Arrival, Akwaaba (Welcome), collection from airport and transfer to hotel.

Greater Accra - Upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, located on the stunning gold coast of Western Africa, our skilled local tour guides will be there to greet you. Look for the Ashanti African Tours sign as you exit the main terminal after clearing customs. Introduce yourself to your guides, who will accompany you throughout your stay in Ghana, ensuring your comfort and care.

Once you board our vehicle, which will serve as your transportation for the tour, we will transfer you to your accommodation in Accra. After checking in, our knowledgeable guide will extend a warm Akwaaba (welcome) and provide a briefing on all aspects of your trip. Enjoy your evening meal at the hotel restaurant while acclimating to West Africa.

Butterfly watching and photography at Atewa Forest Range

Butterfly watching and photography at Atewa Forest Range

Butterfly watching and photography at Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary

Bobiri Forest Reserve - On the morning of day 4, after breakfast, we embark on a journey to the renowned Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary. The drive from Atewa to Bobiri takes just over two hours, allowing us to enjoy a full day of butterfly watching and photography. The sanctuary, now a 5000-hectare remnant of the once vast dry semi-deciduous rainforest, boasts an incredible diversity of butterflies from wet forests to guinea savannah. Extensive studies in Bobiri have estimated over 630 butterfly species, which is remarkable given its size.

Butterfly watching and photography at Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary

Bobiri Forest Reserve - Day 2 at Bobiri Forest Reserve.

The forest is incredibly rich in Bebearia, Euriphene, Euphaedra, and other fruit-feeding butterflies. Charaxes or Pashas are often spotted along the main track, and Liptena blues are frequently seen flying near the guesthouse. The bamboo area is a hotspot for mud-puddling butterflies, with clouds of African Nettle-tree Butterflies (Libythea labdaca) and various Grass Yellows (Eurema) often seen. The extremely rare Giant African Swallowtail (Papilio antimachus) has been observed here twice. Accommodation is available at a comfortable guesthouse in the forest, where we will have our lunches to maximize field time. However, as the guesthouse’s generator is turned off at 10:00 PM, we will stay at a comfortable hotel 40 minutes away.

Butterfly watching and photography at Kwabena Sam Forest

Butterfly watching and photography at Kwabena Sam Forest

Butterfly watching and photography at Kwabena Sam Forest

Butterfly watching and Photography at Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park - Kakum is another outstanding forest area for butterflies, covering over 50,000 hectares. Nine swallowtail species are expected to be seen here, along with a variety of Pashas, including the Giant Charaxes (Charaxes castor) and its mythological counterpart, the Black-bordered Charaxes (Charaxes pollux). A highlight in Kakum is Augerger’s Glider (Cymothoe aubergeri), a rare West African endemic found only in Kakum, Ghana, and a few sites in Ivory Coast. The magnificent Giant African Skipper (Pyrrhochalcia iphis) is quite common in the forest. The day is divided into two sections, with a well-deserved rest after lunch before returning to the forest. The evening will be spent reviewing photographs, enjoying dinner with a cold drink, and adding to the growing butterfly checklist.

Butterfly watching and photography at Ankasa Reserve

Butterfly watching and photography at Ankasa Reserve

Butterfly watching and photography at Ankasa Reserve

Butterfly watching and photography in Ankasa Reserve and Kissi forest

Elmina - The visit to Kissi Forest Reserve near Elmina reveals a small remnant of forest with a unique species composition. More common butterflies are found here, such as the Mocker Swallowtail (Papilio dardanus) and the Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus), along with the Common Forester (Euphaedra medon). The Giant African Skipper (Pyrrhochalcia iphis) is prevalent, and the fortunate may spot the smaller Western Blue Policeman (Pyrrhiades lucagus), which has a limited range along the Western Coast from Ghana to Liberia. Kissi Forest is also the type-locality of the rare Maximiliano’s Forest Swift (Melphina maximiliani), which is scarce throughout its range. The journey continues back to Accra for an overnight stay, preparing for a visit to Aburi in the morning.

Final morning butterfly watching at Aburi Botanical Gardens and departure

Aburi Botanical Gardens - An early start takes us from Accra to Aburi Botanical Gardens in the Eastern Region of Southern Ghana. The gardens, covering 64.8 hectares, opened in March 1890. A full morning is dedicated here, with a late hotel check-out arranged due to evening flight departures. Expected sightings include Mocker Swallowtail (Papillo dardanus), Narrow-banded Green Swallowtail (Papilio nireus), Mimetic Swallowtail (Papilio cynorta), Blue Vagrant (Nepheronia thalassina), Savannah Dotted Border (Mylothris aburi), Spica Dotted Border (Mylothris spica), Karsh’s Dotted Border (Mylothris joapura), Seven-striped Liptena (Liptena septistrigata), Simple Liptena (Liptena simplicia), Peter’s Pearly (Eresiomera petersi), Western Flash (Hypophytala hyettina), Common Flash (Hypophytala hyettoides), Western Scalloped Epilola (Stempfferia ciconia), Clench’s Diopetes (Pilodeudorix laticlavia), Black Fairy Playboy (Paradeudrix moyambina), Coffee Playboy (Deudorix lorisona).

Accra - After a delightful morning, return to Accra to freshen up before an early evening meal, reflecting on a wonderful Ghana Butterfly and Photography Tour. With most flights departing Ghana in the late evening, a late hotel check-out is arranged, just a 15-minute drive from the airport. Our team will then transfer you to the airport for your departure.

• 24/7 expert local guide and office support
• Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with unlimited mileage & fuel
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Unlimited mineral water throughout the tour
• Safe travels with an experienced driver
• Quality accommodation for restful nights
• All excursion fees covered for a hassle-free experience
• Convenient airport transfers included
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance for peace of mind

• International flights
• Soft and alcoholic drinks
• Visa

The Ghanaian rainforests host over 800 butterfly species, those we target on this tour. Ghana is also one of the easiest countries in West Africa, where there is good access to many butterfly habitats, where a visitor can sometimes see over a hundred species on a single good day. This butterfly tour aims to introduce different forest habitats and their butterfly fauna to the enthusiasts with exceptional photo opportunities of many species. This tour offers a perfect introduction to Ghana’s butterflies with quality time dedicated at each location we visit. Our company Ashanti African Tours are the leading local responsible travel tour operator in the region as we give back to all the communities we visit, leaving nothing but positive footprints. Ghana simply is the must go to West African destination for butterfly and wildlife lovers.

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.