Hi all
I’m back ………………………
Leaving the Indian Ocean behind us we drove steadily westwards passing the famous Uluguru Mountains. There are a bunch of special birds up there including the Uluguru Bush-shrike. Unfortunately it is a long hard and arduous climb and as ANBM had a triple by-pass some months previously it was deemed unwise for us to attempt the climb.
The famous Uluguru Mountains
Through the Mikumi National Park and into the town of Mikumi itself, where we booked in to the Tan-Swiss Lodge. Very comfortable motel type accommodation and a restaurant. Next morning we were off again on a new mission !
Southwards, skirting the also famous Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
The sign ….
Our destination was to go past the town (village ?) of Ifakara and into the Kilombero swamps ! Why – you ask ?
Kilombero Weaver – only discovered in 1986 !!
There are two other specials, also both discovered as recently as 1986 ……………….
Kilombero Cisticola
White-tailed Cisticola
Well our intentions were good. The reality is that at that time of year the locals burn the swamp vegetation to plant their crops !! So to get away from the road we resorted to a different form of transport ……
Dugout on the Kilombero River
Whilst this little sojourn was great for general birding it failed in it’s quest to find any of the three specials !! Sigh …..
We were entertained on the return journey (of some 140 km) by this ……..
A very Nice Truck
We checked back into the same motel in Mikumi and went exploring into the adjacent National Park to be rewarded by a bird which ANBM was very keen to see.
Long-tailed Fiscal
The next day we were once again off westwards and through the amazing Ruaha Valley which gave us a whole string of new species that we were keen to find.
Ashy Starling
White-winged Tit
Male von der Decken’s Hornbill
.. and the female
It was a long day but most productive from a birding point of view. Very tiring because the driving in Tanzania can be a little frenetic with about 80% of the traffic being huge trucks.
.. busy roads….
But it can be quite entertaining too ……..
Bob Marley
We eventually arrived back at the Mount Rungwe Avocado Company and were once again welcomed and royally accommodated by the Clowes family.
The last chapter was about to begin……….
And it will unfold soon …………….
Thanks for listening
Tony
