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Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe Birdwatching
offered by supplier M17026 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 16
- 23
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 8
people
Destination(s):
Gabon
Sao Tome and Principe
Specialty Categories:
Birdwatching
Wildlife Viewing
Season: August
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 2000 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 5000 US Dollar (USD)
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The West African nation of Gabon made headlines in 2002 when its national parks rose from zero to thirteen, as more than 10,000 square miles of pristine rainforest was protected. Since then, numerous documentaries and articles have appeared, profiling the incredible fauna wealth of this, the largest intact forest bloc on the entire African continent. Due to its small population and vast rainforest resources, Gabon is unique in harboring significant numbers of African rainforest mammals. Sadly, elsewhere in West Africa, they are but a distant memory.
Our tour takes us to Lope, Ivindo and Loango National Parks, where we will seek Lowland Gorillas (chances of seeing these fabulous creatures are very good), Chimpanzees, colorful Mandrills, a plethora of monkeys, sounders of strikingly patterned Red River Hogs, herds of Forest Elephants and Sitatunga foraging in baïs (mineral-rich rainforest clearings) and Forest Buffalo on pristine beaches.
The birding is equally exceptional; our most recent trip produced encounters with such mythical African megas as Grey-throated Rail, the stunning Eastern Wattled Cuckooshrike, Maned Owl and Sandy Scops-Owl, Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk, no less than ten White-crested Tiger Herons, and Lyre-tailed Honeyguide performing its remarkable aerial display in full view of our group! Our tour is planned to coincide with one of the world’s most spectacular and least observed avian phenomenon; the massing of literally tens of thousands of African River Martins and Rosy Bee-eaters around their shared nesting colonies. Huge spiraling flocks of these two sought-after species fill the sky - truly an unforgettable experience! Other species that we will make a concerted effort to locate include Plumed and Black Guineafowl, Congo Serpent-Eagle, the strange Grey-necked Picathartes (we will visit nesting colonies), Africa’s toughest and arguably most attractive bee-eater; Black-headed, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Bare-cheeked Trogon, Spotted Honeyguide, Ja River Scrub-Warbler, Gabon Batis, Fiery-breasted Bushshrike, Loango Weaver and Woodhouse’s Antpecker.
Our tour also visits remote grasslands and forest patches near the Congo border, where we will seek out Finsch’s Francolin, Black-backed Barbet, Black-collared Bulbul, Congo Moor Chat, Salvadori’s Eremomela, Angola Batis, Gorgeous Bushshrike and the enigmatic Black-chinned Weaver.
Our extension takes us to the little known islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, tucked away in the Gulf of Guinea. Amongst dramatic scenery we will search for all 28 endemic birds, including some heart-stoppers such as São Tóme Ibis, Giant Sunbird, Giant Weaver, the strange and very rare São Tóme Fiscal, Dohrn’s Thrush-Babbler, São Tóme Grosbeak and 2 species of strange Speirops!
Tour details:
Gabon Birding and Rainforest Mammals: 9-24 August (16 days)
São Tóme and Príncipe Extension: 24-30 August (7 days).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Gabon
Sao Tome and Principe
Nature & Wildlife
Birdwatching
Wildlife Viewing
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