29/11/09:
Callan and Deirdre have just returned from tour - here are some
birds
they photographed in November 2009.
Madagascar Bird & Lemur Tour
Nowhere else on Earth
can compare to Madagascar. Its island wildlife, with 6 unique bird
families and 5 unique lemur families, is without parallel. Add to
this the giant chameleons, orchids and famous Spiny Desert.
We have designed 3 tours to allow
you to experience the most birds and lemurs, depending on the time
that you have available. On the 13
daytours, we visit the mega-diverse
Eastern Rainforests at Andasibe, Mantadia and Ranomafana National
Parks, home to most of the endemics, as well as the Spiny Desert
of the south-west, dry deciduous forests at Zombitse NP and grasslands
of Isalo NP. On the 16 day
tour we also visit Ankarafantsika NP and the wetlands of the north-west,
and on the comprehensive 21 day
tour we add to this the forested Masoala Peninsula.
6 endemic bird families: our top tours recorded 126 of 128 possible
endemics and near-endemics in 21 days, and 123 of 126 in 16 days
we generally see between 23 and 26 lemur species in 16 or 21 days,
inluding Indri and Ring-tailed Lemur
..it is difficult to think
of a country where so many totally stunning birds and mammals can
be viewed so brilliantly. The transport was all very good and accommodation
excellent... IM, Leicestershire
Featured
Leaders: Callan & Deirdre
Callan & Deirdre recommend:
This tour is well suited to world listers, because we see a
very high proportion of endemic birds, as well as wildlife enthusiasts
because we make a special effort to see lemurs, chameleons and special
plants on our walks.
Callan Cohen
founded Birding Africa 12 years ago and has written two books on
birding in Africa, including the definitive birding site guide to
southern Africa and Madagascar. Callan has over 20 years of birding
experience in the region.
Deirdre Vrancken is a primatologist whose expertise
in lemurs will add an extra dimension to the tour. She has studied
Pronghorn Antelopes in Montana, African Elephants in East Africa,
and our closests living relatives, Bonobos, in the jungles of the
Congo.
'Thanks must go to Birding
Africa ... what has to be the definitive three-week Madagascar itinerary.
... it is difficult to think of how things could have been more
successful; we have actually seen every available resident endemic
species!' IM, Leicestershire
'Excellent itinerary; just right, just enough time at each site.
Excellent pace & length.' AD, Sheffield
'Excellent tour leaders and office staff. Excellent value.'
FH, Cape Town
'... stupendous, superb, brilliant etc... The whole tour from
start to finish was virtually perfection.' SR &
JR, Liverpool
'It far exceeded my expectations.' CD,
Guernsey
'Comfortably in the top three of trips I’ve done. Such
a superb tour...' CM & CU, Gloucestershire
'Callan and Deirdre were excellent - a great team.' MB,
UK
'Wouldn't have seen anything without you both.'
PF, UK
* Cost per person sharing a room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above cost: 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 cost: 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 mammal enthusiasts. Designed
to see as many as possible endemic birds and lemurs, but while
on the walks we spend a lot of time looking for other aspects
of wildlife such as the myriad of chameleons, geckos, frogs
and interesting plants. The 16 to 21 day tour may appeal more
to very keen birders and the 12 to 14 day tours more to the
wildlife enthusiasts.
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. The walks are generally
in relatively flat areas with occasional inclines. At Ranomafana,
one of the areas involves steep walks, although at the moderate
pace. This walk can be treated as optional.
Timing
We run all our tours from October to early December, catching
early summer before the main rains start.
Climate
Hot in the western lowlands, where we bird mainly in the early
morning, and cool in the eastern highlands, especially at night.
Comfort
A good standard of accommodation in guest houses,
lodges and small hotels.
Transport
We travel mainly by large coaster bus, with normally at least
one and a half seats available per person.
Group Size
The "Endemic Birds & Lemurs" and "Masoala"
Tours have space for maximum 10 participants.
The "Lemurs & Natural History" and "Bird
& Wildlife Highlights" have space for maximum 14 participants.
Your booking
can be secured with a booking
form and deposit of Euro 350. 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.
29 November 2009: We have returned from
our Madagascar tours. Even though the political
situation in Madagascar seems to be stabilising, we continue
to monitor the situation. Should there be any political issues nearer
to the trip's dates, we will decide whether or not to run the trip
based on recommendations from our tourism contacts in Madagascar.
We will take the recommendations of the UK Foreign Commonwealth
office into account but will not be dictated by these. If we decide
before or during the trip to cancel the trip because of safety reasons,
we will refund your payment in full, less any costs we've had to
prepay. For example: if we've had to prepay a domestic flight and
just before the trip we have to cancel the trip, we will refund
your payment less any deposit we've had to pay on that flight. Please
do ensure to obtain the appropriate travel insurance.
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.
6 endemic bird families: our top tours recorded 126 of 128 possible
endemics and near-endemics in 21 days, and 123 of 126 in 16 days
Schlegel's Asity photographed on our 