Itinerary:

After a night in Accra, we spend a day in the Shai Hills, Volta Region & Sakumo Lagoon. Here we hope to see Pied-winged and White-throated Blue Swallow, Mocking Cliff-chat,  Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Stone Partridge, African Hobby, Blue-bellied and Rufous-crowned Roller, Double-toothed Barbet, Violet Turaco and Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike. Next, we head for Kakum. A range of grassland and wetland and habitats en-route provide African Pygmy-goose, Allen’s Gallinule, Black-bellied Bustard, and several widespread African species. When we arrive at Kakum, at our restaurant a variety of herons can be seen, including Black-crowned Night-Heron, Striated Heron and the highly sought after White-crested Bittern. Luck could also bring the enigmatic Quail Plover.

Amongst the many West African forest jewels we hope to see from the famous Kakum walkway are; Blue Cuckoo-shrike, Violet-backed Hyliota, Sharpe’s Apalis (an upper Guinea endemic), Fiery-breasted Bushshrike, the elusive West African Batis, Black Bee-eater, Yellow-spotted, Naked-faced and Hairy-breasted Barbets, Chestnut-bellied Helmetshrike and dazzling Western Bluebills. Other birds which we hope to see include both Black-casqued, Yellow-casqued, Piping, Black-and-white Casqued and Brown-cheeked Hornbills, Brown-necked, Red-fronted and Gary Parrots, Black-collared Lovebird, Rosy Bee-eater and mixed flocks of swifts which often include Cassin’s, Sabine’s and Black Spinetail. Greenbul species we hope to find include Little, Gary, Ansorge’s, Plain, Slender-billed, Yellow-whiskered, Golden, Honeyguide, Swamp, Icterine, Red-tailed, Western-bearded and the endangered Yellow-bearded. Other species include;  Long-tailed Hawk, White-spotted Flufftail, Yellow-billed Turaco, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-throated Coucal, Red-billed Dwarf and the bizarre White-crested Hornbill, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Finsch’s. Forest streams support elusive Spot-breasted Ibis, Shining-blue and White-bellied Kingfisher. Rarities, which we will be on the constant lookout for, include Congo Serpent-Eagle, Forest Francolin, the near-mythical White-breasted Guineafowl, Grey-throated Rail, Spotted Honeyguide, African Pitta, Grey Ground-Thrush, Forest Scrub-Robin, Capuchin Babbler and Jameson’s Antpecker. The forest edge is also extremely productive and supports Ahanta Francolin, the seldom seen Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Bristle-nosed and Yellow-billed Barbet, several tinkerbirds, Buff-spotted, Brown-eared, Melancholy and Fire-bellied Woodpeckers, the sought after Kemp’s Longbill, Dusky Blue, Ussher’s and the rare Tessmann’s Flycatcher, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, Black-winged Oriole, Gray’s Malimbe and Magpie Mannikin. On the nocturnal agenda, we hope to attract Red-chested Owlet, African Wood-Owl, Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, Brown Nightjar and the elusive Nkulengu Rail.

After our excursions for the sought-after Yellow-headed Rockfowl, we head for Mole National Park. En-route we will look for African Broadbill and Puvel’s Illadopsis. Our lodge itself is a superb place to begin birding, and we should find mixed flocks of waxbills and canaries. We will explore the rocky escarpment below the lodge and here we hope to find family groups of Stone Partridge, Double-spurred Francolin, Freckled Nightjar, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Rock-loving and Red-pate Cisticolas, White-fronted Black-Chat and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. The park has dazzling species, including Bruce’s Green-Pigeon, Violet Turaco, Rose-ringed Parakeet,

Blue-breasted and Grey-headed Kingfisher, Red-throated and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Abyssinian, Rufous-crowned, Broad-billed and Blue-bellied Rollers, Bearded Barbets, and Sulphur-breasted and Grey-headed Bushshrikes. Other species in the woodlands are White-throated Francolin, Fine-spotted and Brown-backed Woodpeckers, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Senegal Eremomela and others. Raptors include three vultures, Brown Snake-Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Wahlberg’s, Martial and Long-crested Eagle, Ayres’ and African Hawk-Eagles, Lanner Falcon and African Hobby. After leaving Mole, the border area near Tono Dam is home to the seasonal Egyptian Plover. Other targets include Stanley and White-bellied Bustards, Forbes’ Plover, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, and Rufous-rumped and Sun Larks. A nocturnal excursion for the incredible Standard-winged Nightjar will be unforgettable.

We then fly back to Accra for our final excursion in the Atewa Range, covered in extensive forest, and birding will be accompanied by the total solar eclipse. Blue-headed Bee-eater is a speciality, and we also hope to find Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco, Narina Trogon, Little Green Woodpecker, Square-tailed Sawwing, Black-capped Apalis, Olivaceous and Dusky Crested-Flycatcher, Chestnut and Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, Brown and the endangered Rufous-winged Illadopsis, Bates’ Sunbird, Many-coloured Bush- shrike and Green-backed Twinspot.