05 Jan 2025 - 26 Jan 2025 (22 days)
USD6,995 - 2 Spaces Available on this guaranteed departure
Tour Leader: Quinton Paul Josop
Tour price (Per person): USD6,995 * GBP5,326 * EUR6,307 * AUD10,487
Single Supplement: USD850 * GBP647 * EUR766 * AUD1,274
Can be linked with: São Tomé & Príncipe - Endemics Extension I 2025
Tour Leader: David Hoddinott
Tour Leader: David Hoddinott
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD7,300 * GBP5,558 * EUR6,582 * AUD10,945
Can be linked with: São Tomé & Príncipe - Endemics Extension I 2026
Tour Leader: André Bernon
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD7,300 * GBP5,558 * EUR6,582 * AUD10,945
Can be linked with: São Tomé & Príncipe - Endemics Extension II 2026
Our Ghana Mega Birding tour itinerary affords even more time in Ghana's spectacular, ancient forests. We spend a full day birding in the gallery forest of Kalakpa which offers such star species as Puvel’s Illadopsis, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, Capuchin Babbler and many more. In addition we spend time exploring the wonders of Kakum National Park, as well as remote forests in the Brong-Ahafo region where the much sought-after White-necked Rockfowl has recently been rediscovered. We have obtained special permission to visit these colonies located in community-managed forests and our stay will aid in the conservation of these endangered birds. Other forests near Kumasi and Atewa will also be explored. We also visit the remote forests of Ankasa in search of some very seldom seen birds including Akun Eagle-Owl, White-breasted Guineafowl, White-bellied Kingfisher and Brown Nightjar. On previous tours we have even found the near mythical Nkulengu Rail. Other forests will be visited in search of Rufous Fishing Owl and White-crested Tiger Heron. In a broad belt across the centre of Ghana lies an extensive tract of pristine, broad-leaved Guinea woodland and in this zone is our next base, the vast Mole National Park. The beautiful Oriole Warbler, Violet Turaco, several species of kingfishers, bee-eaters, rollers (including Blue-bellied), barbets (including the huge Bearded), sunbirds, starlings and seedeaters will certainly create a riot of colour! We will not ignore the typical savanna mammals that occur here and Mole boasts a healthy population of particularly well-habituated and good-natured elephants. As we travel into the seldom visited far north of Ghana, these woodlands give way to dry Sahelian savanna, home to some very special birds including the sought-after Standard-winged Nightjar, one of the world’s most uniquely adorned and spectacular birds! Here also we will search for the splendid Egyptian Plover. We will spend time exploring this remote region with its fascinating cultures, as well as other sites ranging from coastal lagoons, extensive coastal grasslands, moist savannas and higher-altitude forests. This Ghana Mega Birding tour is designed for the ardent birder intent on trying to see some of the rarest birds in Africa!
White-necked Rockfowl; Egyptian Plover; White-crested Tiger Heron; Hartlaub's Duck; White-breasted Guineafowl; Congo Serpent Eagle; Long-tailed Hawk; Rufous Fishing Owl; Fraser's & Akun Eagle-Owls; Forest & Ahanta Francolins; White-spotted Flufftail; Black-collared & Red-headed Lovebirds; Violet & Guinea Turacos; Blue-headed Wood Dove; Yellow-throated Cuckoo; Black-throated Coucal; Standard-winged & Brown Nightjars; Black Spinetail; Blue-bellied Roller; White-bellied & Chocolate-backed Kingfishers; Blue-moustached; Black & Rosy Bee-eaters; Black Dwarf, Red-billed Dwarf, Brown-cheeked, Black-casqued & Yellow-casqued Hornbills; African Piculet; Yellow-spotted, Yellow-billed & Bearded Barbets; White-headed & Forest Wood Hoopoes; Yellow-footed & Willcocks’s Honeyguides; Cassin’s Honeybird; Little Green Woodpecker; Red-fronted Antpecker; Rufous-sided Broadbill; Fernando Po Batis; Red-cheeked Wattle-eye; Emin's Shrike; Red-billed Helmetshrike; Many-colored Bushshrike; Marsh Tchagra; Sabine’s Puffback; Blue Cuckooshrike; Forest & Yellow Penduline Tits; Green-tailed & Grey-headed Bristlebills; Western Bearded Greenbul; Preuss’s Cliff & White-bibbed Swallows; Gambaga, Tessmann’s, Chestnut-capped, Ussher’s, Nimba & Little Grey Flycatchers; Sharpe’s & Black-capped Apalis; Tit Hylia; Rufous-crowned Eremomela; Kemp’s Longbill; Lemon-bellied Crombec; Puvel's, Blackcap & Rufous-winged Illadopsis; Capuchin & Blackcap Babblers; Violet-backed Hyliota; Copper-tailed Starling; Finsch’s Rufous Thrush; White-tailed Alethe; White-crowned Robin-Chat; Forest Scrub Robin; White-crowned Cliff & White-fronted Black Chats; Pygmy, Mangrove & Buff-throated Sunbirds; Oriole Warbler; Maxwell’s Black, Yellow-mantled & Preuss’s Weavers; Black-bellied Seedcracker; Western Bluebill; Exclamatory Paradise Whydah; African Pitta (rare).
West African Potto; Pel’s Anomalure; Patas Monkey; Olive & King Colobus; African Elephant; Kob; African Buffalo; various forest duikers
lowland rainforest, broad-leaved woodlands, rivers & wetlands, Sahelian savanna
hot conditions; dry in the north and humid in the south
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leaders
WARNING: This tour involves strenuous activities and is intended for experienced adventurers. If you prefer a more relaxed experience, please check out our [Explore Relaxed Tours]
Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.
mostly comfortable hotels & lodges
moderate with some challenging species
450-500
Kakum canopy walkway, remote forests seldom visited by birders, Farafara tribesmen, Mole National Park, Sahelian savanna
worthwhile to good
Stephan was great! I would not hesitate to sign up again for another tour with him as leader. He worked really hard to help us find a lot of very tough birds.
Andre is an excellent lead guide – extremely good with people and logistics as well as birds and other wildlife. We would select another tour lead by him in a second.
The tour was well planned and well paced. The Tour Leader Stephan and Local Guide were both excellent, and worked well as a team. Indeed they were the icing on the cake as to making the tour so good.
Greg did a great job leading the tour, communicating clearly with participants and getting everyone onto the birds as best that could be done. The local guide Paul was equally excellent and a great complimentary foil for Greg. A very smoothly run tour ! Thanks also to Crystal, Hayley and Sarah for making the whole admin process so simple; much appreciated.
We covered the length and breadth of Ghana on this fantastic tour, with wonderful birds, very friendly people and many colourful sights. Rob Williams and our local guide, Philip, were outstanding. They complemented each other beautifully and both were cheerful and enthusiastic. We greatly appreciated Philip keeping us supplied with fresh local bananas, mangoes, watermelon and pawpaw throughout. The organisation of the tour was superb and everything went smoothly
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials (Small Group) 2024 - March 2024
Ghana - Mega Birding Tour I 2024 - January 2024
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials (Small Group) 2023 - March 2023
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials (Small Group) I 2022 - March 2022
Ghana - Mega Birding Tour II 2021 - November 2021
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials 2021 - November 2021
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials (Small Group) I 2020 - February 2020
Ghana - Mega Birding Tour I 2019 - November 2019
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials 2019 - November 2019
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials 2019 - November 2019
Ghana - Mega Birding Tour I 2018 - November 2018
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials 2018 - November 2018
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials 2018 - November 2018
Ghana - Mega Birding Tour 2017 - November 2017
Ghana - Rockfowl & Upper Guinea specials 2017 - November 2017
Ghana - Cederlund & Pattison 2017 - November 2017
Ghana - Knox 2016 - January 2016
Ghana - Mega Birding Tour 2015 - November 2015