Important Note: We look forward to birding with you! To see the most recent update of our pre-tour and on-tour protocols and our requirements for travel, please visit our tour protocols page.
After a prolonged civil conflict, this vast (nearly twice the size of Texas) and beautiful country is now once again stable, peaceful, and open for tourism. With more tha 920 bird species of which at least 15 are endemics (depending on taxonomy used) and a further 28 near-endemics, this is a true birder's paradise and one of the least birded yet most rewarding countries to bird. Incredible scenery is another hallmark of any trip to Angola, where many a morning will be spent in awe of the breathtaking vistas that will greet us.
During this 22-day trip to the little-known country of Angola, we'll take you from the Congo Basin rainforests of the tropical north all the way down to the arid Namib Desert in the southwest. In between we'll visit the endemic-rich Scarp Forests, running north to south along the escarpment, and the once vast Miombo woodlands, now much reduced through clearing for agriculture...all the while enjoying the friendly hospitality of the Angolan people and the scenic beauty of the countryside. The sheer 800-meter drop-off at Tundavala will leave you breathless as several species of swifts hurtle past at dizzying speed. This area is also home to the elusive and highly endangered and endemic Swierstra's Spurfowl.
From the diminutive Tit Hylia, probably easier to see here than most other places, to the spectacular Red-crested Turaco, one of Angola's most attractive endemics, birding here will astonish even those who have birded Africa extensively. Big game is still recovering after the conflict so we'll be lucky to see any, but we often see a good number of smaller mammal species, and species such as Giant Squirrel are actually remarkably easy to observe here.
Infrastructure is mostly good and improving, especially in the cities, with wealth quite evident in parts of Luanda. Food is of a generally good standard with a distinct Portuguese influence, and accommodation is mostly of a high standard, bar one or two places where we use the best accommodation available in a specific birding area. This is a country full of surprises so be prepared to have all your expectations exceeded.
We'll target most of the endemic and near-endemic birds, from the spectacular Tundavala Escarpment in the south to the lush Guinea forests of the north, and can expect a bird list in excess of 500 species. Relatively unexplored in ornithological terms, Angola still turns up new finds on a regular basis, which of course adds to the excitement of any trip. This tour is timed to operate at the end of the dry season, just before the hotter and wetter months begin.
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.