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THE COMOROS & NORTHERN MADAGASCAR

Birdquest's Comoros and Northern Madagascar birding tour explores two rarely-visited parts of the world. Our Comoros and Northern Madagascar tour is a comprehensive survey of the interesting Comoros endemics plus rarely-seen Madagascar specialities including Madagascar Pochard and Sakalava Rail. If you have not visited the Masoala for the extraordinary Helmet Vanga, this is your chance!

Friday 28th September - Friday 19th October 2012
(22 days)

Masoala Pre-Tour Extension from Sunday 23rd September (5 days)

Leader: Pete Morris

Group Size Limit: 6

Tour Category: Easy at times, but mostly Moderate (and one optional fairly Demanding hike)

On this tour, which is a fantastic adventure through seldom travelled lands, we hope to find little-known rarities such as the superb Sakalava Rail (Pete Morris)

This exciting tour focuses on the seldom-seen endemics of the Comoro Islands and some equally rarely seen specialities of the northern part of Madagascar.

The Comoro Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands lying between Madagascar and Africa. Known by early seafaring Arabs as ‘The Islands of the Moon’, the Comoros are currently politically divided into two entities, the Union of Comoros (a sovereign state comprising Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli) and Mayotte (an ‘overseas collectivity’ of France).

Originally colonized by people of Malay-Polynesian origin, the islands were later colonized by waves of African, Arab and Shirazi (Persian) colonizers. Each of the islands has a very different character and there is a wonderful expression in the Comoros which says: “Mohéli sleeps, Anjouan works, Mayotte plays and Grande Comore complains!”

The Comoro Islands have been very much neglected by the ornithological world and very few birders have visited these islands in recent times, in spite of the fact that there are as many as 26 endemic bird species (or perhaps even more depending on the taxonomy followed). The islands underwent a period of political turmoil in the 1990s but have since recovered and are now political stable. This exciting tour is certainly one that should appeal to those with the spirit of adventure as seeing some of the planet’s least-known birds involves very simple camping and expedition-style conditions for a small part of the tour.

Our time in Madagascar will be spent in the north of the island, where we will first explore the isolated Montagne d’Ambre (Amber Mountain) massif where the endemic Amber Mountain Rock Thrush occurs. Moving south we will explore a remote region where Madagascar Pochard was recently rediscovered and where other rarities such as Madagascar Red Owl, Meller’s Duck and Madagascar Harrier all still occur. We will then travel southwestwards to Majunga, calling in at Ampijoroa where we will hope to find Schlegel’s Asity and Van Dam’s Vanga during our brief stay.

We will then make a visit to some remote wetlands further south where the Sakalava Rail was recently discovered. As well as searching for this enigmatic species, we are also likely to find Madagascar Sacred Ibis and Madagascar Teal amongst a host of other interesting species.

During our visit to the Comoros we will visit all four of the major islands and we have an excellent chance of finding the vast majority of their endemic birds, which include several globally threatened species. Among the endemics are Comoro Olive and Comoro Blue Pigeons, Comoro Cuckoo-Roller, four species of endemic scops owl (one on each island), Comoro Thrush, Humblot’s Flycatcher (a bird in its own genus), Comoro Blue Vanga and a series of brush-warblers, white-eyes, drongos and colourful sunbirds!

During the optional pre-tour extension, there will be the opportunity to visit the exciting and remote Masoala Peninsula in northeastern Madagascar, home to the extraordinary Helmet Vanga and Bernier’s Vanga, as well as the beautiful Red-breasted Coua, the retiring Scaly Ground-Roller, the unobtrusive Brown Mesite and the gorgeous Velvet Asity.

Birdquest has operated tours to the Comoros and the most remote parts of northern Madagascar since 2008.

(Note: The above is a summary of the tour. For more information please download the detailed, day-by-day itinerary. The button is at the top right of the page.)

Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels are mostly of normal Birdquest standard. On Anjouan and Moheli the hotels are fairly basic. For two nights at the Madagascar Pochard site, we will be staying in basic accommodation with two or more people per room or camping. For three nights when we are looking for the Sakalava Rail in Madagascar we will be camping in basic conditions with two people per tent. For one night on Grande Comore, those who wish to look for Grand Comoro Scops Owl and Mount Karthala White-eye will have to camp out rough using camping mattresses and plastic sheeting (the hotel rooms will be retained overnight). Road transport is by 4x4, minibus or cars and roads are variable in quality.

Walking: The walking effort is mostly easy, but there are several harder walks on the Comoros (and at the Masoala Peninsula during the pre-tour extension). Those wishing to look for Grand Comoro Scops Owl and Mount Karthala White-eye will have to make a rather strenuous uphill hike in order to do so.

Climate: Rather variable. At this time of year the dry season is giving way to the rainy season. Many days at lower altitudes will be hot, dry and sunny, but it is regularly overcast and rainy. At higher altitudes the weather is similar but temperatures are cool to warm. It may be humid at times.

Bird/Mammal Photography: Opportunities are worthwhile.

Tour Price: $8080 Antananarivo/Antananarivo. Pre-Tour Extension: $2030. Price includes all transportation (including all flights in Madagascar, between Madagascar and the Comoros, and in the Comoros), 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: $778 (excluding 5 nights in Madagascar). Pre-Tour Extension: $243.

Deposit: 10% of the tour price (excluding any single supplement).

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.

Of the endemics in the Comores, the Comoro Blue Bigeon is arguably one of the most spectacular. Around twenty two endemics are currently recognized, but plenty more are likely to be split. We found them all in 2008! (Pete Morris)

The magnificent Madagascar Red Owl is an excellent possibility on this tour (Pete Morris)

We will also go to see the recently re-discovered Madagascar Pochard, a species that we are helping to conserve (Pete Morris)

The spectacular Scaly Ground-Roller is likely to be one of the specials seen on the pre-tour extension to the Masoala (Pete Morris)

View Map Download Detailed Itinerary 442kb

Report From October 2008/November 2008 109 photos View Gallery Photos From THE COMOROS & NORTHERN MADAGASCAR

The endemics in the Comores include four scops owls, all of which were seen well in 2008. This inquisitive beast is a Mayotte Scops Owl (Pete Morris)

... and this, the poorly known Moheli Scops Owl, a species with an amazing voice (Pete Morris)

The spectacular Comoro Blue Vanga is a potential split (Pete Morris)

Other endemics include the colourful Mayotte Sunbird (Pete Morris)

... Anjouan Sunbird (Pete Morris)

... Comoro Thrush (the three forms vary greatly and may actually be three species!) (Pete Morris)

... the drab but rare Grand Comoro Drongo (Pete Morris)

... and the more spectacular Mayotte Drongo (Pete Morris)

On the optional extension to the Masoala Peninsula, we should find the amazing Helmet Vanga (Simon Harrap)

Other diverse wildlife in Madagascar includes the world's smallest chameleon (Pete Morris)

... and the splendid Crowned Sifaka, pictured here at Katsepy, south of Majunga (Pete Morris)

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