Guided by Michael Mills
and covering all the key birding sites, this Birding Africa trip
in September 2009 is the first-ever to offer a fair chance of seeing
all of Angola’s endemics.
Special:
private tents for the first three bookings!
For more than thirty years
Angola's highly sought after endemic birds were beyond safe reach.
Gladly, things have changed for the better and the country has become
a peaceful and safe country to visit. However, few birders and ornithologists
have yet wandered through its extraordinary landscapes, and no single
person has seen all the nation's endemic species.
Join us and complete your turaco
or mousebird sightings with the striking Red-crested Turaco
or Red-backed Mousebird. Be one of the first 10
birders to see Swierstra’s Spurfowl, or just
enjoy notching up species seen by only a handful of birders: Gabela
Helmetshrike, Gabela Bushshrike, White-headed
Robin-Chat, Angola Cave Chat, Pulitzer’s
Longbill or Gabela Akalat.
This trip is an 19 day long expedition
and will be enjoyed by birders with a sense of adventure. We will
be camping during optimal conditions: before the rains and while
birds are breeding. And our dedicated chef will ensure the cuisine
matches up to the birding!
Featured Leader: Michael Mills
Michael recommends: This tour
is an expedition well suited to world listers and keen birders with
a sense of adventure.
Michael Mills
has now spent almost six months travelling in Angola, on six
different visits. His intimate knowledge of the key birding
areas and improved road conditions allow us to offer you a
complete and Angola Expedition in just 19 days.
Michael grew up in the Kalahari
Gemsbok and Kruger National Parks and has travelled extensively
in Africa, Asia, South America and Antarctica. He obtained a Masters
degree in Conservation Biology after which he continued conducting
bird research, particularly in Angola.
Besides birds, he has a strong interest in mammals, particularly
in small carnivores and African primates.
'Thanks to the meticulously
detailed efforts of Birding Africa I have great memories to keep
me energized until my next trip with you. How you planned everything
down to the tiniest detail was amazing. The accommodations, meals
and general trip were excellent. Michael was beyond belief.'
BR, USA
'Michael was first class on
every aspect.' FH, UK
'Mike was amazing... he stayed cool and collected all the time
[on the Angola trip]. DW, South Africa
'.... tours were excellent. The trips certainly lived up to
my expectations and we saw a large number of incredible birds. Michael
did a great job and is an outstanding tour guide. His skill at finding
birds in all habitats and his knowledge of bird calls is nothing
short of amazing.' JC, UK
'... his spotting skills and ability to pick out the faintest calls
but also his continual energy and enthusiasm to maximise our birding
experience..' ND, UK
* Cost per person sharing a room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, Birding
Africa printed booklet with species lists, domestic flights within
Madagascar, boat trips as indicated on the itinerary, road transport,
guide fees, entry fees for the parks, reserves and botanical gardens,
full board accommodation and drinking water on the bus. Not included:
international flights, drinks, optional tips, and items of a personal
nature are not included.
* Cost per person sharing a room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, Birding
Africa printed booklet with species lists, domestic flights within
Madagascar, boat trips as indicated on the itinerary, road transport,
guide fees, entry fees for the parks, reserves and botanical gardens,
full board accommodation and drinking water on the bus. Not included:
international flights, drinks, optional tips, and items of a personal
nature are not included.
Practical tour information
Focus
For keen birders and world listers. Designed to
see all of Angola's endemic birds.
Photography
Many participants on our trips are amateur wildlife photographers.
And when we get excellent views of a bird or mammal, some time
is usually spent watching and photographing it. However, this
is not a photographic tour and once the majority of the people
have felt that they have absorbed the animal or bird to their
satisfaction, then we move on in search of the next encounter.
Thus, while the photographic opportunities
are very good, the group will only occasionally wait for somebody
who wants to spend even longer getting better photos.
Fitness
A moderate level of fitness is required. Most walks will be
done in cool conditions and will last less than 3-4 hours. The
walks are generally in relatively flat areas with occasional
inclines, but some steeper hikes are involved. The longest walk
is about 5 km long with some uphill sections and will be taken
slowly.
Timing
We run our tour before the rains and while birds are breeding.
Climate
Warm in the lowlands and warm to cool in the highlands.
Comfort
Mainly camping with some hotel accommodation. A dedicated
chef will prepare the meals.
Your
booking can be secured with a booking
form and deposit of USD 400. You will receive
confirmation and our tour information pack with practical information
on what to expect and how to prepare for the tour. The balance
is due 3 months before the tour. Email
us about availability.
About Birding Africa
Birding Africa is a specialist birding tour
company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed
holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies,
botany and other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa's
and Madagascar's most diverse birding destinations. Our guides'
knowledge of African birds and birding areas is our greatest strength
and together we have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations
with the birding community and had a fun time exploring our home
continent. We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best
birds. Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and
we are dedicated to making professional, best value trips filled
with endemic species and unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997,
we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders,
small birding groups and top international tour companies. We've
run Conservation Tours
in association with the African Bird Club and work with and consult
for a number of other top international tour companies and the BBC
Natural History Unit.
