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My personal favourite was seeing Hartlaub’s Ducks but it is difficult to single out one specific highlight. The overall experience was excellent and thoroughly enjoyable.
P.R. Dorset, Feb 23
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Ghana's Highlights
Tour Code: GHA02An exciting 14-day holiday taking in the best of Ghana's varied wildlife and habitats, from the rainforests of the south to the open savannahs of the north.
14 days
from
£3,995 (Inc flights)
£3,995 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£3,395
£3,395
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Home to over 750 species of birds, and some of the region’s healthiest populations of mammals, Ghana is rapidly becoming West Africa's premier wildlife destination. This small tropical country is blessed with a diverse range of exciting habitats, from the lush tropical rainforest of the south to the more classically African bushveld of the north. This 14-day tour, focusing on birds primarily (including the near-mythical Yellow-headed Picathartes), as well as mammals and other wildlife, will take you through the best of these habitats, concentrating on the rich Upper Guinea forests of Ghana’s south-west, and the savannahs of the vast Mole National Park in the north.
- Visit a Yellow-headed Picathartes colony
- Africa's highest canopy walkway in Kakum NP
- Rufous-sided Broadbill, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, White-crested Hornbill & Akun Eagle-Owl possible
- Great Blue Turaco, White-bellied Kingfisher, Hartlaub's Duck & the legendary Nkulengu Rail possible in the remote Ankasa Forest
- Chance of elusive forest mammals including Potto & Long-tailed Pangolin
- Egyptian Plover on the White Volta River
- Elephant, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill & Standard-winged Nightjar in the vast Mole National Park
- Led by local expert guides
Grading
Grade B. Easy to moderate day walks in humid conditions. Optional early morning and evening walks mean potentially long days, so a good level of fitness is required.
Home to over 750 species of birds, and some of the region’s healthiest populations of mammals, Ghana is rapidly becoming West Africa's premier wildlife destination. This small tropical country — known in the past as the 'Gold Coast' — is now widely recognised as a friendly and safe destination to visit and is blessed with a diverse range of exciting habitats, from the lush tropical rainforest of the south to the more classically African bushveld of the north. This 14-day tour, focusing primarily on birds, as well as mammals and other wildlife, will take you through the best of these habitats, concentrating on the rich Upper Guinea forests of Ghana’s south-west, and the savannahs of the vast Mole National Park in the north.
After the direct flight to Accra and an overnight stay in the capital, we will visit Shai Hills Reserve, a small stretch of grassland savannah more commonly found in the north of the country. Here we will have our first taste of Ghana's diverse wildlife, with Blue-bellied Rollers and Senegal Parrot a possibility and various species of swordtail butterfly mud-puddling on the tracks. We then head westwards for three nights in Kakum National Park, renowned for its 40-metre-high rainforest canopy walkway. We will visit the walkway early one morning to see and hear the rainforest come alive, and then spend the rest of the time at ground level in the forest and on its fringes looking for birdlife which may include Rosy Bee-eater, Congo Serpent Eagle, Black Dwarf Hornbill, White-spotted Flufftail and the little-known Brown Nightjar. Other possible nocturnal creatures include several owls — Fraser's Eagle-Owl, African Wood Owl and the near-mythical Akun Eagle-Owl, which is seen with some regularity here — alongside secretive mammals such as West African Potto, Emin's Giant Pouched Rat and the Western Tree Hyrax, whose repetitive shrieking call penetrates the night.
Ankasa Forest, near the border with Ivory Coast, is Ghana's only wet evergreen Upper Guinea forest and is our destination for the next three nights. Ankasa supports an exciting range of wildlife, including some of West Africa’s most sought-after rainforest birds, including Hartlaub’s Duck, White-bellied Kingfisher, Great Blue Turaco, Nkulengu Rail (which was only photographed for the first time in 2011) and the elusive African Pitta. The reserve is also home to a wide variety of mammals, although many are nocturnal and so best seen on the optional night walks. These include West African Potto, Demidoff's Galago, Western Tree Hyrax, African Brush-tailed Porcupine and Hammer-headed Fruit Bat. For the quiet and patient observer, there is even the chance of a rare African Dwarf Crocodile which can sometimes be seen at the forest waterholes.
We then retrace our steps, and after a further night in Kakum National Park, we head north to Bonkro Forest for one night. Here we will be looking for the bizarre and elusive Yellow-headed Picathartes (White-necked Rockfowl). This remarkable bird — one of the world’s most sought-after species — was only discovered breeding in Ghana in 2005, but the country, and this forest in particular, is now the best place in the world to see it. In the mid-afternoon we will set off along a forest trail, aiming to arrive at one of its nesting sites in time to see the birds arrive to roost. The local communities here have embraced the visiting birders and are now actively protecting the forest — an excellent example of the many benefits of eco-tourism! The forests here have also become one of the most reliable places to see both White-bellied (Tree) and Black-bellied (Long-tailed) Pangolin. Although elusive and difficult to find, night walks here offer a good chance of finding one of these iconic mammals.
After a long drive north, we arrive at the final location on this tour, Mole National Park for a 3-night stay. Clothed in dry broadleaf woodland, grassy savannah, low hills and rocky escarpments, Mole is Ghana's largest national park and protects over 330 species of birds and almost 100 species of mammals. It is home to West Africa’s largest mammal herds and the more open habitats here make a welcome change from the dense rainforests of the south. Kob, Defassa Waterbuck, Hippo and African Elephant can be seen, along with Roan, Bushbuck and Red Duiker. Olive Baboons are common and there is an abundance of birds to enjoy including Martial Eagle, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, Standard-winged Nightjar and the sought-after Forbes’s Plover. Nearby, the White Volta River supports a population of Egyptian Plover, another of Africa’s most desirable birds. This beautiful wader will be a fitting finale to our time in Ghana, after which we take an internal flight from Tamale to Accra and then connect with our international flight home.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Depart London & overnight Accra
Day 2/4
Rainforest Lodge, Kakum NP
Day 5/7
Ankasa Forest
Day 8
Rainforest Lodge, Kakum NP
Day 9
Picathartes Forest
Day 10/12
Mole National Park
Day 13
Depart Accra
Day 14
Arrive London
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
All accommodation is included in the price. Accommodation is in comfortable, but simple, guesthouses and hotels. All rooms have private facilities.
- Food:
All food is included in the cost. Ghanaian cuisine consists largely of delicious traditional food, with more Western fare typically available in larger towns and hotels.
Reviews
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Our holiday to Ghana with Naturetrek was brilliant. It had everything we expected, and more. From the moment we booked to arriving back home, was excellent. The guides we had whilst in Ghana certainly knew their stuff, from birds to wildlife to culture. Definitely recommended. The staff at Naturetrek were brilliant. We had many questions and all the answers came back quickly, but if they needed to clarify something, it didn’t take them long to get back to us. They made the Visa application process relatively easy. Polite, professional and very friendly.
R.W. Ross-shire, Feb 23
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Sat 8th Feb – Fri 21st Feb
FULL
£3,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,395
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Male sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£650
Sun 2nd Nov – Sat 15th Nov
SPACES
£3,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,395
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£650
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Sat 7th Feb – Fri 20th Feb
SPACES
£3,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,395
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£650
Sun 1st Nov – Sat 14th Nov
SPACES
£3,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,395
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£650
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Tour Reports
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
Related articles
In November 2019, Operations Manager, Ben Chapple, travelled to Ghana, where he encountered an astonishing variety of West African wildlife. Here he describes his experiences, and explains why now could be the perfect time to travel to this remarkable country.
