Ghana 2019 - Day 5

Amazing Scenery

The first day of exploration, and we were off up a logging track which Peter and Issac had tried last year.   

With our trusty bus and Eric, our excellent driver we managed to get much further by vehicle than they had managed last year.   By 7:05 we were listening to Brown Illidopsis, Ahanta Francolin and  were starting to photograph the mornings first butterflies.

As we wandered along, glimpses of more mature forest appeared around us, but working out how to get access was no mean feat, for these older forest areas were some way off and there were no apparent tracks within walkable distance. 

Little Bee-eater

After asking several locals who were working on cocoa and banana or plantain plantations it was clear this was not going to be straightforward.   However we did meet two young men who were carrying cut timber out of the forest, so they must have a track with access somewhere.   Tomorrow’s plan was forming.  

We returned to the bus to the ominous sound of chain saws!

Lunch and a cold shower called.   Thank goodness for air conditioning which brought my temperature down to more normal levels quickly.   After a superb lunch from chef Robert we were off out again.

From the morning walk we could see gold mining pools below us and wanted to investigate the area.   It appears that mining is still taking place in the area on an ad hoc basis. 

Although heavily disturbed, the wildlife was there.    The mining has produced many small pools with piles of ‘panned’ clay, soil and rocks around them.   

For us the small paths and bridges (often a thin piece of wobbly wood) looked like a good place to explore more.   On this first visit we made do with a scan of the area, working out where our morning walk had taken us along the hillside above and planning tomorrow.  

Plain-backed Pipit

Watching a colony of White-throated Bee-eater flying low over the pools as they came into roost was a real highlight for me.