Our Angola tours are led by Angola expert Michael Mills and have been the first tours to find all the country's endemics. We've been running Angola tours regularly since our first visit to the country in 2003.
For more than thirty years
Angola's highly sought after endemic birds were beyond safe reach.
Gladly, things have changed for the better and the country has become
a peaceful and safe country to visit. However, few birders and ornithologists
have yet wandered through its extraordinary landscapes, and no single
person has seen all the nation's endemic species.
Join us and complete your turaco
or mousebird sightings with the striking Red-crested Turaco
or Red-backed Mousebird. Be one of the first birders
to see Swierstra’s Spurfowl, or just enjoy
notching up species seen by only a handful of birders: Gabela
Helmetshrike, Gabela Bushshrike, White-headed
Robin-Chat, Angola Cave Chat, Pulitzer’s
Longbill or Gabela Akalat.
Our trip has been newly designed by guide Michael Mills, who was based in Angola following his survey work. Our tour is designed to avoid camping and spend every night at hotels (see our trip reports).
Scroll down to see what previous participants say.
Featured
Leader: Michael Mills
Michael Mills grew up "in the bush" in the Kalahari and Kruger National Parks where his parents were carnivore researchers. His incredible focus, dedication and ability to locate and show people Africa's toughest birds is probably unequalled on the continent.
Michael has led dozens of tours in Southern, East, Central, West and North Africa and his experience in locating birds on just the softest of calls or briefest of views impresses those who have travelled with him.
There is seldom a tour where Michael doesn't make an interesting discovery such as finding a new species for a country or record an undescribed bird call (and he has published these in the scientific literature).
Not only is Michael one of our principal leaders, but he also helps extensively with scouting and planning our most challenging itineraries.
After our Angola 2011 trip, this
is what participants had to say:
Probably the best guide in Africa, U. Toresson
Birding with Michael is as good as it gets, K.D.
Excellent guide, S. Lowe.
Michael Mills by far has the best knowledge of birding/birds in
Western Angola. He is an excellent guide and his hearing and knowledge
about vocalisations is exceptional..!, B. Sjölinder
Tents were large and comfortable.
Bedrolls were lovely and warm and easy to pack up. Ground staff
were friendly and obliging and well organised. Food extremely good.,
K.D.
After more than 100 tours, this one compared very favourably. Expectations
were more than met! R.A.
Practical tour information
Focus
For keen birders and world listers. Designed to
see all of Angola's endemic birds.
Photography
Many participants on our trips are amateur wildlife photographers.
And when we get excellent views of a bird or mammal, some time
is usually spent watching and photographing it. However, this
is not a photographic tour and once the majority of the people
have felt that they have absorbed the animal or bird to their
satisfaction, then we move on in search of the next encounter.
Thus, while the photographic opportunities
are very good, the group will only occasionally wait for somebody
who wants to spend even longer getting better photos.
Fitness
A moderate level of fitness is required. Most walks will be
done in cool conditions and will last less than 3-4 hours. The
walks are generally in relatively flat areas with occasional
inclines, but some steeper hikes are involved. The longest walk
is about 5 km long with some uphill sections and will be taken
slowly.
Timing
We run our tour before the rains and while birds are breeding.
Climate
Warm in the lowlands and warm to cool in the highlands.
Your booking can be secured with a booking form and deposit. You will receive confirmation and our tour information pack with practical information
on what to expect and how to prepare for the tour. The balance
is due 150 days before the tour. Contact us to enquire about availability.
About Birding Africa
Birding Africa is a specialist birding tour
company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed
holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies,
botany and other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa's
and Madagascar's most diverse birding destinations. Our guides'
knowledge of African birds and birding areas is our greatest strength
and together we have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations
with the birding community and had a fun time exploring our home
continent. We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best
birds. Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and
we are dedicated to making professional, best value trips filled
with endemic species and unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997,
we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders,
small birding groups and top international tour companies. We've
run Conservation Tours
in association with the African Bird Club and work with and consult
for a number of other top international tour companies and the BBC
Natural History Unit.
