Hawk before we check into our nearby guesthouse for the evening to relax, reflect and enjoy our evening meal.

Accommodation – Nelsban Palace Hotel (New Tafo)

Atewa is critically endangered highland upper guinea rainforest and as it protects so many quality and rare species, we will dedicate a full morning birding here. It is quite a consistent hill walk to get to the top of the range. Target birds here will include Red−cheeked Wattle− eye, Purple−throated Cuckoo−shrike, Blue−moustached Bee−eater, West African (Bioko) Batis, Chocolate−backed Kingfisher, African Hobby, Long−tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Red− rumped, Yellow−rumped and Speckled Tinkerbirds, Little Green, Buff−throated, Blue−throated Brown, Olive−bellied and Collard Sunbirds, African Goshawk, Red−tailed and Green−tailed Bristlebills, Red−headed and Crested Malimbes, Forest Robin, Little, Little Grey, White− throated, Icterine, Red−tailed, Western−bearded and the upper guinea endemic Yellow− bearded Greenbul, Many−coloured Bushshrike, Western Nicator, Brown Illadopsis and Western Bronze−naped Pigeon. Sadly, Atewa forest range is under severe threat as the Ghanaian government are considering allowing it to be mined for bauxite. Several NGO’s that include us are petitioning the government to establish Atewa as a National Park to protect this beautiful habitat for future generations. Atewa protects some rare species of birds, and we hope to get good views of Red−fronted Antpecker, Nimba Flycatcher, Crowned Eagle, Brown−chested Alethe, Forest Scrub Robin and Lowland Akalat amongst other species.

We return to our hotel for lunch and to shower, freshen up and pack our bags before setting off for Accra. An amazing end to a wonderful tour as we enjoy an early evening meal and final checklist on our arrival in Accra. After our meal and final checklist, we transfer you to the airport for your departure after a wonderful Ghana birding and wildlife tour.

Departure