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"Thanks must go to Birding Africa
... what has to be the definitive three-week Madagascar itinerary.
... it is difficult to think of how things could have been more
successful; we have actually seen every available resident endemic
species! It is difficult to think of a country where so many totally
stunning birds and mammals can be viewed so brilliantly. The transport
was all very good and accommodation excellent - it was sometimes
too good!"
IM, Leicestershire, UK
participant of a 21-day private tour in August 2007 _________________________________________________
"Both Callan & Deirdre
displayed amazingly detailed knowledge of virtually everything we
encountered, not just the birds, but all the other creatures and
plants... our life list now stands at about 4,045!! The depth of
knowledge and success rate displayed by both Callan & Deirdre
has surpassed anything we have previously encountered.
Recommend us? Yes, because your
wide knowledge, determination and organisational skills, coupled
with an easy-going nature, made for a very successfukl & enjoyable
trip. Also the photo record supplied at the end meant that we immediately
had something to show our friends & relatives on our return."
David & Rosemary Jackson, UK
participant of a 16-day tour in October 2011
_________________________________________________
"Thank you for a wonderful
trip. Birding Arica guides have an excellent knowledge of the birds,
lemurs and other wildlife. Masoala and Ranomafana were the most
enjoyable areas.
Response was prompt and always friendly and helpful. It was easy
to book. The tour value was good, my expectations were met.
I would recommend Birding Africa
- they are the specialists in the area."
PD , UK
participant of a 21-day tour in November 2011
________________________________________________
"Callan and Deirdre have have an excellent
in depth knowledge and information on all species seen. The tour's
duration was just right for the distances travelled and location
expectations. The itinerary was just right and met my needs.
Accommodation was outstanding - clearly carefully selected with
location and client comfort in mind. Birding Africa responded promptly
to my contact and it was easy to book.
Excellent Tour value. My expectations were met!
This tour ranked with some of the best I have been on.
I recommend Birding Africa for its personal service, determination
to find the species for clients, good transport and excellent accommodation.
"
Paul Edlin, UK
participant of a 21-day tour in November 2011
_________________________________________________
"Excellent guides - just
about the best I've experienced - a great duo (Callan and Deirdre).
Accommodation was generally perfectly good, ahead of my expectations.
The tour value was good and my expectations were met. As a small
you can deliver a nice personal service."
Steve Vaughan, UK
participant of a 16-day tour in October 2011
_________________________________________________
"We were all very pleased
with Madagascar. Thank you for sewing a good program together and
to [the tour-leader] Michael Mills for a very good score of endemic
records and his tremendous effort for everybody to see all species.."
JER, for a group of 13 birders,
Norway
participant of a 16-day private tour in November 2011
_________________________________________________
"Excellent guides.
Yes, I would recommend Birding
Africa - Callan's field skills"
Dale & Helen Middleton, UK
participants of a 16-day tour in October 2011
_________________________________________________
"Excellent tour leaders,
so knowedgeable, and wanted to make sure that each person got to
see and know more about what they were especially interested in.
Really enjoyed Deirdre and Callan.
My highlights included snorkeling
in Masaola, the number of lemur species, asities and vangas, and
the spiny forest.
Tour duration was a good length,
the itinerary excellent, with Masoala probably my favourite place,
and the accommodation was nice. Birding Africa responded promptly,
it was easy to book. The tour's value was excellent. Yes, I would
recommend Birding Africa."
Kate Bruce, USA
participant of a 21-day tour in October 2011
_________________________________________________
"Highlights? There were so
many! The wonderful forest at Akarafantsika was our first exposure
to Vangas and Lemurs and was unforgettable. Sitting in the forest
at Andasibe with the Flufftail creeping so near us. Hearing Indris
and then seeing them! The point blank looks at Common Sunbird Asity
at Ranomafana. The "zebra" chameleon at the Ranomafana
pool. Walking in the Spiny forest. Snorkeling at Masoala. Seeing
the Helmet Vanga on the nest. Amazing looks at the Short-legged
Roller (but only after achieving a zen-like state after six days
of searching!). The Vanga and Roller dances!
Excellent tour leaders. Both Callan
and Deirdre show amazing knowledge of the natural world. Their bird-finding
and ID skills are great, but in addition we learned so much about
the mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants. They share
a burning curiosity about the natural world and their enthusiasm
is contagious! Fortunately, they both also show considerable patience
and were fantastic teachers. I was frequently amazed at how successfuly
they were in getting everyone in our relatively large group on even
the most difficult of skulkers.
The itinerary was great and I
would have enjoyed another day or two at Ankarafantsika. Accommodation
ranged for very good to amazingly excellent! Birding Africa responded
promptly, it was easy to book and the website was helpful. The tour's
value was excellent. My expectations were met. This trip was as
well organized or better than two other (American) companies I have
traveled with. Yes, I would recommend Birding Africa - the leaders
are great!"
Mark Galizio, USA
participant of a 21-day tour in October 2011
_________________________________________________
"Thank you both so much for
a fabulous trip to Madagascar. It far exceeded my expectations.
The birds and mammals were spectacular - and they........ and you
have been strongly recommended"
Christine D, Guernsey
participant of a 16-day tour in November 2008
_________________________________________________
"Superb combination of stunning
birds, mammals, reptiles and habitats.
Best bird: Probably Long Tailed
ground Roller, with a long supporting cast. Best mammal: Cocquerel's
Sifaka, closely followed by Verreaux's. Best locality: tie between
Ankarafantsika and Ranomafana.
The itinerary was just right,
just enough time at each site. Excellent pace and length of tour.
I most enjoyed Ankarafantsika
- with birds and mammals by chalets, and Ranomafana for the best
and most easily accessed forest, both day and night. Masoala was
impressive but hard work.
Vehicles were all well maintained,
spacious and well driven. Meals were all good, no one place stood
out.
Superb experience, amongst the
top 5 trips ever for quality and views of a stunning range of wildlife."
AD, Sheffield, UK
participant of a 21-day private tour in August 2007
_________________________________________________
"I'm still in Madagascar
in spirit! It was truly a trip of a lifetime and am savouring every
aspect of it whilst writing up a record of our trip. Thank you again
for a wonderful experience. I wish you well with future tours to
this exotic island and hope that I may join you again sometime."
LMR, RSA
participant of a 16-day tour in October 2007
_________________________________________________
"Many thanks to both Deirdre
and Callan for a smashing holiday. We feel very privileged to have
seen such unique wildlife and scenery. We have been busy downloading
our photos and can't quite believe some of the sights we saw.
"Highlights were the spiny
forest, seeing our first chameleon, seeing lemurs so close. Delighted
to see birds on nests so close - something that is very difficult
to do in UK. Subdesert Mesite, Flufftail, Bamboo lemur - we could
have watched all day as he demolished the bamboo! Our very first
lemur sighting - the Mouse lemur in the bee box! Seeing local conservation
and the Ring-tailed lemurs.
Yes, we would recommend Birding
Africa. Madagascar we feel cannot be done on your own. You need
very special guides to find the particular wildlife. The tour included
all wildlife not just birds which was good.
We wouldn't have seen anything
without you both [Callan and Deirdre]!"
Pat & Meg, UK
participant of a 16-day tour in October 2007
_________________________________________________
"Highlights were too many
to mention! Rufous-headed Ground-roller, the 3 sifaka's (Verraux's,
Diademed, Cocquerel's). The atmosphere at our beach-side accommodation.
The Relais de la Reine was spectacular. The fine French food all
over Madagascar was a surprise. Our accommodations was all in excellent
locations.
Yes, I would recommend Birding
Africa. It was a good tour, well organized."
Volkert vdW, Netherlands
participant of a 16-day private tour in August 2007
_________________________________________________
"Callan and Deirdre were excellent - a great team."
MB, UK
participant of a 16-day tour
_________________________________________________
"Callan and Deirdre from Birding Africa worked very hard during
the 17 days to see that we got the best out of all the habitats
and that we were well housed and regularly fed and watered. We set
off in a smart air-conditioned coach. "
Martin C, UK
participant of a 16-day private tour in October 2007
_________________________________________________
"I most enjoyed the spiny
desert, the Pitta like ground roller, all the different lemur groups,
and Ampijoroa forest. This was my first organised birding tour and
I'm suitably impressed!
I would recommend Birding Africa:
the guides had good knowledge of the fauna and flora and were very
enthusiastic about their profession."
Janet H, Cape Town, RSA
participant of a 16-day tour in October 2007
_________________________________________________
"Excellent Birding Africa tour-leaders.
Callan never gave up and Deirdre made everything a bit lighter,
adding some fun to the trip.
Definately, if you want birds and primates, I would recommend Birding
Africa."
PF, Belgium
participant of a 21-day tour in November 2011
_________________________________________________
"Great thanks to Callan &
Deirdre for a wonderful tour of Madagascar, the 16-day adventure
came off just as advertised and was terrific."
RZ & BZ, USA
participant of a 16-day tour in November 2011
_________________________________________________
"I most enjoyed watching
the Red-capped Coua, Coquerel's Sifaka, Ampijoroa and Ranomafana.
The seafood in the south was remarkably good.
I would recommend Birding Africa,
especially because of knowledge and enthusiasm of the tour guides.
Excellent tour leaders and office
staff. Excellent value."
Frank H, Cape Town, RSA
participant of a 16-day tour in October 2007
_________________________________________________
"We're back from the tour
to Madagascar which you arranged for us. It can only be described
as stupendous, superb, brilliant etc...
THE BIRDING.... unparalleled.
162 spp, 120 lifers inc. 118 endemics/near endemics---- 4 spp. Rail
at point-blank range, Yellowbrow, Appert's etc.. 20+ Lemurs, loads
of fabulous reptiles. What a place!
The whole tour from start to finish
was virtually perfection. Our guide was a wonderful bird and naturalist
guide and fantastic company, we have made a firm friend. Accommodation
+ food exquisite throughout without exception. Transport and drivers
first class, all logistics smooth and trouble-free. "
Steve & Judy R, Liverpool,
UK
particicpants of a 21-day private tour in August 2007
_________________________________________________
"Comfortably in the top three of trips I’ve done. "
CM & CU, Gloucestershire
participant of a 16-day tour in November 2008
_________________________________________________
"Birding Africa guides were excellent. They knew their subjects
well. Callan was a mine of information on anything that moved or
grows. Phenomenal!!!
Highlights were the views of Crested
Ibis, Rufous-headed Ground Roller and Marsh Owl, and of course the
Amphiglossus.
Accomodation was far better than
I expected, as was the food, delighted with both.
The office responded promptly,
it was easy to book, the website was helpful and I look at it regularly.
The tour value was good and my expectations were met. I would recommend
Birding Africa - they are experts in their region."
Rob Leighton, UK
participant of a 16-day tour in November 2011
For more information about our Madagascar
tours, please click here.
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Schlegel's Asity © Callan Cohen & Deirdre Vrancken www.birdingafrica.com
Collared Nightjar © Callan Cohen & Deirdre Vrancken www.birdingafrica.com
Participants
and leader Callan Cohen in November 2009 at Lac Ravelobe, just before
watching Madagascar Fish-eagle and Madagascar Jacana © Deirdre
Vrancken www.birdingafrica.com
Participants and leader Callan Cohen in November 2009 en-route to
Masoala © Deirdre Vrancken www.birdingafrica.com
