WESTERN BIRDING PERIPLE (TREK)
At the discovery of the Cameroon’s Highland Endemics
The South-West and North-west Regions of Cameroon are the most targeted areas by the pickiest ornithologists. The fundamental reason is that almost all endemic birds near- endemic birds of Cameroon are concentrated in this area. Western birding tour is without any doubt the top Cameroon birdwatching trip.
Day 1: Flight from your country to Douala, Drive to Buéa
I will personally greet you at your arrival in Douala International airport, and then we will drive directly to Buéa, the capital city of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. This town extends between 700 and 1,000 meters altitude and is located just at the foot of Mount Cameroon, the majestic and magnificent mountain which will be the subject of our joy and relaxation during the next three days. At the Capitol Hotel of Buéa where you will spend the night today, we will have a short briefing about the upcoming trip, then dinner and rest.
Day 2, day 3 and day 4: Excursion at Mount Cameroon
We will spend three fantastic days at the discovery of the great ornithological heritance of Mount Cameroon. Mount Cameroon (a massive volcano) is the highest mountain in West Africa with an altitude of 4095 meters. By virtue of its height altitude, its location alongside the Atlantic Ocean and its isolation, this mountain harbors very special and unique birds, including numerous mountain endemics and near-endemics. The stratified vegetation of this mountain, expanding from the farm lands to the savannah, passing through the dense African tropical rain forest, will make you crazy of its ornithological diversity. Our special targets here are the strictly endemic of this mountain: the freaky Mount Cameroon Speirops and the tremendous Mount Cameroon francolin. Others mountain endemics will be surely on the rendez-vous. Among them, we have Cameroun Montane Greenbul, Western Mountain Greenbul, Grey-headed Greenbul Yellow-breasted Boubou, Western Green Tinkerbird, Shelley's Oliveback, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Green Longtail, Grey Apalis, Mountain Robin Chat, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Saw-wing, Cameroun Olive Pigeon, Chubb’s Cisticola. We will also meet the following species Mackinnon’s Shrikes, Whinchat, Long-legged Pipit, Grey-crowned Negrofinch, Oriole Finch, Brown-capped Weaver, Yellow Bishop, Black-capped Waxbill.
On the third day, after a very early exploration…,we start descending and reach Buéa town in the evening, have dinner and a last overnight stays at Hotel Capitol in Buéa.
Day 5: Limbe
After a very early breakfast, we drive to Limbe (..) where we spend the whole morning birding in the Limbe Botanical Garden (and visiting the Limbe Zoo if needed). After lunch, we will be birding at the beach, and then visiting the 1999 Lava flow at Bakingili. In the evening, we will do bird-watching at down beach before dinner at the fish market. Expected to see today are: Reichenbach’s Sunbird, Green Headed Sunbird, Carmelite Sunbird, Western Blue bill, Giant Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Long tailed Cormorant, Palm nut Vulture, Black Goshawk, Green Turaco, Western Reef Heron, African Grey parrot, Cassin’s Flycatcher, and more. Common sandpiper, Wood Warbler, Pale-fronted Negrofinch, Blue-headed and Brown Sunbird, Green-throated Sunbird.
Overnight at Miramare hotel in Limbe.
Day 6: Limbe, Drive to Mundemba
Today, we drive to Mundemba while birding all along the way through the tropical rainforest, with many specific stops. On the way we will see the majestic Yellow casqued Hornbill…
We arrive Mundemba in the afternoon and after check-in, we will have an evening excursion in the secondary forests and farmlands surrounding this small town. We may see many grey parrots flying to their sleeping, Chattering Cisticola, Olive-bellied Sunbird, Red-eyed Dove, African Harrier-Hawk, Pin-tailed Wydah, Lesser Striped Swallow.
Dinner and overnight stay at Bosseme Hotel in Mundemba.
Day 7: Mundemba – Mana Bridge – Korup National Park
We have two full days to explore the lowlands of Korup National Park, a vast wilderness evergreen lowland forest. Very early in the morning, the car will take us to the Mana footbridge, a long (120 m) suspension bridge accross the Mana River, a large rocky river separating the surrounding areas from the park. After crossing the bridge, we walk through the lowland rainforest to the Rengo camp located at 7…, Km from the bridge. On the way we expect to see numerous species of greenbuls , Green-tailed and Common Bristlebills, Brown, Black-capped and Pale-breasted Illadopsises, the melodious Forest Robin, Blue Cuckoo-shrike, Black-casqued, Yellow-casqued and Red-billed Dwarf hornbills.Grey Parrot, Green Hylia, Brown-chested Alethe, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Western Black-headed Oriole, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye, Shining Drongo, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, Bare-cheeked Trogon and Blue-headed Wood Dove and many more.
After arrival at the Camp, we will have some food and rest, and then hurry to the "Picathartes Rock Hill", expecting to see the enigmatic and shy endemic bird returning silently and guardedly to its nest for the night.
In the night, African Wood Owl and/or Vermiculated Fishing Owl may try to accompany you in your sleep; just get ready your flash light, I will call him and you will admire him.
Evening meal and overnight stay a Rengo Camp in Korup National Park.
Day 8: Excursion at Korup National Park
Early birding, then breakfast and return to the Mana suspension bridge where a stand-by vehicle will take us to Mundemba.
In addition to numerous birds, this rain forest is also home to chimpanzees, the endangered drill (the genus of forest baboons belonging), African forest elephant.
Dinner and overnight stay at Bosseme Hotel in Mundemba
Day 9: Mundemba – Nyasoso
After an early breakfast we drive to Nyasoso at the foot of Mount Kupé mountain forest. Birding on the way. Expected….
Dinner and overnight stay at the guesthouse in Nyasoso. or in the women’s centre.
Day 10: Nyasoso, Birding on Mt Kupe
Early wake up, breakfast and go birding the whole day on Mount Kupe and return by evening. Mt Kupe is the predilection area of Bush-shrike, with about fifteen species. Out of those multitude of shrikes, we expect to see here numerous mountain endemics and many other birds including the Naked faced Barbet, Spotted Greenbul, Chestnut wattle-eye, Brown-Crowned Eremomela, White-Spotted Flufftail, Emerald Cuckoo, Black-throated Apalis, African Harrier Hawk, Red-Eyed Puffback, Yellow Longbill, Red-Necked Buzzard, Mount Kupe Bush Shrike, Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike, Grey Parrot, Yellow Breasted Boubou, Grey-headed Broadbill, Bar-Tailed Trogon and many more.
DAY 11: Bakossi Mountain
Early morning birding and continuation to the Bakossi Mountain in the village of Kodmin at the discovery of the mythical and precious Mount Kupe Bush Shrike and many more mountain endemics. Return at dusk, dinner and night in the Nyasoso guesthouse.
DAY 12: Nyasoso- Bamenda
Early birding, breakfast and drive to Bamenda via Bafoussam while birding on the way. During a long drive on this national high way, we expect to see mostly raptures and farmland birds among which the African Goshawk, Red-necked Buzzard, Lizard Buzzard, Black Kite, African Harrier Hawk, White-cheeked Oliveback, Red-shouldered Whydah, Winding Cisticola, Red-faced Cisticola. We arrive Bamenda in the evening, dinner and overnight at Ayaba Hotel.
DAY 13: Lake Awing zone and Mbingo
Our main target in Bamenda Highlands are the three strictly endemics in this region, Bannerman's Turaco, Banded Wattle-eye and Bannerman's Weaver.
After a very early breakfast, our expedition at Lake Awing zone and Mbingo will allow us to contemplate the three strangely beautiful endemics cited bellow, as well as many others mountain endemics including African Hill Babbler, Grey Apalis, Black-collared Apalis, Cameroon Montane Greenbul, Yellow-breasted Boubou, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Banbed Wattle-eye, African Stonechat, Chubb’s Cisticola, Pectoral Patch Cisticola, Thick-billed Seedeater, Oriole Finch, Yellow Bishop, as well as many other birds like Little Grebe, Waller's Chestnut-winged Starling, Neuman’s Starling, overnight in Bamenda at Ayaba Hotel.
DAY 14: Mankon secret forest
Early breakfast, drive to the Mankon secret forest for birding and continue to Oku. Expectations Banded Wattle-eye, Bamenda Apalis, Bannerman’s Turaco and Weaver, Oriole Finch, Bangwa Forest Warbler, Africa Green-Pigeon, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Tropical Boubou, Ludhers Bushshrike Yellow Bishop, Cameroon Mountain Greenbul, Chestnut-Winged Starling, Petit’s Saw-wing, Short-toed eagle, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Red-Necked Buzzard, Brown-backed cisticola, Red-faced Cisticola and many more. Overnight at Oku Guest house.
DAY 15: Mt. Oku
Early breakfast, go birding on Mt. Oku for the whole day, return in the evening, dinner and night. Bannermann’s Turaco, Banded Wattle-eye, Bannerman’s Weaver are top endemics to look for. Out of them, we will also see Common Stonechat, Yellow-breasted Boubou, the Chubb’s Cisticola, Black-collared Apalis, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Mountain Robin-Chat, Grey Apalis, Northern Double-collared Sunbird. We got a large flock of Little Grebes at Lake Oku .Back in the afternoon and drive back to Bamenda, dinner and overnight in Ayaba Hotel of Bamenda.
DAY 16: Bamenda – Yaounde, end of the trip and Flight back
Travel from Bamenda to Yaounde while birding on the way, Final dinner and resume of the tours, departure to Yaounde Nsimalen International airport for flight back, end of the trip.
