Mark is Ashanti African Tours owner and founder whose love affair with Africa and in particular Ghana started in 1997 when he was 21 years old. He has a passion for conservation and the protection of Ghana’s flora and fauna. Mark’s main focus area is the birding section of the company, he has many years experience in arranging and designing birding tours of Ghana. Mark has a passion for wildlife and in particular birdlife and also organises all of Ashanti’s birdwatching research, he wishes he could dedicate more of his time to birding and not being in the office, but he does officially make the best cup of tea (in his opinion). Eco and wildlife tours are also a passion of his and he works tirelessly on our community development and wildlife conservation initiatives. In his spare time he likes to be with his son Connor and get into the bush as often as possible.

Janet was born and raised in the Central Region of Ghana to be precise Brenu Akyenim where you will find one of Ghana’s most beautiful beach resorts that we visit for relaxation on some of our tours.  Janet holds a Diploma in Business Secretarial and has proven leadership skills involving managing, developing and motivating teams to achieve their objectives.  She has the ability to build productive working relationships and is the first point of call for all our potential clients.  Janet’s attention to detail and meticulous method of working ensures that our clients enjoy a stress-free tour, in fact she is so committed to her work that we have to regularly wheel her out of the office at the end of the day.

Amanda is head of UK sales for Ashanti African Tours, she has travelled extensively living in Thailand, India, Australia, Finland and Eastern Europe. We have finally managed to tie her down in London for the past couple of years. Her employment background is within the educational system within the UK and during her travels.

Lydia works in our finance department with enviable passion and vigor, she holds a diploma in Financial Accounting and is now furthering her education at the University of Cape Coast.  She was born and bred in the western part of Ghana, a village called Axim but is now living in Cape Coast where Ashanti African Tours office is located. Lydia loves nature and is always keen to join our wildlife team in the field, with her favorite bird being the beautiful Egyptian Plover. She is addicted to fashion and a recent office study concluded almost 99.9% of her salary is spent on clothes and shoes.

Naana has always lived in Cape Coast and simply loves this old colonial town, working as one of our  Secretaries she loves her work and brings a smile to our office every morning.  Naana handles all the secretarial duties in the office and responds to enquiries from potential clients and ensures that our clients enjoy a completely hassle-free build up to their tour by arranging all the necessary bookings and responding to any questions they may have.

Eunice holds a higher national diploma in Tourism with a background in marketing, she has travelled extensively throughout Ghana as a result of her love for adventure and admiring cultural diversities and traditions.  A very important member of our team Eunice exudes professionalism and is always on hand when called upon.  A Member of the Travel Marketing Executives and Social Media Marketing Eunice is an expert in her field and is very passionate about her work. Her wonderful smile and bubbly character make her an office favorite.

Brenda is our UK office manager and is responsible for all bookings, confirmations and pre trip information packs.  She has nearly 40 years experience within administration, although she would strongly deny this as it would give you an indication of how old she is.

Robert widely regarded as one of Africa’s finest birding and wildlife tour leaders was born in 1972 and was one of eight brothers and four sisters.   Raised in a small village in the Central Region of Ghana Kakum National Park was his playground growing up.  This is plain to see as his exceptional ability to find those secretive quality forest species is unsurpassed. Robert also holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Tourism and previously worked as a park ranger and a tour guide at Kakum National Park between 1995 and 2008 before joining Ashanti African Tours as principle birding and wildlife tour leader/guide. Robert swiftly moved up the ranks within the company and is now Ashanti African Tours Director and a principal tour Guide.  Married with six children Robert never tires of being on tour and loves nothing more than to be in the bush researching new sites for Ghana’s rapidly growing quality bird and mammal list.

Michael was born and raised at Abrafo near Kakum National Park in 1988, his love for nature has always been evident from a young age when he used to follow his father to the family farm.  Now one of our trainee butterfly and nature leaders/guides, Michael’s enthusiasm is unsurpassed and he has a burning desire to become the best in his field.  Formerly Michael was teaching Agriculture at a private school close to Cape Coast. However he is now becoming an excellent nature tour leader and will soon realise his ambition of leading his first nature tour.

William was born in Hwidiem, a town in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana, he is forty-one years of age and previously worked with the Ghana Wildlife Division for ten (10) years prior to joining Ashanti African Tours as a full time birding and wildlife leader/guide.  William is what we would call a 24/7 birder he obviously loves his work and has conducted more ornithological research in Ghana than anybody spending many months with renowned researchers Bob Dowsett and Francois Lamire. William was introduced to birding and trained by Andrew Hester from South Africa.  As all our bird guides and leaders William knows all birds by song/call and is an expert at identification, blessed with a wife and four boys he always reflects on how happy he is doing a job that is more like a hobby to him.

Born and raised in a village near Kakum National Park James is one of four bird tour leader/guide brothers working with Ashanti African Tours.  It is clear to see Kakum was their playground as a children, James has an immense passion and love for wildlife and is often heard having a private chuckle whilst looking through the scope.  As he grew up sorrounded by upper guinea rainforest James had no problem learning the birds and their song/calls and he has a natural ability to find the target species of the groups he leads.  Trained by his senior brother (Robert) it took him no time at all perfecting his skills and getting to the high standard required to lead tours for Ashanti African Tours.  James is very ambitious and is now challenging his brother for top Ghana guide, his spoken English is excellent and sociable character a joy to be around.  Now in his mid thirties James fits in well with our young and ambitious team.

Another of the famous Ntakor brothers, Francis was also born and raised in a village near the famous Kakum National Park in the Central Region of Ghana. He grew and schooled in the same village and his interest in Nature and Wildlife developed because he was exposed to wildlife when he was young especially birds.  Francis has a natural ability with the birds and has a cool and calm presence loved by his tour participants.  Also in his mid thirties and trained by his older brother Robert, Francis recently married and is now planning to start a family.

Another of our recently qualified bird leaders/guide Victor is always a favorite with our clients and simply loves his job and wildlife.  Now in his late twenties Victor was Born Eziama in the Western Region of Ghana another area of rainforest habitat.  Excellent with the calls, spotting and identification Victor has an excellent future in leading ahead of him.  Birding has taken over his former first love of football, not hard to understand as he is a Manchester United supporter.  Victor is expecting his first child and is planning to marry and we are very lucky to have him on our team.

Paul was born and raised in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana part of the Upper Guinea Rainforest zone.  One of our recently qualified tour leaders/guides an excellent birder with a great ear for calls.  Logistically excellent and a joy to be around Paul is fast becoming one of our star birding and wildlife leaders.  Paul is in his late twenties but mature beyond his years, he spends all of his spare time in the bush researching and perfecting his spotting skills.  Only the mighty Arsenal Football Club in England can compete with his love of birding and wildlife as he watches as many games as possible if not birding.  Trained by Robert Ntakor and William Apraku Paul has an excellent future in leading tours and always ensures that clients have a memorable and productive trip.

Emmanuel is in his late thirties and formally worked with the Ghana Wildlife Division and Forestry Commission at Kakum National Park for 10 years prior to joining Ashanti African Tours on a full time basis.  Emmanuel is on our current birding and wildlife training programme where we aim to encourage and train local leaders and guides with a passion for nature and conservation.  He is progressing very well and hopes to be to the required standard and graduate as a qualified leader soon.  Emmanuel has been the assistant guide on many of our group tours and is always a favorite with our tour participants.

Andrews is in his early thirties and was born and raised in  Jukwa Watreso in the Central Region of Ghana close to Kakum National Park.  He formally worked as a community tour guide for the Ghana Wildlife Division and Forestry Commission prior to joining Ashanti African Tours on a full time basis.  Andrews has studied butterfly species and assists researchers from the UK during their time here in Ghana, he aims to work closely with the Butterfly Conservation Ghana and has the ambition of becoming the best butterfly guide Africa.

Our youngest and probably most naturally gifted bird guide, Isaac like his brothers was born and raised in a small village near the famous Kakam National Park in the Central Region of Ghana which obviously helped him when learning the forest bird species.  Still only 20 years of age he has already lead many tours.  When not on tour Isaac is always found researching birds and studying his guide book and is also interested in studying butterflies and dragonflies in the future.

Michael developed his interest in History and African heritage at a very tender age, when he was a hawker at the cape coast castle, after school as a youngster Michael would escape to Cape Coast Castle to sell to tourists and also share his knowledge of Ghanian history with those he came into contact with. Through his persistence and undying thirst for gaining more knowledge on the Pan African movement and West African History Michael met so many prominent Americans and African Americans like Dr. Hattie Wash, Dr. Elenor Harris, Dr. Tom Arcaro, Bishop T D Jakes, Rev. Jessie Jackson, Dr. Jerffers, Barbara Lee, former Jamaican head of State P.J. Patterson and others.  Michael also holds diploma in Computer networking, designing and hardware and has worked with several firms in Accra within this field prior to joining Ashanti African Tours on a full time basis.  Always a favorite with our tour participants Michael is a joy to be around and will provide you with a trip of a lifetime.

Yaw is our most experienced lead cultural guide and also head of Ashanti’s cultural development section of our company. Yaw seems to know everything about Ghana’s cultural history and traditions; he is an extremely self motivated team member whose head is always stuck in a book feeding his hunger for knowledge. Yaw has a certificate in tour guiding and understands the importance of our guests being able to experience and feel the real Ghana, ensuring they are not just on a conveyor belt of the main tourist areas most other tourists visit when coming to Ghana. An extremely attentive team member who knows when to give our guests free time for themselves, he is a joy to be around and always on hand ensuring your Ghana holiday is a memorable one.

Charles, also known as “By all means” in our office is now in his mid forties and has many years experience in leading cultural and heritage tours of Ghana.  A very proud African and in particular Ghanaian he always wants to share his knowledge of this region of African and get our clients to feel a part of what they are experiencing.  His excellent spoken English, warm and friendly personality and desire to always want to give his best ensures his clients experience the best of Ghana and West Africa.