Cameroon offers one of the best and most exciting birding in
West Africa. Cameroon’s geographical position together with the
diversity of habitats makes it uniquely varied, accounting for
over 900 species of birds recorded in the country. From the
sahel in the extreme north of Cameroon to the forests of the
southern mountains, we are presenting below the variety of
habitats and the variety of birds found. .
The Waza national park, south of Lake Chad offers the best
introduction to the birds of sub-sahel zone.The park is a
landscape of acacia savana and grasslands dotted with imposing
inselbergs. Birding in Waza can be truly spectacular and the
possibilities include the following : Red-necked Buzzard, Black
Scrub-Robin, Chestnut-bellied Starling, Red-pate Cisticola,
Lavender Waxbill, African Swallow-tailed, Kite, Sudan Golden
Sparrow, thousands of doves, weavers and queleas, Ostriches,
Arabian bustard,quail plover, swallow-tailed kite, bee-eaters,
Fox Kestrel, Pygmy sunbird, Sennar Penduline-tit, River Prinia,
Herons, etc, etc.
Waza is also home to large mammals such as elephant, lions,
giraffe, red-fronted Gazelle, Patas monkey, Warthog, etc.
Another national park of great importance in the north of the
country is the Benoué national park. This area is rich in Stone
Partridge, Red-throated bee-eater, Violet Turaco, Adamawa
Turtle dove, Red-winged Gray Warbler, Grey-headed olive-back,
the remarkable Crocodile bird, etc.
The Benoué park is also home to large mammals such as the
hippopotamus which abound.
Further south at the Ngaoundaba ranch near Ngaoundéré, the
highlights are Oriole Warbler, white-collared Starling, the
Brown-chested Lapwig, thrush Babbler and the threatened Bamenda
Apalis. The following birds too are to be seen : African Golden
Oriole, White-breasted and Red-shouldered cuckoo-shrikes,
Square-tailed Drongo, Schlegel’s francolin, Double-toothed
Barbet, African Black Duck, Blue-breasted Kingfisher,
Red-headed Lovebird, Temminck’s Courser, Gray Kestrel, Sun
Lark, Olive-bellied, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Marsh Widowbird,
Gray-heade Oliveback, , and many others.
The three highland areas in the southwestern corner of Cameroon
offer the rare endemics. These are the Bamenda highlands, the
Kupe & Bakossi mountains and Mount Cameroon.
The Bamenda highlands are home to several endemic birds
including the rare and endangered BANNERMANS TURACO, Bannermans
Weaver, and Banded Wattle-eye, Mountain Robin-Chat, Cameroon
greenbul.
On the Kupe Mountains, you will search for the SERLE’s (Mt.Kupe)
and GREEN BREASTED BUSHRIKES, Green Longtail, White-throated
Mountain Babbler, and Ursula’s Sunbird..
Mount Cameroon is the highest mountain in the whole of West and
Central Africa. This mountain offers wonderful forest birds
including the MOUNT CAMEROON FRANCOLIN, Cameroon–pigeon,
Mountain sawwing, White-tailed Warbler and the Cameroon
Sunbird.
The KORUP NATIONAL PARK is a remarkable and the oldest primary
forest in Africa. It contains a wealth of bird, animal and
plant life unequalled in West Africa. This park has excellent
trails which are reached after crossing the suspension bridge
which was opened and crossed by Prince Charles of England.
This park is home to the Grey-necked ROCKFOWL or PICATHARTES
which attracts birders from all corners of the world. With the
help of local guides and camping in the forest, this bird
crowns the birding trip to the region.
Other highlights in the Korup park are Forbe’s Plover, Black
Dwarf, White-crested hornbills, Black-casqued, Yellow
casqued,Red-billed Dwarf, Blue throated Roller, Blue
Cuckoo-shrike, forest Robin, gray’s, Red-vented, Woodhouse
Antpecker and Rachel’s malimbes.
Programming a birdwatching tour to Cameroon ?
We suggest the following duration of stay to enable the
birdwatcher reap maximum benefits from his Cameroon tour :
Waza national park.........2 days
Benoué national park......2 days
Ngaoundaba ranch..........2 days
Bamenda highlands........ 3 days
Mt.Kupe & Bakossi Mts......4 days
Mt.Cameroon...................2 days
Korup National park..... ..4 days
QUOTES: We quote all birding tours on full
board ; we use Toyota Hiace minibuses for our groups. A
maximum of 8 persons including a leader
from the birdwatching tour operator is required per minibus.
When and where required, we use 4x4 vehicles.
Our prices are offered upon request based on the number of
participants per group
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