| Day 1: Arrival into Accra and Akwaabe Our experienced birdwatching tour guides will meet you on your arrival at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. Ghana is situated on the beautiful gold coast of Western Africa. After boarding our air conditioned vehicle, which will be your mode of transport for the duration of your tour, we transfer you to your hotel which is situated near Accra. Once we have checked you in, our experienced guides will offer you Akwaaba (welcome) and brief you on all aspects of your trip. You can enjoy your evening meal at the hotel restaurant and relax and acclimatise yourself to Africa. Day 2: Shai Hills Reserve and Sakumono Lagoon and additional local sites near Kakum National Park After an early breakfast we visit the nearby Shai Hills reserve, an expanse of Savannah, grassland and woodland. The bird viewing here is excellent, and we hope to find Grey Hornbill, Violet Turaco, Green Turaco, White-crowned Cliff Chat, White-crowned Robin Chat, Rock Martin, Northern Puffback, Rosy Bee-eater, Swallow- tailed Bee-eater, Blue-bellied Roller, Rufous-crowned Roller, Piapiac, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Black-cap Babbler, Senegal Parrot, and Red-headed Lovebird and more. With some luck, we may find Barred Owlet and maybe a few other surprises this first full day out. After a productive morning of birding, we enjoy lunch and check out of our hotel before visiting the nearby Sakumono Lagoon in the early afternoon. At the Lagoon, we hope to find Senegal Thicknee, Black Heron, Striated Heron, Squacco Herron and Grey heron, Long-tailed Cormorant, Western rReef Egret, Garganey, Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Kittlitz’s Plover, Black Tern, and Ruff and more. After some good birding, we head west leaving the busy city of Accra behind. Our destination is Cape Coast where we find the amazing Kakum National Park. En route, we will be stopping at a grassland reserve and lagoon. Today, we hope to find Siffling Cisticola, Short- Winged Cisticola, Splendid Sunbird, Copper Sunbird, Flappet Lark, Red-winged Prinia, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Black-necked Weaver, Black-crowned Tchagra, Plain-backed Pipit, Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Kite, Western Grey Plantain-Eater, Grey Kestrel, Lizard Buzzard, Blue-Spotted Wood-Dove and Black-Bellied Bustard to get us started on the late afternoon. Around the nearby lagoon, we should find Purple Heron, Purple Swamphen, Spur-Winged Lapwing and African Pygmy-Goose to wrap up the day of birding. We retire to our air-conditioned rooms after our evening meal (including daily checklist and discussion of the day’s sightings). Day 3: Kakum National Park: Canopy Walkway After an early breakfast, we head for the world famous canopy walkway at Kakum National Park (only about 15 minutes drive from our hotel). We aim to get there for first light enabling us to spend the most critical bird viewing hours 40 meters above the forest floor on the canopy walkway. The walkway's platforms are large enough to support telescopes, allowing for great views of canopy birds and more. The over 120 square mile Kakum National Park protects secondary upper guinea tropical rainforest. The species we hope to see from the canopy here include Sabines Puffback, Sharpes Apalis, Preuss’ Golden-Backed Weaver, Red-headed Malimbe, Red- vented Malimbe, Buff-throated Sunbird, Tiny Sunbird, Little Green Sunbird, Rosy Bee-eater, Green Hylia, Violet- backed Hyliota, Yellowbill, Little Grey Flycatcher, Ussher’ s Flycatcher and Shrike Flycatcher, Grey-headed Negrofinch, White-breasted Negrofinch, and Chestnut- breasted Negrofinch, Grey Longbill, White-headed Woodhoopoe, and Forest Woodhoopoe. Then we continue with Blue Cuckooshrike, Rufous- crowned Eremomela, Naked-faced Barbet, Yellow-spotted Barbet and Hairy-breasted Barbet, Red-fronted Parrot, African Grey Parrot, and Velvet-mantled Drongo. With some luck and effort, we should also find Black-collard Lovebird and Yellow-footed Honeyguide. The raptors we aim to see include Red-necked Buzzard, Palm-nut Vulture, African Harrier Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Long-tailed Hawk and Cassins Hawk-Eagle and more. During the heat of mid afternoon, each participant will have several choices. (1) You may enjoy birding around the hotel with your guide. (2) Some participants may prefer resting around the hotel pool and bar. (3) Or, you could choose to go on a cultural excursion to Cape Coast Castle (at no additional charge and complete with an experienced cultural guide) for a one hour tour. In the early part of the evening (and again optional), we re-visit the canopy when our main targets will be Brown- cheeked Hornbill, Black-and-Yellow Casqued Hornbill, Brown Nightjar and Fraser’s Eagle-Owl amongst other evening surprises. Each evening will wrap up at the hotel restaurant and bar, discussing the day’s sightings, adding to our checklist and enjoying the atmosphere of our surroundings. Day 4: Kakum National Park: Antwikwaa Section in AM; PM Additional Local Park Trails This morning, we visit the Antwikwaa section of Kakum National Park for early morning birding hoping to see White-throated Bee-eater, Rosy Bee-eater, Black Bee- eater, Blue-throated Roller, Piping Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Kemp’s Longbill, and Grey Longbill, Ussher’s Flycatcher, Black-and-white Flycatcher, Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher, White-spotted Flufftail, Black Sparrowhawk, Cassin’s Spinetai, Sabine’s Spinetail, Tambourine Dove, African Green Pigeon, Bioko’s Batis and maybe Long- tailed Hawk. Before returning to the hotel for our lunch, the group will enjoy a short excursion to find the beautiful White- throated Blue Swallow, Rock Pratincole, and the White- headed Lapwing. In the afternoon, we focus on the often productive birding opportunities on the many trails within and surrounding the park. We hope to find White-tailed Alethe, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Grey-headed Bristlebill, Collared Sunbird, Olive- bellied Sunbirds, Blue-headed Wood Dove, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Forest Robin, Red- chested Goshawk, Yellow-billed Turaco, Fire-bellied Woodpecker and Gabon Woodpecker. If we are lucky, we may spot Forest Francolin and Spotted Honeyguide. We will also enjoy many of the Greenbuls which Kakum has to offer. We stay back for night birding before returning to our hotel in the evening. Day 5: More of Kakum National Park; PM Ankasa with Excellent PM Owling Another early start this morning will support another productive morning at Kakum National Park; however, today we visit a different section of the Park, hoping to see species we may have missed previously. Our main targets will be Red-billed Helmetshrike, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Forest Penduline Tit, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Western Bluebill, Western Black-winged and Black-headed Orioles, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Emerald Cuckoo, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo and Willcock’s Honeyguide. We leave after the morning section and set off for Ankasa in the western region of Ghana for what is often one of the major highlights of the trip. Ankasa is Ghana’s only pristine wet evergreen upper guinea rainforest --- a rarely visited beautiful forest protecting some wonderful species. We arrive in the afternoon check into our accommodation and have lunch before heading to Ankasa for early evening birdwatching. We hope to see one of Africa’s most sought after but rarely seen owls, the Akun Eagle Owl. We will also try for African Wood Owl and Fraser’s Eagle Owl before returning to our accommodation in preparation for the following morning’s birding. Day 6-7: Ankasa and Cape Coast The mornings of day 6 and 7 will require early starts as we bird the productive Ankasa area. This area protects and is a good place to find many of Ghana’s speciality species. We hope to find Hartlaub’s Duck, African Finfoot, Dwarf Bittern, Crowned Eagle, Great Blue Turaco, Yellow-billed Turaco and more. We will also have a good chance of seeing once again many of the hornbill species from Kakum National Park. Other highlights are: White-bellied Kingfisher, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Red-billed Helmetshrike, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Black-capped Illadopsis, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Rufous-winged Illadopsis, Brown Illadopsis, Red Bristlebill, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Yellow- bearded Greenbul, Western-bearded Greenbul, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Red-tailed Greenbul, Blue- headed Wood-Dove, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, White- tailed Ant-thrush, and Red-fronted Antpecker. If the timing of the day goes well, we should have a chance to find Nkulengu Rail in the early evening. After a final mornings birding in Ankasa on day 7, we set off back to Cape Coast. We will stop for lunch at Takoradi then head on to Brenu Beach, an area of grassland savannah. This will set the stage for our evening birding en route. Here we hope to find Vieillot’s Barbet, Preuss’s Cliff Swallow and Marsh Tchagra amongst other species. We then continue to the Rainforest Lodge for our evening meal, checklist and a reflection upon a productive day of birding. Day 8: Aboabo on Northeast Border of Kakum National Park in AM; then Slight Trek to Find Yellow-headed Picatharates Once again, we start early and head towards Aboabo on the north east boarder of Kakum National Park. We arrive early to make the most of our time here. With Aboabo in our view, we often find this is some of the most productive birding in Kakum National Park. The birdlife here never disappoints. We take a packed lunch to maximize a long morning of birding. We will add species to our rapidly growing lists, and we hope to see African Piculet, Black-capped Apalis, Black-throated Coucal, Red- vented Malimbe, Crested Malimbe, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, White-spotted Flufftail, Bristle-nosed Barbet, Spotted Barbet, Western Nicator, Kemp’s Longbill, Grey Parrot, Brown-necked Parrots, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, and Tessman’s Flycatcher (with some good fortune) and more. After enjoying our packed lunch, we set off for a remote village. Upon arrival, we trek into a nearby forest and head towards our birding destination. This is a nesting site for one of the most sought after birds in the world --- the prehistoric looking “Yellow-headed Picatharates”. There are around 30 nests at this location, and catching a glimpse of this remarkable bird is an amazing feeling. Once everyone has enjoyed good views we set off for Kumasi capital of the Ashanti region. On arrival we check into our hotel. Most everyone will enjoy a cold drink over our evening meal, and everyone will celebrate one of the most memorable days for most bird watchers' lives. Day 9: Mole National Park Arrival We leave Kumasi early after breakfast heading north towards Mole National Park. We can expect to see different bird species en route, as we gradually enter the broad leaved guinea woodland and savannah plains of northern Ghana. On our arrival at Mole National Park, we check into the Mole Hotel. Besides being the only accommodation in the area, it is situated on a 250 yard high escarpment over looking this 300 square mile park, offering breathtaking views. It is an amazing feeling to be sitting around the pool on the hotel terrace watching African Savannah Elephants bathing in the two nearby watering holes which are inhabited by Crocodiles. After our evening meal, we shall set off for an evening of birding around the Mole Airstrip where we hope to see displaying Standard-winged Nightjars. The airstrip is also productive for Owls and we will be targeting Greyish Eagle Owl and Northern White-faced Scops Owls. Day 10-11: Mole National Park Over the next 2 days, we will be setting off early after breakfast and walk in different sections of the park. During our time here, we hope to see Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Llavender Waxbill, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Red-throated Bee-eater, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Fine-spotted Woodpecker, Grey Woodpecker, Greater Honeyguide, Lesser Honeyguide, Red-billed Firefinch, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Senegal Batis, Stone Partridge, White-throated Francolin, Beautiful Sunbird, Pygmy Sunbird, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, and Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill. The watering hole attracts Senegal Thick-knee, Greater Painted Snipe, Saddle-billed Stork, Woolly-necked Stork and Hadada Ibis, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Grey- headed Kingfisher, Togo Paradise Whydah, Exclamatory Paradise Whydah and Yellow- fronted Canary. Raptors are common in Mole, and we hope to add to our list White-headed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, African Hawk Eagle, Bateleur, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Lanner Falcon and Wahlberg’s Eagle. We will take guided walks into the woodland that surrounds the waterhole in the cooler early morning and late afternoons. We will expect to encounter Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Purple Starling, Long-tailed Glossy Starling, White-shouldered Black Tit, Senegal Eremomela, Oriole Warbler, Violet Turaco, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Blackcap Babbler, Brown Babbler, Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Spotted Creeper, Northern Puffback, Rufous Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher, Lead- coloured Flycatcher, Forbes’s Plover, Bearded Barbet, Green Wood-Hoopoe and Black Scimitarbill. During the heat of the afternoon, we have the several options. (1) Some will enjoy a cultural excursion to nearby Larabanga, and checking out the 14th century mud and stick mosque. (2) Some will opt for birding around the hotel grounds. (3) Alternatively you could relax on the terrace and around the pool. In the later afternoon once the sun cools a little, we will all set off looking for more species, staying out until the early evening as we search for Greyish Eagle, Northern White- faced Scops Owl, the amazing Pel’s Fishing Owl, as well as Long-tailed Nightjar, Freckled Nightjar, and the remarkable Standard-winged Nightjar. Day 12: Transfer to Bolgatanga, then PM Birding the Tongo Hills After a final morning birding on the terrace of the hotel and after a hearty breakfast, we depart for Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. As we venture northwards, the landscape becomes more savannah woodland. We pass through many villages and stop at Tamale for lunch and refreshments. Tamale is Ghana’s 3rd largest city and is the capital of the Northern Region. We arrive in Bolgatanga in the afternoon and check into our guesthouse, before setting off for late afternoon birding at the Tongo Hills. Our main target species will be Fox Kestrel, Rock- loving Cisticola, White-crowned Cliff Chat, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Rock Bunting, Cabanis’s Bunting, Chestnut-backed Sparrow Lark, White- rumped Seedeater, Red-rumped Swallows and Blue Rock Thrush. Day 13: Early AM Tono Dam; PM Egyptian Plover and More An early start will again be worthwhile, as we watch the dawn activity around the Tono Dam. We hope to find a variety of egrets, waders and herons as well as Cut-throat Finch, African Silverbill, Red-winged Pytilia, Great Reed Warbler, Winding Cisticola, Black-bellied Firefinch, Zebra Waxbill, Namaqua Dove, Black Coucal, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee- eater, Little Bee-eater, Abyssinian Roller, Chestnut- bellied Starling, Bronze-tailed Starling, and Greater Blue- eared Starling, and Four-banded Sandgrouse (and more to keep the birding worthwhile). After lunch, prepare yourself for another major highlight of our tour as we set off towards a site for the beautiful “Egyptian Plover”, which has recently been made a family of its own. We dedicate the afternoon to birding the river and surrounding habitat hoping to find Black-crowned Lapwing, Buffalo Weaver, African Mourning Dove, and European Turtle Dove, adding more species to our ever growing lists and dedicating quality time in this beautiful area of Ghana. Day 14: Off to Kumasi After a hearty breakfast, we set off for Kumasi retracing our journey of a few days earlier. En route we will stop for lunch and to stretch our legs before we set off on our final journey to Kumasi. We will spot some new and different species which we may have missed earlier in the trip. On our arrival, we will relax and enjoy our evening meal and prepare ourselves for an early start the following morning. Day 15: Bobiri Forest Reserve and Atewa Range We wake early to visit Bobiri Forest Reserve. This fantasitic butterfly sanctuary also has some good birding. Upon our arrival, we will search this lush forest for Swamp Palm Greenbul, Tit-Hylia, Afep Pigeon, Bronze- naped Pigeon, Yellow-footed Honeyguide, Green-headed Sunbird, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Brown-cheeked Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, White-headed Wood- Hoopoe, Brown Illadopsis, Western Nicator, Forest Francolin, Little Green Woodpecker, Narina Trogon, Blue- throated Roller, Golden Greenbul and more. Raptor fans will not be disappointed, as some of the many raptors often present include, Cassins Hawk Eagle, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, African Cuckoo Hawk, and Long-tailed Hawk amongst a good number. After lunch we set off for Atewa and bird the lower portion of the range in the afternoon which should prove to be very productive. Here we hope to see Blue-headed Coucal, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Compact Weaver, Grosbeak Weaver, Diederic Cuckoo, Western Bluebill, Rufous-winged Illadopsis, and Red-cheeked Wattle-eye. If we are lucky as we sometimes are, we should find Baumann’s Greenbul. We set off to our nearby guesthouse, and then we enjoy our evening meal and discuss the day’s sightings along with our checklist. Day 16: More of Atewa Range in AM; then Lunch and Off to Accra for Departures An early start this morning will be required, as we dedicate the early part of the day to birding the Atewa Range. This is the main site in Ghana where we can see the Blue-headed Bee-eater. Other specialities here include the endangered Rufous-winged Illadopsis, Many- coloured Bush Shrike, Forest Scrub Robin, Narina Trogon, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Forest Robin, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, Fraser’s Sunbird, Johanna’s Sunbird, Tiny Sunbirds and Shining Drongo amongst others. Our main targets during our time here will be the rarely seen Nimba Flycatcher and Lowland Akalat. After a wonderful morning, we can take time freshen up, take lunch and re-arrange our bags before setting off for Accra.
visit a nearby local restaurant to relax and enjoy an early evening meal before your departure and flight home after an unforgettable rainforest and savannah birdwatching tour of Ghana. Note on Further Extensions: Additional extensions are available, and this may be your next destination. Please let us know if you are interested in additional birding in Ghana. |
| Detailed Itinerary |
| 16 Days Birding and Enjoying Wildlife in Ghana |
| For More Information or to Register for this Trip, call Charles at 888-203-7464 or directly at 720-320-1974 or by email at info@PIBird.com. |
Ghana:
16 Days of Birding & Wildlife
Detailed Itinerary
16 Days of Birding & Wildlife
Detailed Itinerary
| Shai Hills Reserve, Sakumono Lagoon, Kakum National Park, Aboabo (nearby Yellow-headed Picatharates), Ankasa and Cape Coast, Mole National Park, Tongo Hills, Tono Dam (nearby Egyptian Plover), Kumasi, Bobiri Forest Reserve and Atewa Range |