ZooChat Big Year 2013
- Thread starter jbnbsn99
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I'm jealous of Hix's and lintworm's destinations!So we end up with an Australian, a New Zealander and a Dutch competing for the biggest. I m curious with which gems you guys turn up. I must admit I m jealous of the destinations.
Oh, and without giving too much away, I should also have Tamias sibiricus on my list before too long....
Hix will win 
a friend of mine was in Uganda 4 weeks and saw over 400 different bird species! He has still seen more birds species in Uganda then in 10 years birding in Europe.....
I will leave for Madagascar in november and stay there for 5 months as part of my internship. It is a pity that there are only about 200 different bird species in Madagascar and "only" 92 in the reserve where I will stay
a friend of mine was in Uganda 4 weeks and saw over 400 different bird species! He has still seen more birds species in Uganda then in 10 years birding in Europe.....I will leave for Madagascar in november and stay there for 5 months as part of my internship. It is a pity that there are only about 200 different bird species in Madagascar and "only" 92 in the reserve where I will stay
I reckon Hix will win on mammals, but I will do my best to beat him on birds. However birding is far easier in Africa than Asia so it will be a battle!Hix will win
I will leave for Madagascar in november and stay there for 5 months as part of my internship. It is a pity that there are only about 200 different bird species in Madagascar and "only" 92 in the reserve where I will stay
You will be starting off in a more exciting location than most for the Zoochat 2014 Big Year though!!
I'm sure it will!
Just to rub it in a little - Australia (including its offshore islands) has about 880 species of bird. Uganda is a third the size of New South Wales but has 1040 species.
Hix
well when I get to Uganda I will beat you for that year (whenever that year may be, perhaps 2016 or 17). My Uganda trip is also going/planning to include Ethiopia, Rwanda and the DRC. Have to try for okapi.
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
So we end up with an Australian, a New Zealander and a Dutch competing for the biggest. I m curious with which gems you guys turn up. I must admit I m jealous of the destinations
That sounds like the start of a really bad joke.
Oh you guys will have a marvellous time. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I may not be travelling internationally for a couple years. Africa is on my radar for 2020. Hopefully there are still animals (non human ones) left by then. In the mean time, I look forward to reading your trip lists and blogs.
There may be okapi in Uganda. I've heard some talk. But be prepared - Uganda and Rwanda are expensive.
Would have liked to have done Bale and Simien Mountains in Ethiopia, but too expensive and I don't believe Ethiopia is that safe - there is a lot of anti-western sentiment and last year 5 westerners were killed and two were kidnapped. There are border disputes with all their neighbours and roaming bandits in the Ogaden (wanted to go there to look for Dibatag).
Hix
bah, a little danger never hurt anyone
According to the Aussie Government there is conflict on the border with Kenya, Sudan and Eritrea - in fact the westerners I mentioned above were killed in the Danakil near the Eritrean border. The Somali borders are supposed to be the worst though. The Government's recommendation for Ethiopia is "Reconsider your need to travel", and their advice is "Do Not Travel" for the Borders with the above mentioned countries, the Ogaden and the Gambella regions.
Of course, it's the Govt's role to play it overly cautious; for Uganda they say stay away from the border with DRC and Western Uganda - but that's where all the good National Parks are!
Hix
Of course, it's the Govt's role to play it overly cautious; for Uganda they say stay away from the border with DRC and Western Uganda - but that's where all the good National Parks are!
Hix
This is always the balance you have to make. I usually check with my local contacts what is the situation. And if you take into account certain precautions you should be fine. This spring I met someone who actually crossed from Rwanda to DRC by boat because he wanted to interview some MaiMai rebel leader. Although the whole story of the trip would be nice book-material he ended up safe and well home.
Yes I am. I generally hate doing things like that, as I have less control over where I go and what I do, and for how long I do it. But in this case I deemed it necessary to have an experienced guide - not for the widlife, but for safety.
I would have loved to fly in, rent a vehicle, drive myself around and organise my own accommodation and itinerary (this is what I did in Zimbabwe almost 30 years ago).
But in Uganda the roads are crap, vehicles are often not maintained and may breakdown, and some areas are not safe if you are vulnerable. Having a guide who knows how to repair vehicles, knows his way around, can speak the language etc. was preferable to the alternative. But you pay for that piece of mind. Also, in a group, you're not such an obvious target as you are when you're alone.
Hix
I would have loved to fly in, rent a vehicle, drive myself around and organise my own accommodation and itinerary (this is what I did in Zimbabwe almost 30 years ago).
But in Uganda the roads are crap, vehicles are often not maintained and may breakdown, and some areas are not safe if you are vulnerable. Having a guide who knows how to repair vehicles, knows his way around, can speak the language etc. was preferable to the alternative. But you pay for that piece of mind. Also, in a group, you're not such an obvious target as you are when you're alone.
Hix
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
Yes I am. I generally hate doing things like that, as I have less control over where I go and what I do, and for how long I do it. But in this case I deemed it necessary to have an experienced guide - not for the widlife, but for safety.
I would have loved to fly in, rent a vehicle, drive myself around and organise my own accommodation and itinerary (this is what I did in Zimbabwe almost 30 years ago).
But in Uganda the roads are crap, vehicles are often not maintained and may breakdown, and some areas are not safe if you are vulnerable. Having a guide who knows how to repair vehicles, knows his way around, can speak the language etc. was preferable to the alternative. But you pay for that piece of mind. Also, in a group, you're not such an obvious target as you are when you're alone.
Hix
Yeah that's good thinking. Hopefully he is armed as well.
So is it a package tour off the shelf or are you hiring a guide to take you where you want to go?
It looks like a standard off-the-shelf package tour. I was told the other three in the group wanted "to see wildlife and other things, maybe some birds", so I'm hoping they don't just have a passing interest in wildlife/zoology.
Hix
Hix
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