Special Birdwatching Tour

The highlands of Cameroon form one of Africa's most important Endemic Bird Areas, harboring 25 endemic bird species (a further two are found on Bioko/Fernando Po, a tiny offshore territory of Equatorial Guinea). These include many elusive and charismatic species such as Mount Kupe Bushshrike, Mount Cameroon Francolin, and White-throated mountain babbler.

In addition to endemic-filled highland forests and grasslands, Cameroon encompasses a plethora of habitats. Stretching all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Chad, dry Sahelian landscapes, Guinea Woodlands, forest-woodland/grassland mosaic of the Adamawa Plateau, and tropical lowland forest are squeezed into Cameroon's borders. Cameroon's combined uniqueness and diversity make it a top priority for African birders.

Itinerary

Day 1: Waza National Park

Arrival at the Yaounde Nsimalen Airport and reception by Camtourventures agents.

Yaoundé. - Ngaoundere

Waza National Park and surrounds (including Mora) (1-2 days):

This area has a variety of habitats, ranging from floodplains and ponds and deciduous woodland to dry, open Sahelian savanna. The landscape is punctuated by rocky outcrops that hold species such as Stone Partridge, Fox Kestrel, White-crowned Cliff Chat, and Rock-loving Cisticola.

The best birding is outside of the National Park, along the main road about 10km south of Waza. Here many water birds congregate at the pools and the acacia shrub holds River Prinia and Sennar Penduline Tit, amongst others. Little Grey Woodpecker is also a possibility and Swallow-tailed kite is not uncommon along the roadside, especially at the end of the dry season.

For a chance to see Arabian Bustard, you will have to enter the National Park (5000pp/day payable at the entrance gate where you can arrange for a compulsory guide; 3000/day) with its many dirt tracks; large raptors and vultures are also more numerous here.

The National Park lies on a large floodplain and is closed during the rainy season. Our guide was quite good at spotting mammals (Patas Monkey, Kob, Red-fronted Gazelle, Golden Jackal, and Roan Antelope are some of the possibilities), although birding was not his forte. The more grassy areas north of Mora hold Cricket Longtail, Black Scrub-Robin, and, best of all, Quail Plover. Night drives are reported to be fantastic for nocturnal mammals although our driver was adamant that it was unsafe to drive around at night, so we cannot verify this.

Day2-3: Benoue National Park

This reserve is situated on the Benoue plains, a vast area of Guinea woodlands between Garoua and Ngaoundere. The general woodlands hold species such as White-fronted Black Chat and Heuglin¹s Wheatear and if you are very fortunate, Emin¹s Shrike.

The best birding, however, is along the Benoue River. Here we found the Red-winged Grey Warbler, Senegal Batis, Violet Turaco, White-crowned Robin-Chat, Adamawa Turtle Dove, Oriole Warbler, Egyptian Plover, and White-cheeked Olive back, and Bar-breasted and Black-bellied Firefinch in the campement¹s grounds. Mammals of interest include Red-flanked Duiker and Kob, and if you are very fortunate, Derby¹s Eland. As with all national parks, there is a CAF 5000pp/day entrance fee, payable at the office at Campement de Buffle Noir, where you will also have to collect your compulsory guide (3500/day).

Our driver informed us that only the most direct route to the Campement, leaving the main road at Banda, was still negotiable, and even this wasn¹t in the best of shape. Allow 1.5 hours to drive the 27km from the main road to the encampment.

Day 3-4: Ngaoundaba Ranch

Ngaoundaba is a privately owned cattle ranch, 1.5 hrs from Ngaoundere on a rather poor dry-season road, that protects some of the woodland and forested gullies that used to cover the whole Adamoua plateau. Birding here is fantastic with great species such as White-collared Starling, Standard-winged Nightjar, Brown and Dybowski¹s Twinspot, White-cheeked Olive back, Spotted Thrush Babbler, Blue-bellied Roller, Lady Ross¹s Turaco, Grey-winged Robin-Chat and Leaflove to whet your appetite.

No entrance fee is applicable and no guides are available. All birding can be done on foot as long as you are reasonably fit.

Day 5: Shopping - Departure

Relaxation and shopping for souvenirs, off to Yaounde to Douala Airport, end of the tour.

Our Price Includes:

A vehicle in good condition 4x4 south and north, a driver, a guide, fuel, and road tolls, full board (excluding drinks but with 1.5 liters of mineral water per person per day ), accommodation in hotels and hotels Camp, canoe, all visits mentioned in the program, the 1st class train compartment and 2 single beds or 4 beds, certificate management and hosting for obtaining visas, etc ...

Our Price Does Not Include:

International air tickets, airport taxes, visas, drinks, private insurance and repatriation, personal purchases, gifts and gratuities, gifts for pictures