Recommendations
I have been very fortunate in Africa to work with very competent and knowledgeable guides. They have a superb understanding of their environment and of the birds inhabiting them. Some of them regularly host birding enthusiasts from abroad, and I am happy to provide their names and contacts on this site. They have been quite generous with their time helping me identify birds on some photographs with which I had trouble, even now that I have returned to Canada.
GUIDES AND AGENCIES
ETHIOPIA GUIDE
Measho Legesse
Measho Legesse is a fantastic ornithological guide. He very quickly grasped my needs as a photographer and ensured that I was always in position for an excellent shot. He knows the birds of his country, and more importantly where to find them.
We had a lot of fun travelling with him in the Ethiopian rift valley as he is a courteous and very pleasant individual. He does organize birding tours for out-of-country clients, and I unreservedly recommend him to any traveller interested in bird-watching or nature photography.
EMAIL: haime2rs@yahoo.com
AFRICAN ADVENTURE TOURS
Our visit to Ethiopia was superbly organized by the AFRICAN ADVENTURE TOURS agency situated in Addis Ababa. Its director is ABEBE Haregiwion. No surprises, superb guides (it was actually the agency who subcontracted Measho LEGESSE in order to ensure the best ornithological experience for us, since their own specialist was not available when we visited). All interactions prior to the trip were done on the Internet without any hitch. We unreservedly recommend AFRICAN ADVENTURE TOURS for the organisation of a trip to Ethiopia. The agency was recommended to us by a couple of friends who had used its services with as much pleasure.
http://www.african-adventure-tours.com/
SENEGAL GUIDE
Idrissa Ndiaye
We have worked extensively with Idrissa during our numerous visits to Senegal’s Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary between 2002 and 2008. He is very knowledgeable about the birds of Senegal, especially those which are found in Djoudj. He knows about the “timetables” of birds migrating into Senegal from Europe, and knows where to find birds which are African endemics to this wonderful wetlands parc.
Since he is an independant guide, he cannot organize the logistics of parc visits. However, he knows the hotels in the parc and could advise visitors. Idrissa is a member of an electronic observation network for African Spoonbils. If you are planning a visit to Senegal, don’t hesitate to contact him.
Email: idrissawestafricaspoonbills@yahoo.fr
BÉNIN
We organized our trip to Bénin ourselves throught he internet. We negotiated with CENAGREF, the government organization that manages the large natural parcs of Benin. They directed us to SANNA & FILS TOURS for the rental of a 4×4 vehicle and the services of a driver. This ended up being a perfect arrangement for us. The driver Charles was courteous and knowledgeable and always ready to accomodate my needs as photographer.The price charged was quite reasonable. On the photo, my spouse Yvette poses between Charles the driver and Razack the director and owner of SANNA & FILS TOURS, both extremely nice and friendly. Highly recommended!
Email: razacksanna@gmail.com
CENAGREF also provided us with an ornithological guide who was also a park-ranger in Pendjari. Regrettably, and although he was highly touted as a bird specialist by CENAGREF he was unable to demonstrate any such expertise during our stay in the park. Any one wishing to visit Pendjari would be well advised to look elsewher for a competent guide, perhaps by seeking the advice of SANNA & SONS TOURS.
BIRD IDENTIFICATION REFERENCES
- Fry, C. Hilary, Keith, Stuart & Emil K. Urban (series Ed), The Birds of Africa (Volumes I- VII), Academic Press (vol. I – VI) Princeton University Press (Vol. VII), 1982 to 2004
- Borrow, Nik & Ron Demey, (2014), Birds of Western Africa (2e Edition), Princeton University Press
- Zimmerman, Dale A., Donald A. Turner & David J. Pearson (2001), Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania, Christopher Helm, London
- Redman, Nigel, Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe (2009), Birds of the Horn of Africa – Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and Socotra, Princeton University Press
- Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp & Tim Inskipp (2001), Pocket Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, Oxford University Press
- Grewal, Bikram, Bill Harvey Otto Pfister (2002), A photographic guide to the birds of India, Periplus Editions
- Paquin, Jean (2003), Guide photo des Oiseaux du Québec et des maritimes, Éditions Michel Quintin
- Brûlotte, Suzanne (2006), Les Oiseaux du Québec, Broquet
- Burrows, Roger (2002), Birds of Atlantic Canada, Lone Pine Publishing
- Gadd, Ben (2009) 2e Édition, Handbook of the Canadian Rockies, Corax Press