Bustards Birding Tours

Day 1 Arrival in Ghana
You will be met upon your arrival at the Kotoka International airport in Accra Ghana which is situated on the beautiful “Gold Coast” (Ghana’s former name during its time under British colonial rule) of Western Africa. After clearing immigration, collecting your bags and passing through customs you will enter the main arrival hall where your local guide will be waiting to meet you. Our team will take care of you from here and offer you “Akwaaba” (welcome) once you have boarded your air conditioned vehicle which will be your mode of transport for the duration of your time with us. We make the short journey (approximately 15 minutes depending on traffic) to your hotel which is located in Ghana’s capital Accra. After checking you 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- Tulip Inn (Accra)

Day 2 Birding Winniba lagoon* and Kakum surrounds
As the vast majority of international flights arrive in Ghana late in the evening, we take a relaxed breakfast on our first morning allowing us time to acclimatize to Western Africa and also recharge our batteries after travelling the previous day. We check out of our hotel at 9am enabling us to miss the worst of the famous Accra rush hour traffic as we head west towards Winniba Lagoon. Set in a beautiful location on our arrival we hope to see Royal, Black and Caspian Terns, White-fronted Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Tern, Grey Plover, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, Marsh Sandpiper, Little Stint, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Sandwich Tern, Common Redshank and Common Greenshank amongst other species. *Possible change to maximize Jukwa time, as most species are Southern African, with the exception of Royal Tern. After a wonderful morning we have lunch in Winniba before setting off for Jukwa and the Rainforest Lodge our accommodation for the next 3 nights whilst we visit Kakum National Park. After we have checked into our accommodation we set off for late afternoon/early evening birding around the farmland scrub of Jukwa where we hope to see Red-headed Quelea, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Village and Compact Weavers, Splendid and Copper Sunbirds and Red-faced and Whistling Cisticolas amongst other species. We will visit a small forest close to our lodge and try for the Frasers Eagle Owl and Long-tailed Nightjar before returning to our accommodation for our evening meal and checklist.

Accommodation- Rainforest Lodge (Jukwa)

Day 3 Birding Kakum National Park morning and evening visits to the canopy walkway
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, Sharpe’s Apalis, Brown-cheeked Hornbill and Copper-tailed Starling, Bioko Batis, Blue Cuckooshrike, Little Green Woodpecker and the White-crested Hornbill. Other species we hope to see include Blue-throated Brown, Green, Collared, Johanna’s and the beautiful Buff-throated Sunbirds, Red-headed and Crested Malimbes, Rosy Bee-eater, White-breasted and Grey-crowned Nigrita, Red-fronted and African Grey Parrots, Blue Malkoha, Western and Black Winged Orioles, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Splendid Glossy and 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, African Emerald Cuckoo, Blue-throated Roller, Yellow-throated, Red-rumped and Speckled Tinkerbirds, Hairy-breasted and Naked-faced Barbets, Ussher’s and Little Grey Flycatchers, Cassin’s 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, Cassin’s 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 lodge’s restaurant and bar discussing the day’s sightings, adding to our checklist and enjoying the atmosphere of our surroundings.

Accommodation- Rainforest Lodge (Jukwa)

Day 4 Birding Antwikwaa and Kakum National Park
Another early start as we visit the Antwikwaa section of Kakum National Park, hoping to add some amazing birds to our growing list – Little, White-throated, Rosy and Black Bee-eaters, Blue-throated Roller, Piping Hornbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, White-spotted Flufftail, Cassin’s Spinetail, Sabine’s Spinetail, Diederik Cuckoo, Melancholy and Buff-spotted Woodpeckers, Vieillot’s Black and Black-necked Weavers, Kemp’s and Grey Longbills, Western Nicator, Western Bluebill, Olive-bellied, Superb and Johanna’s Sunbirds, Copper-tailed and Violet-backed Starlings, Yellow White-eye, Bronze Mannikin, Orange-cheeked Waxbill and the more difficult species include Yellow-billed Barbet, Forest Penduline Tit, Ayre’s Hawk Eagle and Ahanta Francolin to mention a few. We then go to a river site for the beautiful White-bibbed Swallow, Preuss’s Cliff Swallow, Rock Pratincole, White-headed Lapwing, and if we are lucky African Finfoot. In the afternoon we will concentrate our attention on the many trails within and surrounding the park, which should prove to be very productive. We hope to find White-tailed Alethe, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Grey-headed Bristlebill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Forest Robin, Yellow-billed Turaco, Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Melancholy Woodpecker, and many others. Once again we will remain until dark trying for owls and nightjars that we may still need before returning to our accommodation for our meal and checklist.

Accommodation- Rainforest Lodge (Jukwa)

Day 5 Birding Kakum Forest and Brenu Akyinim
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, Blue Malkoha, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Northern 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. Productivity reduces during the heat of the mid-afternoon, with this in mind we return to our hotel to enjoy our lunch, relax around the pool or have a short siesta. New habitat is in store for us after our relaxing lunch as we head for Brenu Akyinim and the coastal savannah plains. There are some special species found in this area and new birds we hope to see include Marsh Tchagra, Compact Weaver, Double-spurred Francolin, Oriole Warbler, Red-headed Quelea, Black-rumped Waxbill and if we are lucky Yellow-winged Pytilia, Wilson’s Indigobird, African Wattled Lapwing and if we stay late Greyish Eagle-Owl and Long-tailed Nightjar to mention a few. Our final evening at the Rainforest Lodge will be spent updating our checklists and discussing the days sightings over our evening meal.

Accommodation- Rainforest Lodge (Jukwa)

Day 6 Birding Abrafo Forest and visiting nesting site for Yellow-headed Picathartes
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, however we will have to as we have a full morning’s birding to enjoy. We check out of our hotel after an early breakfast and set off for Abrafo forest where we will be targeting species we may still require from this habitat. After an excellent morning we set off northwards stopping for lunch en-route before arriving at a remote village close to a small upper guinea rainforest in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. All of the known nesting sites for the Yellow-headed Picathartes are in forest reserves and not protected areas. This location has more nesting sites than any other in Ghana. There are around 20 nesting sites in this small forest and we will visit one of the largest colonies that has approximately 30 nests. As we set off on the walk through this beautiful forest you can see why it is one of the most sought after species in the world, the total experience adds to this mythical birds reputation. As we arrive at the nesting site we need to be very quiet as we take our seats 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 and insects during the day. It is 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 vehicle. On our arrival in Kumasi we check into our hotel, enjoy our evening meal and reflect on one of the best birding days of our life.

Accommodation- Royal Basin Hotel (Kumasi)

Day 7 Birding Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary and Atewa Plains
An early start as we 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 Mannikin, 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 en-route. After some rest and relaxation we set of for the lower farmland bush at Atewa where we hope to see Black-necked, Maxwell’s Black, Compact and Thick-billed Weavers, Whistling Cisticola, Black-crowned and Marsh Tchagras, African Emerald, Klaas’s, Levaillant’s 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)

Day 8 Birding Atewa Range and Shai Hills Reserve
Atewa is critically endangered highland upper guinea rainforest and as it protects so many quality and rare species we will dedicate the entire 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 (split from Blue-headed), 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 Collared 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-colored Bushshrike, Western Nicator, Brown Illadopsis and Western Bronze-naped Pigeon. There are some really special rare species here that are very difficult to see and if we are lucky as we sometimes are we may get a glimpse of Red-fronted Antpecker, Nimba Flycatcher, Crowned Eagle, Brown-chested Alethe, Forest Scrub Robin and Lowland Akalat amongst others. After a wonderful full morning we return to our guesthouse for lunch before we set off after a productive morning heading further south towards Tema. We pass through the beautiful Akwepim range during our journey, as we descend these mountains a visit to the Shai Hills Reserve is most welcome for a leg stretch and more quality birding. As we will be here in the late afternoon and early evening our focus will be on the more difficult to see species that include Swamp and Freckled Nightjars, Northern White-faced and African Scops Owls in addition to the much sought after African Barred Owlet before heading off on the short journey to our hotel for the evening.

Accommodation- Alexis Hotel (Tema)

Day 9 Birding Shai Hills Reserve and Sakamona Lagoon before Departure
Our final day with you here in Ghana and a more relaxed pace and enjoyable habitat as we head for the open grassland savannah of Shai Hills hoping to see Northern Crombec, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Cardinal Woodpecker, Vieilliot’s 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, Blackcap and Brown Babblers, Copper and Splendid Sunbirds, White-crested Helmet-shrike, Croaking and Short-winged Cisticolas, African Thrush, Red-necked and Lizard Buzzards, Lanner Falcon, Green Woodhoopoe and Stone Partridge to mention a few species on offer here. After a wonderful morning we stop for lunch at our hotel before heading for more familiar birding at the Sakamona Lagoon. There are usually an abundance ofbirds 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, Collared Pratincole, Marsh and Curlew Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, Reed Cormorant, Squacco, Grey, Purple, Striated and Black Herons, Little, Cattle and Intermediate Egrets, Western Reef and Black-headed Herons, Royal, Black and Caspian Terns, Sanderling, Ruff, Sandwich and if we are lucky Roseate Terns and Kittlitz’s Plover. An amazing end to a wonderful tour as we head back to our hotel to rearrange our bags and freshen up, no rush as we have arranged a late check out for you. We enjoy an early evening meal and final checklist before transferring you to the airport for your departure* after a wonderful Ghana birding and wildlife tour.

*Extra night probably necessary for morning flight to SA. Departure