Ghana Birdwatching and Wildlife
The nature reserves and national parks of Ghana offer some of Africa’s best birdwatching. This 12-day Ghana birdwatching and wildlife journey provides a comprehensive look at Ghana’s forests, savannas, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Led by a highly experienced and professional birdwatching guide, this tour will take you as far west as Ankasa Conservation Area, and as far north as Mole National Park.
Visit the best birdwatching reserves in southern, western and northern Ghana
Explore the biologically diverse Ankasa Conservation Area
Spot elephants, baboons, warthogs and more in Mole National Park
Walk the rope bridges in the canopy of Kakum National Park
Ghana Birdwatching and Wildlife
$1889+ includes:
- Flight from Tamale to Accra on Africa World Airlines
- A professional birdwatching guide for the entire trip
- Comfortable and rustic accommodation around Ghana
- Vehicle, driver, and fuel for the entirety of the trip
- All activities
- All meals
Itinerary
Packing List
Itinerary
Day 1
Upon completing immigration and exiting Kotoka International Airport, you will be greeted with a smile by your Uprise tour guide, who will take you to a nearby hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may be able to have a short orientation session to prepare you for the days ahead. You may also have time to visit some of the sites around Accra, or to have your first Ghanaian meal.
Day 2
Today your birds and wildlife adventure will begin at the Shai Hills Resource Reserve, a sanctuary situated about an hour outside of Accra. Shai Hills is an expanse of grassland and woodland abutted by the Shai Hills. Known for its birdwatching, it is common to spot the white-crowned cliff chat, the African hobby, blue-bellied and purple rollers, violet turaco, red-shouldered cuckooshrike, and the double-toothed barbet. After lunch, you will visit the Akosombo Dam, one of the largest dams in Africa. Here you can search for pied-winged and white-bibbed swallows.
Day 3 and 4
This morning you will depart Akosombo for Kakum National Park. During your two days in this area, you will explore several sections of this protected area, as well as other habitats nearby. Here you will have a chance to spot a range of bird species, including the blue cuckooshrike, sharpe’s apalis, the African shrike-flycatcher, the lemon-bellied crombec, the Cassin’s honeybird, the green hylia, the violet-backed hyliota, the beautiful Preuss’s weaver, the rufous-crowned eremomela, and more. Later this morning, you will visit a tree platform inside the park, where you will search for Cassin’s hawk-eagle, the red-thighed sparrow hawk, the palm-nut vulture, and the African harrier-hawk.
Day 5
This morning you will begin your long journey towards the Ankasa Game Reserve. This isolated park along the border with Ivory Coast is seldom-visited, but the rewards for birdwatchers make it worth the trip. You will stop at an area of mangroves where you will search for mangrove sunbirds before arriving at the camp where you will stay for the next two days. Depending on your arrival time, you will take a quick tour of the area to spot any birds near the camp.
Day 6 and 7
Today you will begin two full days of touring the reserve and searching for birds rarely spotted in West Africa. At Ankasa you might be lucky enough to see shining-blue kingfishers, African finfoot, hartlaub’s duck, and white-crested tiger heron. The park is also home to some monkey species and antelope.
Day 8
After spending your final hours touring Ankasa, you will depart for Elmina. Depending on the time of arrival, you will visit a number of small lagoons to search for forest ducks and different species of hornbills. If time permits, you may also enjoy some beach relaxation or a visit to nearby UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Day 9
After breakfast you will depart for Kumasi, where you will have lunch upon arrival before entering Bobiri Forest Reserve. In Bobiri, you are likely to spot many species of woodpeckers, yellow-billed turaco, brown nightjar, black-throated coucal, afep pigeon, narina trogon, chocolate-backed kingfisher, blue-throated roller, and forest wood hoopoe.
Day 10
This morning you will depart Kumasi and head north to Mole National Park, the largest and best-known national park in Ghana. Mole National Park is home to over 300 species of savanna and forest birds, in addition to elephants, warthogs, vervet monkeys, patas monkeys, baboons, and various species of antelope.
Day 11
This morning you will have a very early start to discover the bird life inside the park. On your morning walking safari you are likely to see a wide range of mammal species, including elephants and various antelope. Some of the birds you are likely to encounter are the red-billed dwarf hornbill, blue-throated roller, shining blue kingfisher, bat hawk, gray parrot and red-thighed sparrowhawk, among other species. In the late afternoon, your driving safari will allow you to search for various night birds, such as the nightjar and the awal.
Day 12
Today you will drive to Tamale for your 50-minute Africa World Airlines flight to Accra. Upon arriving in Accra, you may have time to visit the Accra Arts Centre, Independence Square, or have your last meal in Ghana before your flight home, or wherever your final destination may be.
Packing List
The Uprise team is happy to assist you with your luggage, but feel free to pack light and keep it simple!
- We highly recommend that you speak with your doctor about about antimalarial medications or any vaccinations that he or she may suggest.
- If your trip includes a safari, please include darker, more neutral-colored clothing in order to avoid scaring off the animals.
- Also, please consider culturally appropriate dress. While many cities and beaches in West Africa are more liberal with their dress codes, many people will be offended if you show too much skin. In some communities women should cover their shoulders and knees. Consider packing capri pants, loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts, or scarves to cover your shoulders.
In your hand-luggage:
- Passport
- Photocopy of your passport
- Visa for Ghana/Togo/Benin (if applicable)
- Yellow fever vaccination card
- Wallet and money
- Waterbottle
- Medications
- Phone
- Camera
- Chargers
- Books/games
In your checked luggage:
- Underwear
- Socks
- Pants
- Shorts
- Tee shirts
- Bathing suits
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Sneakers/hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rainjacket
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Soap/facewash
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Shaving cream
- Bugspray
- Sunscreen
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SCHEDULE CHANGES
Uprise Travel reserves the right to change this itinerary at any time. We might make changes for a variety of reasons, including local holidays, road or bridge closures, flight delays or cancellations, weather or natural disasters, issues with subcontractors or external vendors, the substitution of a new activity, or any unforeseen circumstances. The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. In the event that we need to alter this schedule, we will make every effort to inform you of changes as soon as they occur.
All activities listed in this itinerary are included in the cost of the trip, unless otherwise indicated. If you have any questions, please email tours@uprisetravel.com. Â
Uprise Travel – Mole National parks
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Aburi and Shai Hills Excursion
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