Giant African Swallowtail, male. This sighting occurred on our very last morning, 29 January, at the old recreation ground above Yekepa, the butterfly caught at the moment it took flight from the top of a bush some 5 metres high.

Giant African Swallowtail, the same male as in the previous photo. Given the almost total absence of biological data on this species, Arcelor Mittal are funding a research project involving the attachment of a small radio transmitter to the thorax of several males to track their movements

Several papilio species were found taking mineral salts on 26 January where a small stream crossed the path in the East Nimba Protected Area at a spot known as Cold Water

Another of the swallowtails imbibing salts at Cold Water, 26 January

photo at Cold Water on 26 January

The common, but beautiful, Citrus Swallowtail resting low down on the old mining road leading from Yekepa into the hills on 27 January

Possibly the same insect as in the previous photo, taken at the same locality 3 days earlier, 24 January

Photographed on the same stretch of old road on 29 January

Another one of the Cold Water group, 26 January

Also at Cold Water, another stunning insect, 26 January

This was at Cold Water also - makes you wonder what the attraction was!

Another member of the Cold Water assembly, 26 January

Possibly newly-emerged, found at the edge of the old mining road on 29 January

Widely distributed, this one being photographed on the old mining road up from Yekepa on 27 January

Seen seeking shade at the track side in the East Nimba Protected Area during the early afternoon of 26 January

This beautiful pale blue butterfly catches the eye when in flight and here it is seen resting in the East Nimba Protected Area in the early afternoon of 26 January

Photo taken on 25 January in the Community Forest to the north-east of Yekepa

Basking in the East NImba Protected Area, near Cold Water, on 26 January

A mid-morning shot on the old mining road on 27 January

Not sure about the identification of this specimen taken at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary in the East Nimba Protected Area on 26 January

Resting beside the old mining road on 27 January

Photographed on the old mining road out from Yekepa on 28 January

Seen on the way up to the recreation ground off the old mining road on 28 January

Seen in the Community Forest to the north-east of Yekepa on 25th January, this small butterfly appears to mimic a member of the toxic acraea family, an example of Batesian mimicry

The same insect as in the previous photo

These small butterflies habitually perch on slender twigs and are quite easy to spot, this one being on the old mining road on 29th January

Seen in the Community Forest, north-east of Yekepa on 25th January

Photo taken around 10am near the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on 26th January

It's a real pity I couldn't get an upperside view of this mid-sized, wonderful, dazzling blue butterfly whose larvae are tended by ants high up in the trees. This photo was taken on 24th January on the old mining road

Another potential acraea Batesian mimic, and another fantastic blue upperside! Photo taken in the Community Forest on 25 January

Photo taken on 25 January in the Community Forest

Spotted at the edge of the old mining road out of Yekepa on 24 January

This genus consists of around 46 West African species characterised by whitish undersides and two-tone blue uppersides. This particular specimen was seen on 27 January on the old mining road

male seen on 25 January in the Community Forest

female, old mining road, 27 January

seen in the Community Forest on 25 January

Photo taken on 24 January on the old mining road

Located beyond the third set of radio masts up the old mining road on 29 January

At the Cold Water site in the East Nimba Protected Area on 26 January

Down by the river in the Kpatawee Wetland Ramsar site on 30 January (a somewhat ironic title as the wetlands are now rice paddies)

Seen in the Community Forest on 25 January

Imbibing salts near Cold Water on 26 January

Also at Cold Water on 26 January

a mid-morning shot in the Community Forest on 25 January

The same insect as in the previous photo

A highly mobile small butterfly, difficult to follow in flight, here seen on the old mining road on 28 January (yes, we spent a lot of time walking up and down this track in between visiting its 3 sets of radio masts in search of the Giant African Swallowtail!)

Underside of the same insect

Another species down by the river in the Kpatawee Wetlands on 30 January

Seen on the track near Cold Water on 26 January

A lovely insect, seen here on 24 January on the old mining road