Michigan Audubon Society

Kenya & Tanzania Birds & Big Game II 1st to 18th May 2017 (18 days)

Saddle-billed Stork by Markus Lilje

Kenya and Tanzania are the quintessential African safari destinations and provide the ultimate birding and big-game experience. There exists nowhere else on the planet such an amazing volume and diversity of large animals; and, in addition to this, both countries each support over one thousand bird species, many of which are large, bright, colourful and easy to observe. Our tour is designed to maximize both RBT Kenya & Tanzania & Rwanda Itinerary 2 the big game and birding experience by selecting the very best and most accessible destinations in these two vast and exciting lands. We use a superb standard of accommodation throughout and comfortable safari vehicles with pop-up roof hatches to optimize viewing. This is an incredible and immensely rewarding birding safari augmented by some of the most outstanding mammal viewing on the continent; we greatly look forward to sharing the natural wonders of East Africa with you!

THE TOUR AT A GLANCE…

THE ITINERARY Day 1 Arrival in Arusha Day 2 Arusha to Tarangire National Park Day 3 Tarangire National Park Day 4 Tarangire National Park to Ngorongoro Crater Day 5 Ngorongoro Crater Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti National Park via Oldupai Gorge Day 7 & 8 Serengeti National Park Day 9 Serengeti National Park to Gibb’s Farm Day 10 Gibb’s Farm to Amboseli National Park Day 11 Amboseli National Park Day 12 Amboseli National Park to Mt. Kenya Day 13 Mt. Kenya Day 14 Mt. Kenya to Shaba National Reserve Days 15 & 16 Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves Day 17 Buffalo Springs National Reserve to Lake Nakuru National Park Day 18 Lake Nakuru National Park to Nairobi for departure

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TOUR ROUTE MAP…

THE TOUR IN DETAIL…

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha. Today is set aside as an arrival day in order for us to make an early start the following morning. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport near the town of Arusha, you will be met and transferred to our accommodations for the night. You will have the opportunity to meet your Rockjumper tour leader and fellow participants to discuss our forthcoming adventures over a scrumptious welcoming dinner this evening.

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park. We will begin our East African safari with an early morning transfer to Tarangire National Park. En route there are bound to be birding stops, especially in the drier Acacia woodland and scrubby areas. This roadside birding can often be very productive and may include sightings of Blue-naped Mousebird, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, White- bellied Go-away-bird, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, White-bellied Go-away-bird by Rich Lindie Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird and Golden-backed

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Weaver. Our first two nights will be spent at the picturesque Tarangire Sopa Lodge, set within the heart of the national park.

Day 3: Tarangire National Park. The Tarangire ecosystem is the third largest in Tanzania, sprawling over a vast 20 000 square km (over 7 700 sq mi). Seasonally, the park supports the second largest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania surpassed only by the Serengeti during peak migration! However, Tarangire is most famous for its huge numbers of African Elephant that congregate along the meandering Tarangire River. We will take time to observe these massive pachyderms and will be amazed at their tender family interactions. Other mammals likely to be seen include the stately Waterbuck, Impala, comical Common Warthog and Giraffe. Superb Starling by Adam Riley The Acacia woodland and Baobab-studded grasslands also provide a home for a large number of birds, with the park total exceeding 500 species! During our time here we have the opportunity to find African Hawk-Eagle, the diminutive Pygmy Falcon, Double-banded Courser, Red-necked and Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Black-faced Sandgrouse, White- bellied Bustard, Meyer’s and Red-bellied Parrots, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red-and-yellow and D’Arnaud’s Barbets, Mottled Spinetail, Spotted Palm Thrush, Banded Parisoma, flocks of Northern Pied Babbler and delightful Red-cheeked and Blue-capped Cordon-bleus. Two major targets for the area are the Tanzanian endemic Ashy Starling and East African endemic Yellow-collared Lovebird. We will also visit the vast Silale Swamp which is excellent for waterfowl. Species to look out for here will be African Openbill, Goliath Heron, Southern Pochard, Fulvous Whistling Duck, African Jacana and Long-toed Lapwing. If we are fortunate we may spot a Black Coucal or flush out a secretive African Crake! Night birding around our lodge can also be fruitful and we will look for Slender-tailed and Freckled Nightjars and the diminutive African Scops Owl.

Day 4: Tarangire National Park to Ngorongoro Crater. After breakfast we leave Tarangire and strike out west for the vast Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This 8 300 square km (3 200 sq mi) World Heritage Site protects Earth’s largest intact volcanic caldera (260 sq km / 100 sq mi) and one of the world’s most scenically breathtaking natural areas. What’s more, the crater is also home to one of the planet’s densest populations of large mammals. Our wonderful lodge is nestled on the edge of the crater rim with spectacular views of the crater itself. The fabulous forests that cloak the rim of this iconic site are home to a feast of Afro-montane forest birds. Hildebrandt’s Francolin, Schalow’s Turaco, elusive Brown-backed Woodpecker, beautiful Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Mountain Greenbul, Brown-headed Apalis, Brown Parisoma, Red-and-yellow Barbets by Markus Lilje

RBT Kenya & Tanzania & Rwanda Itinerary 5 skulking Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Dusky and White-eyed Slaty Flycatchers, busy flocks of Montane White-eye and dazzling Tacazze, Golden-winged and Eastern Double-collared Sunbirds, Baglafecht Weaver and Streaky Seedeater all occur here. From the lodge we are able to gaze down at the Ngorongoro Crater below and watch distant elephants and herds of antelope and buffalo moving over the plains

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater. After an early breakfast, we will descend 600m (1,970ft) to the Ngorongoro Crater floor. The drive down is excellent for birds and we will keep our eyes peeled for Variable Sunbird, Singing, Hunter’s and the localized but dapper Lynes’s Cisticolas, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Yellow-crowned Canary and Southern Citril. The crater is deluxe 'Big Five' territory and a photographer’s dream. Most of the animals are extremely relaxed and habituated to the presence of human admirers and the high crater walls, usually cloaked in a pure white frosting of clouds, make for dramatic back-drops to animal photography. In Ngorongoro tusker by Rainer Summers addition, the crater floor provides a mini-example of a complete African ecosystem with forests, lakes, grasslands, swamps and rivers. Between 25,000 and 30,000 large animals reside in the crater and great concentrations of Blue Wildebeest and Plains Zebra are supplemented by smaller numbers of African Elephant (we hope to find some of the crater’s famous Tuskers), African Buffalo, the highly endangered Black Rhinoceros, Common Hippopotamus, Eland and Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles. The crater reputably boasts the world’s highest concentration of predators and these include Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Serval, Bat-eared Fox, Spotted Hyena and Golden and Black-backed Jackals. The birding is equally rewarding and we can expect to find many of the picture-book species that make Africa so famous. Pink rafts of Greater and Lesser Flamingos on Lake Magadi, Common Ostrich striding over the grasslands, regal Kori Bustard (the world’s heaviest flying bird), Saddle-billed and Yellow-billed Storks, the elegant Grey Crowned Crane and good numbers of raptors including the unique Secretarybird, Bateleur, Martial Eagle, Black- chested Snake Eagle and Augur Buzzard could all be found. Amongst the many other species that we may encounter, we hope to see the uncommon Shelley’s Francolin, Black-bellied Bustard, Dusky Turtle Dove, White-headed Barbet, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, comical Anteater Chat, Black-crowned Tchagra, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, attractive and melodious Grey-capped Warbler, Yellow Bishop, the range-restricted Rufous-tailed Weaver, beautiful Rosy-throated and the East African endemic Pangani Longclaws, Fan-tailed Widowbird and the skittish Quailfinch, the latter probably more easily seen here than anywhere else! Grey Crowned Cranes in Ngorongoro Crater by Glen Valentine

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In the evening, we ascend to our lodge on the scenic crater rim and at dusk will attempt to track down Montane Nightjar.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti via Oldupai Gorge. This morning we make our way to the world famous Serengeti National Park. En route we pass through an area that is home to the Maasai people. These tall, proud nomadic warriors are famous for their legendary prowess in battle and single-handed acts of bravery in fights with wild animals. Here, we have the opportunity for an optional (non-inclusive) excursion to a traditional Maasai village. A local guide will explain their unique culture as you watch the people busy about their daily chores. You will also be treated to a display of the famous Maasai dancing and will have unlimited photographic opportunities. Martial Eagle by Markus Lilje Our lunch venue will be the well-known Oldupai Gorge, so named after the wild Sisal plant that grows there. As a result of massive geological activities over the eons, Oldupai provides a unique record of countless years of fossilized creatures and plants in a series of stratified rock-layers. Most famous of all discoveries, which revolutionized thinking on hominid evolution, have been those of Australopithecine hominid remains found by the Leakey family. We will have time to explore the very informative museum at the site that exhibits replicas of the hominid fossils and extinct animals that used to inhabit the region, ranging from River Elephant and Giant Swine to Short-necked Giraffe! A bird walk around the site may yield arid-country species such as Slate-colored Boubou, Red- fronted Tinkerbird, Rufous Chatterer, Kenya Sparrow, Vitelline Masked Weaver, White-bellied Canary, Southern Grosbeak-Canary and the beautiful Purple Grenadier. Thereafter, we continue our travels westward on the rutted dirt track across the vast, flat and seemingly endless Serengeti Plains, to spend three nights in one of the world’s most renowned game reserves.

Days 7 & 8: Serengeti National Park. Extending for an incredible 15 000 square km (5,790 sq mi), the Serengeti is one of the world’s largest natural sanctuaries. Despite the vast space, the numbers of game that we can expect to see is still astounding. The Serengeti, literally meaning 'Endless Plain' in Maasai, consists mostly of grasslands interspersed with Acacia woodlands and rocky outcrops. There is little permanent water in the park and this fact, combined with a fairly regular rainfall pattern, has resulted in the world-famous Wildebeest migration, when up to two million large ungulates move between the Serengeti in Tanzania and Maasai Mara in Kenya. Our visit is timed so that we might bear witness to unbelievable numbers of Purple Grenadier by Rich Lindie wildebeest, zebra and antelope, an unrivalled and primeval wonder of the natural world!

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During our visit to the Serengeti we will explore the southern and central areas. Once again we have the chance of finding the full complement of African mega fauna. We hope to see lazing prides of Lion, Leopard draped over large trees, aloof Cheetah resting on or near vantage points, skulking Spotted Hyena, jackals and, if we are fortunate, the bizarre Bat-eared Fox. Several species of smaller cats such as Caracal, Serval or African Wild Cat may also be seen. Besides the wildebeest, the Serengeti supports huge populations of Plains Zebra, African Buffalo, Maasai Giraffe, Common Warthog, Leopard by Markus Lilje Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles, Impala, Tsessebe, Hartebeest, Bohor Reedbuck, Eland and smaller numbers of African Elephant, Common Hippopotamus, rubber-nosed Kirk’s Dikdik, Oribi and Defassa Waterbuck. Additionally, there will certainly be a veritable feast of superb birds to keep us very busy for our time spent exploring the park. Star birds include the East African endemics Grey-crested Helmetshrike, and Red-throated Tit, the striking Steel-blue Whydah and the highly localised Karamoja Apalis. Other specials are Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Fischer’s Lovebird, Rufous-tailed Weaver, the localised race of D’Arnaud’s Barbet (sometimes split as Usambiro Barbet) and Athi Short-toed Lark. These birds can be found together with a host of other species such as the magnificent Saddle-billed Stork, up to six species of vulture, the grotesque Marabou Stork, stately Secretarybird, Bateleur, Chestnut-bellied and Yellow- throated Sandgrouse, Kori and White-bellied Bustards, coveys of Coqui Francolin, Temminck’s Courser, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Red-fronted Barbet, Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill, the whimsical Southern Ground Hornbill, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Black-lored Babbler, Taita and Grey-backed Fiscals, Magpie Shrike, Hildebrandt’s and splendid Rüppell’s Starlings, both species of oxpecker, Silverbird, the cute Buff-bellied Warbler, aptly named Beautiful Sunbird, Red-headed and Speckle-fronted Weavers, Grey- capped Social Weaver, Chestnut Sparrow, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Black-faced Waxbill and, if we are fortunate, Grey-headed Silverbill. Not only is this a great place in which to find game and birds, but the wide green- gold savannas, dotted with thorn trees, also make it ideal for photography. The Serengeti is ravishingly beautiful and offers long, undisturbed views and utterly dramatic panoramas.

Day 9: Serengeti National Park to Gibb’s Farm. After breakfast, we will drive to Gibb’s Farm to explore the lush, rambling gardens of this Great Migration scene by Markus Lilje

RBT Kenya & Tanzania & Rwanda Itinerary 8 colonial-era mansion. This private estate on the slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater is home to several target species, including Grey-capped Warbler, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Green-headed Sunbird and Southern Citril. Other birds recorded here include the flashy African Paradise Flycatcher, Black-throated Wattle-eye, flitting Grey-olive Greenbul, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Grey-headed Nigrita, and Spectacled and Thick-billed Weavers. In the evening we may be visited by the local pair of Thick-tailed Galagos that make their home in the gardens.

Day 10: Gibb’s Farm to Amboseli National Park in Kenya. After some early morning birding and breakfast we depart Gibb’s Farm and head back to Arusha, before turning north and driving towards Namanga, the border crossing into Kenya. En route we might find White- fronted Bee-eater, which can often be seen sallying for insects from roadside perches. Upon clearing customs and bidding farewell to Tanzania, we then proceed to our next lodge set in the heart of Amboseli National Park. This luxurious lodge maintains the superb standards that we will have enjoyed in Tanzania, and on the way in we will undoubtedly find a host of African Secretarybird and Plains Zebra by Markus Lilje wildlife and hopefully catch our first Kenyan glimpses of the lofty Mount Kilimanjaro (weather depending).

Day 11: Amboseli National Park. Amboseli National Park lies at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at 5,895m above sea level (almost 20,000ft), and the world’s highest freestanding mountain. Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peaks dominate every aspect of this park and form a stunning backdrop to the wildlife here. During our exploration of the park’s open plains, swamps and lakes, we will once again have the opportunity to enjoy superb game viewing. Amboseli is particularly well known for its huge population of African Elephant, which are part of the longest-standing elephant and conservation research program in the world. Possible new mammal ticks include the more localised Yellow Baboon (as opposed to Olive Baboon that dominates most of East Africa) and, if we are fortunate, Serval. There is a good combination of arid and moist habitats in Amboseli. Dry-country specials we will look for include Buff-crested Bustard, Pink-breasted Lark, Tiny Cisticola, Mouse- colored Penduline Tit, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Fischer’s Starling and Grey-headed Silverbill. The moist grasslands of the park are good for Hartlaub’s Bustard and Pangani Longclaw. We should also find a good selection of waterbirds Mt. Kilimanjaro as seen from Amboseli NP by Glen Valentine

RBT Kenya & Tanzania & Rwanda Itinerary 9 including numerous waders, Greater Painted-snipe, several ducks and numerous species of herons and storks.

Day 12: Amboseli National Park to Mt. Kenya. After breakfast in Amboseli, we will begin heading north past Nairobi, the largest city in East Africa. Situated at 1 700m asl (5 600ft), the climate here is pleasant almost all year round, with the result that Nairobi is touted as “The Green City in the Sun”. Due to unruly traffic we will skirt Kenya’s capital as best as possible before heading north through Thika and towards our accommodations, nestled in the forests of Mt. Kenya’s lower slopes. Our comfortable lodge will be our base for two nights and is perfectly situated for our exploration of the mountain. We will most likely fall asleep tonight to the eerie calls of Montane Nightjar and Southern Duetting Rosy-patched Bushshrikes by Markus Lilje Tree Hyrax!

Day 13: Mt. Kenya. The geographical focus of the central highlands is Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa with a snow-capped peak rising to 5 199m (17 100ft) above sea level. Birding and game viewing from the balcony of our lodge can be spectacular – in fact, the localised Red-fronted Parrot, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Kenrick’s and Sharpe’s Starlings, African Buffalo, Bushbuck and African Elephant can all sometimes be seen while we eat breakfast! Once again we will have the opportunity of birding rich forest and forest edge habitats and species we will look for include the Crowned Eagle (Africa’s version of the Harpy Eagle), Mountain Buzzard, African Goshawk, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Hartlaub’s Turaco (a stunning bird that is particularly common here), beautiful but secretive Narina and Bar-tailed Trogons, querulous flocks of White-headed Wood Hoopoe, impressive Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Moustached and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds, the beautiful Black-throated, Chestnut-throated and Grey Apalises, African Hill Babbler (an accomplished songster), Black-backed Puffback, Mountain Oriole, Olive-breasted, Yellow-whiskered and Slender- billed Greenbuls, Grey Cuckooshrike, Mountain Yellow Warbler, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Brown Woodland Warbler, Slender-billed and Waller’s Starlings, White-starred Robin, Rüppell’s Robin-Chat, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Kikuyu White-eye, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Brown-capped Weaver, Thick-billed Seedeater, mixed flocks of Kandt's Waxbill and Red-backed Mannikin and, possibly, the shy Oriole Finch. Mammals are also well represented on the slopes of Mt. Kenya and we will be looking for Eastern Black-and-white Colobus, Blue Monkey (the attractive local race is called Kolb's White- collared Monkey), Harvey’s Duiker, Suni Antelope and Bushbuck. Buff-crested Bustard by Rich Lindie

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Day 14: Mt. Kenya to Shaba National Reserve. After final birding on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, we depart northwards to the Samburu district. We will be driving through montane grasslands and fields where we hope to find Long-tailed, Red- collared and Jackson’s Widowbirds before we descend the escarpment to the town of Isiolo, gateway to the arid-zone reserves of Shaba, Samburu and Buffalo Springs. From here, we will travel to a splendid riverside lodge in the Shaba National Reserve. Located on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River, our lodge offers unexpected luxury, given its remote location in the African bush.

Days 15 & 16: Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. Shaba is known as one of the most scenically attractive reserves in Kenya, and together with neighbouring Buffalo Springs boasts a unique collection of game only found in this region, including Reticulated Giraffe, the attractive Grevy’s Zebra, Lesser Kudu, giraffe-necked Gerenuk and Beisa Oryx. These Hartlaub’s Turaco by Markus Lilje reserves consist of rugged mountains, Acacia woodland and inhospitable lava plains dissected by strips of verdant riverine vegetation along the Ewaso Nyiro River, while isolated springs away from the river provide much needed water for the areas’ faunal inhabitants. Shaba, made famous by the late Joy Adamson and her leopardess Penny, has also gained media attention due to it being used to film parts of the Hollywood movie “Out of Africa” and the reality show “Survivor: Africa”. We will be spending nights in both Shaba and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. Some special birds that we will search for through the desolate but beautiful semi-desert scrub and riverine vegetation during these two days include Somali Ostrich, the strange and colourful Vulturine Guineafowl, Somali Courser, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, White- throated and Somali Bee-eaters, Grant’s Wood Hoopoe, the localised White-headed Mousebird, Nyanza Swift overhead, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Greater Honeyguide, Black- throated Barbet, Fan-tailed Raven, Red-winged, Pink-breasted and Williams’s Larks, Ashy Cisticola, Brown-tailed Rock Chat, Northern Crombec, Yellow-vented Eremomela, Grey Wren- Warbler, the strange scrub-dwelling Red-fronted Warbler, Rufous Chatterer, Pygmy Batis, Acacia Tit, Northern Puffback, Rosy- patched Bushshrike, the breathtaking Golden-breasted and quirky Bristle-crowned Starlings, Golden Pipit, Black-bellied and Hunter’s Sunbirds, Straw-tailed Whydah, Black-capped Social Weaver, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Donaldson Smith’s Sparrow-Weaver, Golden Palm Weaver, Chestnut Weaver, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, African Silverbill, Cut-throat Finch, Parrot-billed Sparrow and Somali Bunting.

Day 17: Buffalo Springs National Reserve to Lake Nakuru National Park. After an early breakfast, we will move onwards Jackson’s Widowbird by Cuan Rush towards Lake Nakuru National Park in the Great Rift Valley. En

RBT Kenya & Tanzania & Rwanda Itinerary 11 route today we will search for the localised Cape Eagle-Owl, the local race sometimes split as Mackinder’s Eagle-Owl. Originally declared a national park because of its vast flamingo population, Lake Nakuru is also known for supporting populations of both species of African rhinoceros. The levels of the blue-green alkaline waters of the lake vary annually and this, with other accompanying environmental changes, causes considerable variation in the flamingo population (from millions to none at all). However, when they are present en masse the lake turns a gorgeous rosy pink and the Lesser Flamingos usually form a pink wall along the entire length of the lake. Our lodge offers a unique vantage point overlooking this amazing spectacle. After arrival in the afternoon, we will take a game drive through the park. African Buffalo, Plains Zebra, glamorous Rothschild’s Giraffe, several antelope species and Lion and Leopard may be found. Besides the flamingos, other waterbirds abound and we can expect to find both species of African pelicans (Great White usually present in large numbers), cormorants, egrets, herons, ibises, ducks, African Spoonbill, the regal African Fish Eagle and noisy groups of Vulturine Guineafowl Pied Kingfisher. Other species we may encounter include Coqui and by Markus Lilje Hildebrandt’s Francolins, White-fronted Bee-eater, Green Wood Hoopoe, Red-throated Wryneck, Eastern Grey and Nubian Woodpeckers, Red-rumped and Mosque Swallows, Mocking Cliff Chat, Little Rock Thrush, Arrow-marked Babbler, the scarce Grey-crested Helmetshrike, Rüppell’s and Greater Blue-eared Starlings, and Speke’s Weaver.

Day 18: Lake Nakuru National Park to Nairobi and departure. After some final birding at our ideally located lodge, we will climb the walls of the Great Rift Valley back up to the fertile highlands. On the way to Nairobi we will do some birding at the Kinangop Plateau, which is an area of natural upland grasslands being threatened by encroaching settlement. Here we will look for the rare endemic, Sharpe’s Longclaw. Closer to the city, our final roadside stop will be at Limuru Ponds. This site supports a good selection of duck species including Hottentot Teal, White-backed and Maccoa Ducks and a variety of waders. Upon arrival in Nairobi we will transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Sharpe’s Longclaw by Rich Lindie for departure.

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FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Tour dates, prices, single supplement rates, approximate flight costs and spaces available for this tour are displayed on our website. Please see under IMPORTANT NOTES below.

This includes:  On selected tours we are able to arrange free transfers to our specified hotel or airport, within 3 days of the beginning or end of the main tour. However, since our capacity to offer this service can vary from tour to tour, details of this option will be sent to you upon confirmation of this tour;  All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 18;  Bottled drinking water;  All lodgings;  All ground transportation during the tour in stretched Landcruiser 4x4 vehicles;  Reserve entrance fees;  Extra activities as mentioned in the itinerary; and  All guiding services (including tips for local guides and services).

The tour fee does not include:  Visa fees;  ANY flights;  Any beverages (including mini-bar charges at hotels);  Optional excursion to a traditional Maasai village (+-US$25.00);  Special gratuities;  Telephone calls and  Laundry and other items of a personal nature.

Single Supplement: The single supplement cost for this tour will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If RBT cannot provide you with a rooming partner for these nights although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share.

IMPORTANT NOTES: a) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we quote our tours in 4 currencies. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other currencies listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 4 months before the tour.) The same applies to approximate flight and single supplement rates, which are also quoted in the respective fixed currency. b) Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement will have to be charged. c) Furthermore, these costs are subject to unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result. d) Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and / or the designated Rockjumper leader/s at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible.

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Tipping: As noted above, gratuities (drivers, hotel staff, restaurants etc.) are included on this tour. However, this does NOT include your Rockjumper leader/s. If, therefore, you feel that he/they have given you excellent service, it is entirely appropriate to tip them.

Special Notes:  To ensure your comfort and that of your companions, please limit yourself to one medium-sized suitcase or duffel bag (20 kg / 44 lb) and one carry-on bag, as space in the vehicles is limited.  Fitness: This Kenya & Tanzania tour does not require a high level of fitness.  Accommodation throughout the trip is of a generally high standard and the hotels and lodges that we make use of range from comfortable to rather luxurious. There is no camping on this trip.  Please note that due to the presence of potentially dangerous game, we will be spending much of this tour in vehicles, including birding time.

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURE DETAILS: The tour starts with a welcome dinner on the evening of day 1 at Ngare Sero Lodge near Arusha. As this is an arrival day, you are free to arrive at any time before 17:00. The tour will conclude in the late afternoon at Nairobi International Airport on day 18. Please do not book your departing international flight before 19h00 on this day. The above information in respect of arrivals and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be sent to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office.

FLIGHTS: Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha (IATA: JRO) in Tanzania is the main port of entry for this tour. KLM offers the most reliable and regular routes for North America and European travellers via Amsterdam to this airport. These flights, however, often arrive in the evening necessitating arrival the night before the tour start date. This will give one time to recover from the rigors of international flight travel before the tour starts. Kenya Airways also offers regular flights from London, via Nairobi to JRO. For the return flight from Nairobi International Airport, Nairobi (IATA: NBO), again KLM and Kenya Airways are the likely best providers for your travels. We have the capacity to advise you on the best route according to your preferences but your local travel agent will best be able to book these flights for you. However, please DO NOT book your international flights until you have consulted the Rockjumper office for confirmation on the status of the tour.

Rockjumper Birding Ltd c/o Summit Trust Mauritius Limited Labourdonnais Village Mapou Mauritius Tel (USA & Canada) toll free: 1-888-990-5552 Email: [email protected] Alternative email: [email protected] Website: www.rockjumperbirding.com

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Rwanda Extension Gorillas & Albertine Rift Endemics 18th to 24th May 2017 (7 days)

Mountain Gorillas by Adam Riley

Ravaged by a terrible genocide, Rwanda has managed to lift itself out of the doldrums and is once again famous as one of the best places on earth to view the critically endangered Mountain Gorilla. Not only this, but within its small territorial limits over 650 bird species have been recorded, offering the enthusiast a wealth of avian delights in this short, yet rewarding, exploration. Our adventure visits three core areas; the eastern savannas of Akagera National Park, the bamboo clad slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes, and the seemingly endless forests of Nyungwe National Park. Join us as we search for the highly localised Red-faced Barbet and numerous Albertine Rift Endemics, including Red-collared Babbler, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-throated Alethe and Dusky Crimsonwing – not to mention Mountain Gorillas!

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THE TOUR AT A GLANCE…

THE ITINERARY Day 1 Arrival in Kigali Day 2 Kigali to Musanze (Ruhengeri) Day 3 Volcanoes National Park – optional Gorilla trekking, onward to Kigali Day 4 Kigali to Nyungwe Forest Day 5 & 6 Nyungwe Forest Day 7 Nyungwe Forest to Kigali and departure

TOUR MAP

THE TOUR IN DETAIL…

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali. This evening we will arrive in Kigali and enjoy a night in the Rwandan capital, before departing north for Musanze (previously known as Ruhengeri) and the spectacular Volcanoes National Park the following morning.

Day 2: Kigali to Musanze (Ruhengeri). After an early breakfast, we may pay a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial that provides an excellent insight into the tragic events of the 1994 Genocide, during which around a million people were slaughtered in 100 days of brutal violence. Travelling through the streets of Kigali one quickly notices that they are absolutely spotless, and this bears testament to the resilience of Golden Monkey by Rainer Summers its people and sustained efforts to “clean up its act”.

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After leaving Kigali we then begin our drive north for the fabulous Volcanoes National Park where our accommodations are conveniently located near the edge of this spectacular reserve. This park, made famous by the legendary primatologist Dian Fossey and featured in the film ‘Gorillas in the Mist’, is one of the best places on Earth to see the rare Mountain Gorilla.

Day 3: Volcanoes National Park (Optional Mountain Gorilla trekking), onward to Kigali. In the morning we will make the short drive to Volcanoes National Park and, for those that choose, there will be the opportunity of trekking to see the magnificent Mountain Gorillas. Interestingly enough, some taxonomists now separate these from the gorillas at Bwindi in neighbouring Uganda. Birding in the park is rather limited; however there are a number of localised Albertine Rift Endemics that can be located here. Clearings in the dense bamboo thickets may produce the dazzling Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Archer’s Ruwenzori Turaco by Rainer Summers Ground Robin, White-starred Robin, Black Sparrowhawk and Mountain Sooty Boubou. The beautiful Golden Monkey is also a possibility while exploring the large stands of bamboo. After lunch we will begin our drive south to Kigali where we expect to arrive in the late afternoon.

Day 4: Kigali to Nyungwe Forest. This morning we will be up early as we strike out for the impressive Nyungwe Forest in the south-west of the country. En route we will search for the colourful Papyrus Gonalek, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Blue-breasted Bee-eater and Carruthers’s Cisticola, before passing through Butare and moving into the crisp air of the highland areas surrounding the huge forest. Nyungwe National Park, set in the majestic hills near the border with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, protects the largest block of montane forest in East or Central Africa, and, in addition, it is one of the most ancient forests on the continent, dating back to before the last Ice Age! A uniquely rich centre of biodiversity, Nyungwe is most alluring for its primates and high concentration of birds endemic to the montane forests on the Albertine Rift. A staggering thirteen species of primates occur, including the handsome L’Hoest’s Monkey and the delightfully acrobatic Angola Colobus, while the 300 bird species that have been listed here make it one of the most rewarding birding sites in the country.

Days 5 & 6: Nyungwe Forest. We have two full days in Nyungwe where we will explore the forested Archer’s Ground Robin by Adam Riley hills in our attempt to find the areas’ endemics.

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These include Handsome Francolin, Ruwenzori Turaco, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Ruwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland, Neumann’s and Grauer’s Warblers, Ruwenzori, Mountain Masked and Kungwe Apalises, Dwarf Honeyguide, Ruwenzori Double-collared, Purple- breasted, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbirds, Stripe-breasted Tit and Strange Weaver. The localised Grauer’s Swamp Warbler is also a shy denizen of the large marshes. A particular speciality here is the Red-collared Babbler, and this is arguably the best site in the world to see this very desirable species. Furthermore, recent unconfirmed sightings of Rockefeller’s Sunbird indicate that there is much still to be discovered! Shy, skulking species such as Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Ground Robin and the rare Abyssinian (Kivu) Ground Thrush are best looked for on the steep forest tracks, and we will be ever alert for the chance of seeing the beautiful and incredibly rare Shelley’s Crimsonwing. Other delightful species include Mackinnon’s Shrike, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Cinnamon Bracken and Evergreen Forest Warblers, Mountain Illadopsis, Pink-footed Puffback, Ruwenzori Hill Babbler, Dusky Tit, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Black-faced Prinia, shy Grey-chested Babbler, Many-colored, Doherty’s and Lagden’s Bushshrikes, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Waller’s, Stuhlmann’s and Sharpe’s Starlings, Scarce Swift, Red-chested Lagden’s Bushshrike by David Hoddinott Flufftail, Great Blue Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo and White-bellied Crested Flycatcher. An evening excursion will more than likely produce Ruwenzori Nightjar, which is locally common along forest edge in Nyungwe. The possibility of locating some rarer species also is not out of the question, as previous trips have produced Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, and even the mythical Albertine Owlet has been heard.

Day 7: Nyungwe Forest to Kigali. After some final birding in the fantastic Nyungwe Forest, we head back to Kigali for our departing flights in the late afternoon.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Tour dates, prices, single supplement rates, approximate flight costs and spaces available for this tour are displayed on our website. Please see under IMPORTANT NOTES below.

This includes:  On selected tours we are able to arrange free transfers to our specified hotel or airport, within 3 days of the beginning or end of the main tour. However, since our capacity to offer this service can vary from tour to tour, details of this option will be sent to you upon confirmation of this tour;  All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 7;  Bottled drinking water;  All lodgings as per the itinerary;  Ground transportation;  All reserve entrance fees;

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 All guiding services; and`  Tips for local guides and services.

The tour fee does not include:  ANY flights;  Visa fees;  Gorilla Trekking Booking or Fees,  Any beverages (including mini-bar charges at hotels);  Special gratuities;  Telephone calls and  Laundry and other items of a personal nature.

PLEASE NOTE:  Accommodations used during this tour are of a good standard, and are usually the best, most appropriate accommodations available.  It is important for the comfort of your fellow travellers that you do not over-pack. Kindly stick to 20kg for check in luggage and 8kg for hand luggage.  Fitness: This Rwanda tour does not require a high level of fitness, but participants should be reasonably fit and in good general health as a lot the birding will be done on foot, and may require walking for several hours at a time (e.g. trails in Nyungwe Forest). Some of the forest trails can be

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quite steep and slippery, especially after rain. Should you have any physical limitations or medical conditions, please notify us in advance of departure.  The optional Gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park sometimes involves several hours of strenuous walking on steep slopes, often off-trail. The chance of finding the gorillas is very high, but on some occasions in the past the trackers have not been able to locate the mobile family groups. Your Rockjumper Tour Leader will not accompany you on the Gorilla Trekking and will continue birding with other clients not partaking in the trekking itself.  Transport will be by stretch Toyota Landcruiser 4x4. The roads are generally in good repair and the road distances relatively short, although this is hilly country and covering distances can take time on the winding roads.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE DETAILS: This tour does not include ANY airfares. The tour will depart from Kigali early on day 2 of the tour, please arrive in Kigali in advance of this time. The tour will conclude by mid-afternoon in Kigali on day 7. The above information in respect of arrivals and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be sent to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office.

FLIGHTS: Kigali International Airport (IATA: KGL) is the only port of entry for international flights into Rwanda and is serviced by Kenya Airways from Nairobi, Kenya as well as Rwanda Air from Entebbe, Uganda. We have the capacity to advise you on the best route according to your preferences but your local travel agent will best be able to book these flights for you. IMPORTANT: please DO NOT book your international flights until you have consulted the Rockjumper Head Office for confirmation on the status of the tour.