Bonkro & Picathartes Forest

Remote Bonkro village crept into the international spotlight as the Nyamebe Bepo Forest Reserve there is home to a number of nesting sites of the enigmatic yellow-headed picathartes (rockfowl). As such, international birders come to explore the 'Picathartes Forest' community site every year. Your visit contributes directly to the conservation fund, which ensures protection of these extraordinary birds and their habitat from illegal hunters and loggers. Our exemplary agents in Ghana sponsor more than 20 community forest committee members to support these conservation activities. Other projects include the construction of a school, reception centre and tourist accommodation, with all proceeds going to the community fund. The hard work has paid off in that there has been a dramatic reduction in tree felling and the picathartes' population has flourished. Picathartes Forest is also regarded as the best site in Ghana in which to seek the endangered and elusive, nocturnal, white-bellied pangolin. Thanks to an excellent relationship with resident communities, searches for these mammals - of which one can, of course, never guarantee sightings - stand a better chance of success. During forest walks, local villagers accompany tourists as guides and trackers. Their direct participation enables for more people to be trained and which facilitates earning of a sustainable livelihood from the forest, thereby reducing incentives for the extracting of resources. Visitors can also enjoy community-based excursions, such as visiting the local traditional healer; learning how to make fufu; visiting a cocoa plantation and more. Accommodation is in the form of a simple but perfectly adequate Picathartes Guest House, also built by our Ghanaian agents. The bird and butterfly species lists of Picathartes Forest are extensive. The nearest town of any size, New Edubiase, is about 14km away.