The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to which Ghana became a signatory in 1992, and other Multilateral International Environmental Agreements enjoin signatory parties to develop strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In this regard, there has been a Biodiversity Country Study on Ghana. A National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) and a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, both in situ (use of both traditional and scientific methods – sacred groves and protected areas), and ex situ (gene banks. zoological and botanical gardens) approaches have been used in biodiversity conservation in Ghana. The effectiveness of the former has, however, diminished in recent times because of rapid population growth, urbanization, human migration and resettlement, influence of western technology, foreign religions and beliefs, human encroachment, deforestation, poaching, etc.
Ghana’s environmental conservation initiatives hold quite promising prospects, especially with the current collaboration between local traditional authorities, NGOs, government institutions, academic and research institutions, and the realization that more flexible multidisciplinary and holistic approaches to biodiversity conservation are more likely to yield better results. The main objective of biodiversity conservation is to ensure that the use of biological resources does not diminish the variety of genes and species, or destroy important habitats and ecosystems worldwide.
Ghana is preparing a new law this year to deepen wildlife and biodiversity conservation. The law would replace the Wild Animals Preservation Act, which was passed in 1961 and will surely make a positive impact on our biodiversity management, not only in the protection of wildlife, but also the education of the public, and even the right to own and rear some of the animals,
Ghana currently has 16 protected areas and six national parks hosting diverse species such as leopards, lions, buffalos, baboons, snakes, and antelopes, among others with projects that has demonstrated that traditional communities can lead highly successful conservation initiatives, as shown by community partnerships in Ghana including Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary, Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Nyankamba Escarpment in the Savannah Region, Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Volta Region, Asumura Sanctuary which is home to the endangered and threatened White-Necked Rock fowl species.
The key ingredient of success in these projects is the philosophy that conservation will only be successful in settings where the affected local communities obtain tangible economic returns and cultural incentives for its implementation.
Accra (Google Map)
Arrive in Accra Airport via
Meet, assist and transfer to your hotel.
Orientation by Sunseekers Tours staff
Dinner at your hotel. (on own account).
Overnight: 2*/3* Hotels in Accra
Sakumo Lagoon a Wetland serves two purposes; to retard the flow of flood waters into the Sea and protect fish and migratory birds it was designated a Ramsar Site in 1992. Sakumo Lagoon is a great birding destination despite its position in the heart of a sprawling metropolis. Lying about 30 km east of Accra and covering up to 350ha, the Lagoon is perfectly situated for birding from the city in either the morning or afternoon. The main attraction at Sakumo is the open shallow estuary and flooded reed beds which between September and April can support thousands of waders and an impressive list of estuarine related birds. The surrounding savannah also hosts a number of dry country species and birds of prey. A few hours birding in the morning or afternoon at Sakumo between October and April should produce upwards of 80 species.
The Lagoon which is also home to migratory birds and rare plant and animal species, has been encroached to the extent that almost half of its designated area is gone. The Forestry Commission and other relevant authorities have plans to dredge and protect Sakomo Lagoon to enhance other uses such as water sports and butterfly watching as well as fish and crop farming which are more ecologically friendly activities.
Birds of Sakumo Lagoon with Significant numbers are Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus, Common Redshank Tringa totanus, Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnitilis, Common Ringed Plover. Also, Sakumo is home to healthy numbers of larger water birds including Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, Green-backed Heron Butorides striata, Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Black Egret Egretta ardesiaca, Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia, Great White Egret Egretta alba.
5.00AM: Depart your hotel with packed breakfast for an early morning Birdwatching of this lagoon sandwiched between the Accra and Tema Metropolitan areas.
Continue unique casket making shops. Various designs of caskets are produced based on the African belief of life after death. Therefore, caskets are designed to reflect the earthly profession of the deceased with the belief that they can continue to practice this profession in the other world. Hence a bus driver will be buried in a bus, a teacher in a book, a doctor in a syringe etc.
Our last stop on the Accra City tour will be the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, burial place of the first President of Ghana. This Mausoleum has been visited by many world dignitaries.
Return to your hotel
Rest of day at leisure
Return to Sakumo Lagoon for an evening birding experience. This may offer you the chance of viewing late afternoon birds
Dinner (Extra Cost)
You may explore the city to experience nightlife around Osu, the ‘Community that never Sleeps’
Overnight: 2*/3* Hotels in Accra (B)
Highlights: Birdwatching, Unique Caskets & Nightlife
Breakfast and Hotel check-out
5.00am: Depart Accra early with packed breakfast to visit Shai Hills Game Reserve. The closest wildlife protected area to Accra, home to several animals such as antelopes, green monkeys and the olive baboons. Savor the expansive savannah grassland and woodland. Shai Hills Resource Reserve boasts of several species of birds (Senegal parrot, swallow-tailed bee-eater, Vieillot’s barbet, piapiac and the red-shouldered cuckoo shrike), caves, archaeological sites and granite. Trek for two hours and explore the ancient caves that provided sanctuary for the ancestors of the inhabitants, the Shai Hills.
The African Hobby is regularly seen and a large number of Olive Baboons greet you on your arrival to the park. Eco-tourist with soft spot for baboons will spend the whole day watching the baboons exhibiting their amazing instinct of infant care. Wildlife viewing at Shai hills is designed with rich cultural and archaeological sites.
10.00am: Continue to enjoy the pleasure of visiting Obonu tem and Se yo caves on the Hioweyo and Sayu hills. The Shai people’s ancestral caves were used by the Shai king until the end of the 19th century. The primary cave was defendable in times of war due to the abundance of great stone rocks, a tunnel-like openings, and overhangs. A memorable day can be spent walking through the cool dry evergreen forest to the caves to see relics of old Shai settlements in the reserve. The loud bat colony that resides at the cave is an amazing site as well.
A special arrangement between the Shai People the Park’s management allows them to enter the park and perform sacred rites in commemoration of their ancestors during the annual Gmayem festival.
Lunch (Extra Cost)
Continue and check into your hotel
Dinner (Extra Cost)
Overnight: 2/3* Hotels in Akosombo (B)
Highlights: Olive Baboons, antelopes, birds, fruit bats and ancestral caves
Breakfast
Depart for Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary. Drive pass the Adomi Bridge spanning the Volta River through to the beautiful landscapes pf the Volta Region. For the past 200 years, the endangered Mona monkeys inhabiting the tropical forest surrounding the small village of Tafi-Atome have been protected because it is believed they are messengers to the gods and therefore became their local deity. In 1996, the village began broader efforts to protect their forest and monkeys, as well as to offer tours for visitors. As a result of these efforts, the monkey population has increased to about 200 and the forest, with its many species of local forest bird and butterfly species, have been preserved. The playful monkeys are in the wild but often come down very close to visitors. Revenue from this Community Initiated Tourism activity has brought improvement on the standard of living the provision of electricity to the village, as well as improvements to the school and a community clinic.
Arrive and visit the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary where the endangered but playful True Mona Monkeys are considered sacred and are therefore protected. Walk on well-cleared trails and view the monkeys in their natural habitat. You may spend some time with locals to enjoy some recreational drumming and dancing which you will be encouraged to participate
Lunch (Extra Cost)
Return to your hotel
Overnight: 2/3* Hotels in Akosombo (B)
Highlights: Mona Monkeys, local community
Breakfast and hotel checkout
Depart Akosombo for Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. Drive cross the scenic Akuapem Ridge into the undulating Hills and valleys of Koforidua in the Eastern Region. Drive past several scenic villages and charming towns and forest. Stop enroute to visit Ejisu Besease Shrine which Yaa Asantewaa, the courageous female war general consulted before leading the Ashanti army to war. In 1900, during the war with the British when the menfolk quaked with fear, Yaa Asantewaa led her army into battle. The building, an authentic Ashanti traditional architecture which houses the shrine is now a UNESCO-designated world heritage site
Lunch at a local restaurant (Extra Cost)
Make a detour to visit Bobiri Forest Reserve located just south of Kumasi. Birds in Bobiri include African Cuckoo Hawk Aviceda cuculoides, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus, Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus, Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria, Red-fronted Parrot Poicephalus gulielmi, a range of cuckoos, Narina’s Trogon Apaloderma narina, Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis, Black Dwarf Tockus hartlaubi and Red-billed Dwarf Hornbills T. camurus, Bristle-nosed Gymnobucco peli and Naked-faced Barbets G. calvus, Sharpe’s Apalis Apalis sharpii, Chestnut-capped Erythrocercus mccallii and Blue-headed Crested Flycatchers Trochocercus nitens, Dusky Tit Parus funereus and Red-billed Helmet-Shrike Prionops caniceps.
Arrive in Kumasi the cultural Capital on Ghana
Check into your hotel
Overnight: 2/3* Hotels in Kumasi (B)
Highlights: Ashanti traditional building (UNESCO), Birdwatching
Breakfast
Visit a few Ashanti craft villages to see the skill and imagination of local craftsmen using simple tools and traditional technology to produce breath taking artifacts and designs from which you may learn how this knowledge is mostly passed down as a family legacy and through apprenticeship. These are specialized crafts usually passed on from generation to generation which derives most of its inspiration from the environment. Visit Bonwire or Adanwomase well known for the traditional Kente cloth weaving. Observe weavers exhibit their skills in producing the clothes adorned some of which are a preserve for the Ashanti Kings, Ntonso – noted for its indigenous artist whose expertise lies in Adinkra textual printing using traditional symbols that express the spiritual, moral, political and socio- cultural philosophies of the Akan people, you will have an opportunity to create your own designs and Ahwiaa – the woodcarver’s village specializing in woodcarving such as the Ashanti stools, fertility dolls and walking sticks.
Lunch
After lunch depart for city tour of Kumasi visiting the Manhyia Palace and the Palace Museum which provides a good insight into Ashanti culture and traditions, and the history of the Ashanti Kingdom which is over 300 years old. It provides a good glimpse into the powerful ancient Ashanti Empire and its past kings. See the National Cultural Centre, Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, the Okomfo Anokye Sword and the Kumasi Central Market – the largest open-air market in West Africa.
Return to your hotel
Rest of day free for relaxation
Overnight: 2/3* Hotel in Kumasi (B)
Breakfast
Depart Kumasi and drive to the northern part of Ghana. The ride takes you past rural villages where food is produced. Note the gradual change in vegetation from Forest to Guinea. Make a detour to the twin villages of Boabeng-Fiema where the humans live together with two endangered monkey spices – a colony Mona Monkeys and Black & White Colobus Monkeys. The endangered apes are regarded by the locals as representatives of the god of the river. Both monkey groups and their natural habitat (the tropical forest surrounding the villages) are therefore protected. You take a walk through the village. The small, green-brown Mona monkeys show themselves frequently.
They literally live together with the inhabitants. The black and white Colobus monkeys are shy and keep themselves in the trees around the village. Even in death the Monkeys are reserved as there is a Cometary where dead monkeys are buried according to tradition.
Enjoy Packed Lunch (Extra Cost)
Continue to Mole Park. After arrival at the Mole National Park, the largest nature reserve in Ghana, you make an afternoon game drive off-road vehicle. It is a sloping area, with a somewhat steeper slope here and there. Just too wet to be a real savannah, but much drier than the tropical south coast of Ghana. Chances are that you will see wildlife such as elephants, baboons, lizards, warthogs and various types of antelope spot.
Overnight: Mole Motel in Mole (B)
Depart for an early morning safari drive of Mole National Park and its surroundings. Mole National Park lies in a belt of Broad-Leaved Guinea Woodlands. Mole is rich in biodiversity and home to some 742 vascular plant species, over 90 mammal species including 5 primate species, of which species of conservation and tourist interest include Elephant, Buffalo, Kob, Western Hartebeest, Roan Antelope, Defassa Waterbuck, Oribi, Bohor Reedbuck and Red-flanked Duiker. Rare and endangered species include the Yellow-backed Duiker, Black and White Colobus Monkey, Leopard and Lion. The Park is also home to 334 bird species, 33 reptiles, 9 amphibian species, and some 120 butterfly species.
Go on early morning game viewing and birdwatching. Bird watching at Mole is outstanding; the ease with which one can see the birds will amaze you. All Ghana’s savannah birds are to be found here some really special species, including the splendid Egyptian Plover and the Standard Winged Nightjah, one of the World’s most sought after birds.
Return to your hotel for breakfast
After breakfast visit the Mognori Eco Village, located 15 km from the main entrance of Mole National Park it is the closest community to the park. Take a tour of the village to gain insight into the culture of people living in such close proximity to nature while maintaining their rich cultural heritage. The tour will offer you the opportunity to see how the villagers organize their households, process shea butter, and prepare their staple foods. Explore the Mole River. This will offer another bird watching opportunity as you glide along in paddled canoes. Continue to visit Larabanga, known for its beautiful mud mosque, it is said to be the oldest in Ghana (more than 500 years old). During a walk through the village you sometimes see how local products such as shea butter is processed locally.
Continue on a late afternoon game drive of Mole National Park. Explore some of the flora and fauna you missed in the morning tour.
Dinner (Extra Cost)
Overnight: Mole Motel in Mole (B)
Highlights: Birdwatching, Game drive, Eco-Village, Larabanga Mosque
Breakfast and hotel checkout
Depart after breakfast for Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. Drive through Tamale, capital of Northern Region and the country’s fourth largest city and home to over 350,000 people and mostly inhabited by the Mole Dagombas. Tamale is the main centre for all commercial activities in the whole northern region of Ghana. Stop enroute to visit Tongo-Tazuk in the Upper East Region. In February 2016 UNESCO with ref: 2796 nominated the Tongo–Tengzuk Cultural Landscape and Shrines for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Tallensi people are the famous amongst the Northern tribe when it comes to the study of anthropology and conservation in Ghana and the World. Their traditional ancestral worship revolving around the famous shrines has attracted many tourists and anthropology across the world to come and study their culture and traditions. Their traditional buildings with flat roofing serve as sleeping places during the hot season. The secret of the magic Tongo hills north of Ghana: the village of Tengzug surrounded by fields of sorghum and sacred rocks and of holy shrines and meet Traditional priests, guardians of ancestral tradition.to visit the cave where is kept a powerful fetish that attracts pilgrims from all over Ghana, need to discover the chest and go barefoot, before meeting the animist priest dressed traditionally with an animal skin.
Check into your hotel
Overnight: Royal Extee Hotel (B)
Breakfast
Depart after breakfast to the northern-most Ghana – Burkina Faso border town of Paga. Visit the Paga Crocodile pond where sacred crocodiles harmlessly interact with guest. Pose for a picture at the back of the reptile reputed to have assisted the founding father of Paga settlement 600 years ago. The friendly relationship between the crocodiles and humans continue to baffle the minds of many as they are regarded as local deity. This is in contrast to the perception of crocodiles as dangerous. It is a customary offence to harm, kill or show any sign of disrespect to the crocodile of Paga. It is common to find children and or visitors sitting at the back of or holding and swim in the pond alongside them without being harmed. Continue to visit Sirigu for a tour of the decorative houses and crafts emporium. The village is well known for its traditional architecture, pottery and wall designing. Visit the Sirigu Pottery and Art Village (Sirigu Women Organization for Pottery and Art (SWOPA) where women apply age-old techniques to decorate their homes, produces pottery and unique arts and crafts. Participate in the pottery production process.
Lunch at a local restaurant (Extra Cost).
Proceed after lunch to visit the Tongo-Tengzug shrine. Visit the Chief’s Palace for the history of the town and its renowned shrines. Witness the processing of shea butter by these local women which is a major source of income for these people
Return to your hotel
Overnight: Royal Extee Hotel (B)
Breakfast and hotel checkout
Depart after breakfast for a scenic drive to the Ashanti Region, southwards. Note changes in vegetation from dry landscape of the Sahel savannah to a lusher tropical vegetation. Stop enroute to visit Kintampo waterfalls, located on the Pumpum river, a tributary of the Black Volta, about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) north of Kintampo municipality, on the Kumasi–Tamale road. The waterfalls, one of the main natural attractions in the area, is formed by three (3) main drops where the longest drop measures 25 meters (82 ft) in height and after a number of steps, and cascades, the river falls about 70 meters (230 ft). It takes its source at a village called Pumpumatifi, which is about 10 kilometers away from the waterfalls.
Arrive in Kumasi and check into your hotel.
Overnight: 2/3* Hotels in Kumasi (B)
Breakfast and hotel checkout
Depart after breakfast for Elmina in the Central Region. Drive along several farming villages. Note the change in vegetation from forest to coastal savannah as you go south westwards. Stop enroute to visit a local village expert palm wine tapper’s hut to observe how they use age long practices carefully making a rectangular incision on the top trunk and bores a pencil hole at the bottom; this is fitted with a bamboo stick, the liquid drips through the bamboo and collected in a clay pot or a container. However, when palm wine is not consumed within 2 days it become fermented.
The fermented palm wine is further distilled to obtain a very high alcohol beverage locally called “AKPETESHIE” with more than 70% alcohol content. The Akpeteshie is similar in content to the Russian Vodka.
Lunch (Extra Cost)
Check into your hotel
Rest of day is free to relax
Dinner (Extra Cost)
Overnight: 2*/3* Hotel in Elmina or Cape Coast (B)
Kakum National Park is without doubt the site of the greatest interest in Ghana. Situated near to Cape Coast, west of Accra, this park is a gem. It comprises mainly old secondary forest, its canopy walkway gives stunning views and offers what is arguably the best forest birding in West Africa.
Depart early morning for Kakum National Park. Among the many species within the park are Red-thighed Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus, Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus, Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus, Black Bee-eater Merops gularis, Rosy Bee-eater M. malimbicus, Forest Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus castaneiceps, White-headed Wood-hoopoe P. bollei, at least six species of hornbill including Brown-cheeked Bycanistes cylindricus, Fire-bellied Woodpecker Dendropicos pyrrhogaster, a range of greenbuls, Finsch’s Flycatcher-Thrush Neocossyphus finschii, Sharpe’s Apalis Apalis sharpii, Sabine’s Puffback Dryoscopus sabini, as well as a range of malimbes and barbets to name but a few. The general area has Cassin’s Hawk Eagle Spizaetus africanus, White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra, Red-winged Warbler Heliolais erythroptera, Forest Penduline Tit Anthoscopus flavifrons, Viellot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus and many more.
On a recent trip (April 2013), the participants were lucky enough to hear and then see Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus at its night time roost site.
Breakfast at Hans Cottage Botel
Go on a late afternoon Birdwatching. Some species of birdlife include Shikra, Bronze & Magpie Mannikin, Vieillot’s Black & Orange Weaver, Green-headed Sunbird, Pied & Malachite Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, African Jacana and Lesser-striped Swallow, nesting Village Weavers and roosting Long-tailed Cormorant and Cattle Egrets can be viewed in late afternoon.
Overnight: 2*/ 3* Hotel in Elmina or Cape Coast (B)
Breakfast
Day free for relaxation
Overnight: 2*/3* Hotel in Elmina or Cape Coast (B)
Breakfast
Morning at leisure for relaxation at your hotel beach
Hotel checkout is at 12.00Noon
Depart for Accra driving along fishing communities, coconut lined beaches and fruit stands
Arrive in Accra and transferred to Airport for check in and departure (B)
