Africa
Africa is the continent of excess. It contains more countries than any other continent and possesses the world's highest free-standing mountain - Kilimanjaro, the world's longest river - the Nile, and the world's largest desert - the Sahara. It also has the greatest abundance of wildlife to be found anywhere on the planet. This is nowhere more evident than in Kenya, probably the most visited country in Africa. Its extremely efficient tourist infrastructure allows visitors to experience the spectacle of its incredible wildlife in comfort. Little wonder then that it is one of our most popular destinations where we have run over fifty tours since 1982, of which David Fisher has led twenty-two. Backed up by Mel Ogola, Kenya's top local bird guide who has led almost all of Sunbird's Kenya tours in the last 15 years, they make a formidable team for the January tour. Brian Finch, one of Kenya's most active and knowledgeable resident birders, leads the summer and autumn tours with Mel.
Our other Africa tours sample much that the continent has to offer. In the south, our ground agent and local bird expert, Rod Cassidy, has put together some comprehensive and bird-filled itineraries for South Africa and Namibia, which he co-leads with Steve Rooke and Séan McMinn respectively. Steve Rooke continues to lead Ethiopia, birthplace of mankind and a country brimming with legends and endemic birds. Though not really part of Africa, our tour to Madagascar offers experiences of a very different environment, focused on fascinating endemic land birds and lemurs.
Finally, our new tour to Uganda will spend three weeks
touring this fantastic country, seeking out not only many of its wonderful
birds, such as Shoebill, but also some of its special mammals, not least
of which are the Gorillas.
 |
| An Abbyssinian Roller in Awash National Park, Ethiopia. Photographed by tour participant Sam Alexander. |