North-West Africa: Morocco & Tunisia- Tour Destination

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Fascinating Morocco with its breathtaking scenery, delicious food, rich history and fabulous birding, is fast becoming an essential destination for serious and casual birders alike. Cities and towns bustle with activity, mud-walled buildings line souks filled with bazaars selling carpets and crafts and laden with exotic spices, colorful tribal people, snake charmers and leather craftsmen.

Our Moroccan adventure begins in fabulous Marrakech but we will soon find ourselves winding up the snow-capped High Atlas. Woodland-cloaked slopes and alpine areas support North African endemics including Moussier’s Redstart, African Crimson-winged Finch and Levaillant’s Woodpecker. After dropping down incredible mountain passes, we reach the coast at Agadir and search nearby lagoons and estuaries teeming with waterfowl, waders and gulls. However, the main target is one of the world’s most critically endangered birds, the Northern Bald Ibis or Waldrapp, now restricted to two colonies in Morocco and a few pairs in Syria. Moving inland, the countryside gradually becomes drier until we reach the spectacular red sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi, near the Algerian border. Along the way we search for specials including the rare Houbara Bustard, dainty Cream-colored Courser, Desert Sparrow, African Desert Warbler and larks including Temminck’s, Thick-billed and Dupont’s. A visit to Morocco is thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

Please note that we are not offering any standard set departure tours to Tunisia or the Macronesian Islands during 2010 or 2011. We are however still arranging customized private tours to these countries and we will gladly assist you in arranging the perfect guided birding or wildlife adventure to Tunisia or the Macronesian Islands for you.

Tunisia, the gem of North Africa, is an isle of tranquility wedged between the turbulent countries of Algeria and Libya. Due to its strategic position Tunisia has itself had its fair share of turmoil in times gone by. The Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans and French have all had their impact and contributed to a rich and varied culture. Tunisia is now one of Africa’s most wealthy and developed countries and the epitome of a progressive Arab nation. Tunisia’s protected areas and agricultural fields support a large population of resident species and wintering migrants.

We will visit several spectacular sites from towering mountains, desert oases to vast tidal saltpans. Some of the target species include the endangered White-headed and Marbled Ducks, Bonelli’s Eagle, Dupont’s and Greater Hoopoe Lark, Ring Ouzel and House Bunting. We will also get the opportunity to observe some really rare North African mammals including the spectacular Addax, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Dama and Dorcas Gazelle and the hamster-like Gundi.

One cannot ignore the archaeological treasures of Tunisia and we will visit world-famous sites from the Punic City of Carthage, Berber Troglodyte houses, the Roman Empire’s 3rd largest Coliseum and Muslim medinas (walled cities). With luxury accommodations, great food, friendly people, impressive antiquities and abundant birds, time spent in Tunisia could not be more pleasurable.

The Macaronesian islands of the Western Atlantic stretch from the Azores south to the remote Cape Verdes and support a selection of land endemics, migrants and seabird colonies. The sun-drenched Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago lying off Morocco, harbor eight regional endemic and superb pelagic and desert birds. We will visit the moist, forested slopes of volcanic Tenerife, the pristine Atlantic Laurel Forests of La Gomera and the arid plains of Fuertaventura Islands. Targets include endemic Laurel and Bolle’s Pigeons, Canary Islands Bush Chat, Blue Chaffinch, Island Canary, Bulwer’s Petrel and Black-bellied Sandgrouse. The rare Houbara Bustard is most easily seen here than in its more extensive North African range where it has been hunted to virtual extinction by Arab falconers. The Canaries offer a pleasant week’s birding with comfortable hotels, fine food, stunning scenery and great birding. Our tour will be co-guided by local birding guru Tony Clarke. In 2009, we will offer a further extension to the Cape Verde Islands.

Please contact us for the detailed itineraries for these tours.

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