Series 5 : EP 11 : Kumasi to Bonkro and Explore Bonkro - Simple Life, Deep Forest

Today is the 21st of September, 2025 and we are leaving Kumasi to head south to a small village called Bonkro. It's about 110km and we expect the trip to take 2 to 3 hours. So whats the attraction of Bonkro. It's located in one of the remaining forested regions of Ghana and the forest is rich with wildlife, specifically a rare bird called the White Necked Picathartes or Bald Crow (They are not crows) and Pangolins. The tour company we are travelling with has partnered with the village to build tourist accommodation there so our stay will be comfortable for use softies. The accommodation complex provides meals as there is nothing else near the village. The complex provides villagers with employment as staff and also as expert guides to the surrounding forest. The guides are not only sharp eyed but extremely knowledgeable with regard to the wildlife. It's also a great way to protect the Picathartes birds from human pressure and interference. You can't just turn up and trek out to see them, even if you knew where to look. You need to guide from the village and there is a strict protocol to minimise disturbance to the birds. Bonkro is the only place in Ghana where you can see these birds and there is probably less than ten locations across the whole of Africa where you can see them. Apart from the wildlife it will be interesting to see Ghanaian village life close up. I often feel like an intruder when we visit these villages but the people of Bonkro were welcoming and open, letting us poke our noses and cameras into their houses, lives and community. It was a privilege to be able to share a day with them. I can also attest that while it is hot and humid in open areas of Ghana, within the rainforest it is hotter and even more humid. There is no breeze in the forest and sweating, which you do copiously, does nothing to cool you down. I can see why this is called the White Man's Graveyard. So I hope you enjoy having a look around this little village and watching us sweat in the forest while we wait, and wait, and then wait some more to see if some birds turn up for us to gawk at. Ah, the things we pay good money to do :) #travel #africa #ghana #birdwatching #picathartes