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CAMEROON
Sunday 13th March -
Tuesday 29th March 2011
(17 days)
Mount Kupe & Korup Extension to Saturday 9th April (11 days)
Leader:
Nik Borrow
Group Size Limit: 10 (7 on extension)
Tour Category: Easy to Moderate (main tour); Moderate to Demanding (extension)
Colourful Abyssinian Rollers are common and easy to see in the far north of the country (Nik Borrow)
(Note: This is a summary of the tour. For more information please download the detailed itinerary. The button is at the top right of the page.)
Cameroon, lying a little north of the Equator, straddles the geographical dividing line between West and Central Africa. This marvellous country, immortalized for all wildlife enthusiasts by Gerald Durrell’s memorable account of his zoo collecting expedition ‘The Bafut Beagles’, offers the most exciting birding in West Africa. Nearly 900 species have been recorded from the country, far more than from any other comparable area in West Africa, and at least 25 endemic or near-endemic species (depending on the vagaries of modern taxonomy) grace this impressive total.
Cameroon’s avian treasure house stems directly from a wealth of habitats combined with the long isolation of its southwestern highlands from other upland areas in Africa. The northern panhandle of Cameroon extends deep into the Sahel, the semi-desert zone immediately south of the Sahara, reaching as far as the shores of Lake Chad, while in the south, where the country abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Congo basin, the climate is equatorial and the natural vegetation is primary rainforest and humid montane forest.
Not only is Cameroon a land of natural diversity, but also a country with a rich cultural tradition dating back many centuries. From the heraldic carved designs of the palaces of the Fons in the Bamenda Highlands to the vivid colours of the dresses of the market traders, the vigorously executed handicrafts and the rhythm of the local music, Cameroon is a constant reminder of the vibrancy of West African culture.
With the richest avifauna of any West African country, Cameroon has become a classic destination and one that any birder who has visited other regions of Africa will be tempted to explore. Our comprehensive journey through this fantastic country has been specifically designed to sample all of its major habitats, and have enough time in them to do really well, so as a direct result it produce more Cameroon and West African specialities than any other bird tour. By the end of our search for Cameroon’s numerous specialities we shall have seen a remarkable series of rarely seen birds and over 600 species in total!
After a brief exploration in the Douala region for Hartlaub’s Duck and Grey Pratincole, we will visit Mount Cameroon. Rising straight from the ocean to 4070m, this isolated peak (an active volcano) holds many montane specialities, including Mountain Saw-wing, White-tailed Warbler and Mount Cameroon Speirops.
Next we shall head for northernmost Cameroon, including Waza National Park, where Clapperton’s Francolins scurry away from the roadsides and herds of African Elephant, Roan Antelope and Giraffe may be found along with the impressive Arabian Bustard. Other specialities in this superb area of arid savanna, bushland and marshes include the strange Quail-plover, the spectacular Black Crowned Crane, Cricket Warbler, River Prinia, Sennar Penduline Tit and Chad Firefinch.
From the far north we will gradually move southwards into greener, more wooded terrain. First we will visit Bénoué National Park, where the attractive riverine woodland provides sanctuary for species such as Adamawa Turtle Dove, Violet Turaco, Bearded Barbet, White-cheeked Oliveback and the marvellous Oriole Warbler (or Moho). The sandy riverbeds are home to the exquisite Egyptian Plover.
Next we climb onto the verdant Adamawa Plateau with its mosaic of woodland, rivers and grassland. Here we will stay at a ranch overlooking a pretty crater-lake that is one of the few known localities for the rare Bamenda Apalis and where the evening roosting flights of thousands of egrets and starlings (including the localized White-collared Starling) are truly spectacular. Other specialities include Brown-chested Lapwing, Spotted Thrush Babbler and Dybowski’s Twinspot.
During some exploration in the area around the capital Yaoundé, we shall have our first opportunity to see the extraordinary, much-sought-after Grey-necked Picathartes (or Red-headed Rockfowl). We will also find a good selection of forest birds and in particular we hope to hunt out two Central African speciality greenbuls, Yellow-necked Greenbul and Yellow-throated Nicator,
From here we will head northwest until we reach the intensively cultivated Bamenda Highlands in the formerly British sector of the country. Here some rare endemic birds, including the beautiful Bannerman’s Turaco, Mountain Robin Chat, Banded Wattle-eye, Yellow-breasted Boubou, Bangwa Forest Warbler and Bannerman’s Weaver, cling to a precarious existence in the remaining patches of forest.
During the optional extension we will first travel to Mount Kupe, an isolated mountain which is home to some of the rarest birds in West Africa, most famously the Mount Kupe Bush-shrike which, in 1998, was also discovered in the nearby Bakossi Mountains. During our stay we shall of course be on the lookout for this great rarity but we will also encounter many other montane forest specialities whilst doing so. In particular we will be looking for endemic or near-endemic specialities such as Cameroon Olive Pigeon, Cameroon Olive and Grey-headed Greenbuls, Mountain Robin Chat, Green Longtail, White-tailed and Black-capped Woodland Warblers, White-throated Mountain Babbler, Ursula’s and Cameroon Sunbirds, Shelley’s Oliveback and, if we are lucky, Green-breasted Bush-shrike.
Finally, after driving to Mundemba close to the Nigerian border, we will explore the magnificent Korup National Park where well over 300 species have already been recorded. We shall spend four days in the park exploring the forest along well maintained trails and sleep overnight at a designated campsite. The forest at Korup has been estimated as being more than 60 million years old and we will be very aware of this as we walk beneath enormous trees that reach up to the heavens. The park has become famous for its colonies of Red-headed Picathartes (or Grey-necked Rockfowl) and we have another excellent chance of seeing this enigmatic bird during our visit. We should also be treated to a wide variety of other lowland rainforest species during our stay, including such specialities as the beautiful Bare-cheeked Trogon and the glorious Rachel’s Malimbe, as well as shy forest kingfishers, leviathan-sized hornbills and an array of greenbuls, secretive illadopsis and alethes.
Join us for the very best tour of the very best country for birds in all of West Africa!
Birdquest has operated tours to Cameroon since 1990.
Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels/lodges are of normal Birdquest standard throughout the main tour, but some are at the simpler end of the scale (and in need of maintenance) and water and electricity supplies can be erratic. At Nyasoso (Mount Kupe) the accommodation is rather simple (albeit run by very friendly people), consisting of rooms in one of the village houses, with fairly basic shared bathroom facilities. While we are camping inside Korup for three nights the accommodation is basic communal wooden shelters where we will sleep on camping mattresses we have brought ourselves, with washing facilities being the local forest stream. Electricity supplies can be erratic. Food will frequently be very simple local cuisine. Road transport is by small coach and the roads are reasonable.
Walking: The walking effort during the main tour is mostly easy, but there are several longer walks in very hot conditions in the north and a long uphill walk (in a much cooler climate) on Mount Cameroon. During the extension the walking effort is easy to moderate at Korup and in parts of the Bakossi Mountains. At Mount Kupe, and in places in the Bakossi Mountains, the trails are steep and narrow in places and the walking is rather strenuous, especially given the high humidity.
Climate: In the north it will be hot or very hot, dry and sunny. Overcast conditions can occur but rain is unlikely. In the southern lowlands it will be hot and very humid with dry and sunny weather interspersed with overcast and rainy spells. In the Bamenda Highlands, on Mount Cameroon and at Mount Kupe it will be decidedly cooler.
Bird Photography: Opportunities are quite good in the north, worthwhile in the south.
Part-Tour Option: Subject to space being available, we can accept bookings for the Mount Kupe and Korup extension only. Please contact us for further information.
Pricing
Pricing is available in £ | $
Tour Price: $5670 Douala/Douala. Post-Tour Extension: $3180. Price includes all transportation (including Douala-Maroua and Garoua-Yaoundé flights), all accommodations, all meals, bottled water, some drinks, all excursions, all entrance fees, all tips for local drivers/guides and for accommodations/restaurants, leader services.
Single Room Supplement: $624. Extension: $204 (excluding the three camping nights at Korup).
Deposit: $550. Post-Tour Extension: $310. If booking more than 12 months before departure, the initial deposit is only $220.
Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency can arrange your air travel in connection with the tour from a departure point anywhere in the world, or you may arrange your own air travel if you prefer. We can tailor-make your itinerary to your personal requirements, so if you would like to travel in advance of the tour (and spend a night in an hotel so you will feel fresh when the tour starts), or return later than the end of the tour, or make a side trip to some other destination, or travel business class rather than economy, we will be happy to assist. Please contact us about your air travel requirements.
Pricing is available in £ | $
We have never yet missed the unique Quail-plover on any of our Cameroon tours (Nik Borrow)
The sight of a male Standard-winged Nightjar sporting its bizarre appendages is a memorable highlight of the tour (Nik Borrow)
A sighting of the incredible Red-headed Picathartes is one of the ultimate avian prizes on the tour (Nik Borrow)
55 photos
View Gallery Photos From CAMEROON
The rare Bannerman’s Turaco is an endangered endemic and the ultimate prize out of the eight species of turaco to be seen on the tour (Nik Borrow)
The sublime Egyptian Plover or ‘Crocodile Bird’ is always a pleasure to watch and can be found easily in Bénoué NP (Nik Borrow)
Coveys of Clapperton’s Francolins can often be seen scurrying from the sides of the tracks in Waza NP (Nik Borrow)
The elusive Schlegel’s Francolin can sometimes be found by walking over the rolling countryside that surrounds the picturesque crater-lake at Ngaoundaba (Nik Borrow)
Birdquest discovered the first records for Cameroon of the delightful Cricket Warbler in 1995 and it is now a regularly seen highlight of the tour (Nik Borrow)
The endemic Bamenda Apalis is one of the target birds to find at Ngaoundaba (Nik Borrow)
Large numbers of Black Crowned Cranes frequent the plains and waterholes of Waza NP (Nik Borrow)
The secretive Black Dwarf Hornbill is never easy to see in the extensive dark forests of Korup NP (Nik Borrow)
Despite its size and far reaching calls the Green-breasted Bush-shrike is a regional endemic that can be difficult to track down (Nik Borrow)
The exquisitely marked Cameroon Olive Pigeon is a regional endemic (Nik Borrow)
The gorgeous White-throated Blue Swallow frequents the waterways of southern Cameroon (Nik Borrow)
The localized Pale-fronted Negrofinch is often easy to see at Mount Kupé (Nik Borrow)
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