Tours and Safaris

African Safaris

NBP offers custom and standard safaris to see the spectacular scenery, parks and biodiversity of Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda in East Africa.

Tanzania features the planet’s greatest animal migration on the Serengeti Plain, the Ngorongoro Crater (The Garden of Eden), Mt. Kilimanjaro (the highest peak in Africa) and the Selous Game Reserve (largest reserve in Africa and perhaps the World). Rwanda and Uganda are the last home to the spectacular Mountain Gorilla along with many other animals. Uganda has the highest concentration of avidiversity in the world. The country is only the size of The United Kingdom or the state of Oregon (US) yet is home to over 1,000 species of birds.

National Biodiversity Parks is the exclusive partner and US agent for an experienced Tanzanian based firm. When you visit Tanzania you show support for local communities, ecotourism and biodiversity of global importance. We are presently researching and exploring future partners in Rwanda and Uganda.

Eastern mountain gorilla baby in rainforest of Uganda

In early 2015 NBP traveled to Rwanda and Uganda. We searched for safari and biodiversity centric opportunities along with conservation and sustainable business opportunities.
NBP is dedicated to preserving the incredible natural resources in Africa; especially Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. A portion of your safari costs will be tax deductible. Please call us or fill out the form below and we will have our US based ecotourism representative who has been to these countries contact you. Upon request we may also meet with your group personally to help plan your special, once in a life-time safari.

Please fill out the form below to be notified of dates of safaris or bird tours to Africa.

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Colombia

This beautiful and exciting country recorded its 1,900th bird species in 2013; there are 85 endemic birds calling this Holy Grail of birding home. It is the most avidiverse country in the world, with 1,903 species recorded by 2015.

The size of the country, high number of desired and endemic species and the nature of birding, where species present are not seen on a single tour, means multiple exciting trips will be needed to really experience most of the birds, scenery, culture and people of Colombia. National Biodiversity Parks will offer trips that efficiently cover discreet areas of the country and someday a “Best of Tour” that may attempt to see a majority of the bird endemics.

“Significant improvements in the security situation in large parts of Colombia in recent years have led to a wave of tours by birdwatchers experiencing Colombia’s stunning bird diversity” said checklist coauthor, Alonso Quevedo. “With this increase in ecotourism and continuing explorations of remote regions by Colombian and other ornithologists, the bird list will doubtless grow further, highlighting the region as a key area for bird conservation.”

Despite its relatively small size, occupying ~ .8 % of the world’s landmass, Colombia boasts ~ 19% of the world’s species of birds (more than most continents including North America and Europe combined).

When studying patterns of zoogeography it is evident that both endemism and biodiversity are highest, often dramatically, in areas where temperatures are warm, rainfall above average, seasonality is limited, altitudinal variances exist and there are geographic barriers to animal movement. Although the latter impedes animals, over time geographic isolation must be present to create exceptional regional faunal speciation.

According to FundaciónProAves, Colombia leads Peru in second place with 1,838 species and Brazil in third place with 1,798 species. Using another measure, the number of species “confirmed” with photograph and specimen records, Colombia scores 1,850 bird species (exceeding Peru’s total of 1,762 and Brazil’s of 1,771).

The basic evolutionary mechanisms of mutation, migration, genetic drift, and natural selection — can produce major evolutionary change if given enough time. Geographic isolation can accelerate the effect of these mechanisms and, in some instances exponentially compound the number of species that eventually occur in one region.

Colombia has had the raw materials for biotic change and speciation for many millions of years, —-constant warm weather; substantial rainfall, partitioning of the region by a complex of mountain ranges—– and the associated high chaparral, cliffs, foothills, streams and valleys. Add in some ocean, coast, lakes and several large tributaries of the greatest watershed on Earth, the Amazon, and the result is a spectacular show.

Specifically Colombia has diverse landscapes, which include three Andean ranges, two extensive inter-Andean valleys, the soaring Santa Marta Mountains and the Caribbean Coast, the Choco Bioregion along the Pacific Ocean, and a large portion of the Eastern Llanos Plains and the Amazon Rainforest.

In other words Colombia has these five distinct natural regions, from roughly north to south: The Santa Marta Mountains and Caribbean Region, The Andean Region, the Pacific or Chocó Region, the Orinoquia or Llanos Region and the Amazon Region.

Colombia’s varied culture and history, diverse scenery, spectacular avidiversity, and gastronomic rewards have been difficult for guests to discover due to a long struggle that is coming to a conclusion. NBP works with various locals and government departments to review safety issues that are a concern to potential ecotourists. There has been great progress in the last few years in making almost all of the country safe for birding, and world travelers are again enjoying its treasures.

Although increased accessibility is welcomed it brings more threats to habitats. Each year Colombia loses nearly 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of natural forest, according to figures released by the United Nations in 2003. The true figure is higher since an estimated 100,000 hectares of primary forest are illegally cleared in some years. Loggers and farmers clear forests, which covers more than 80 percent of the country. Deforestation results primarily from small and large scale agricultural activities, logging, mining, energy development, infrastructure construction and the cocaine trade. Poaching and collecting of animals, erosion and pollution are also problems in the country as elsewhere.
The Choco Bioregion’s rainforests along the Pacific Ocean were and are under assault due to logging, gold mining and palm-oil plantations. It is estimated that in the mid-1990s, industrial gold mining with its mercury contamination and erosion cleared 80,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of forest per year. Over 66% of the forests in the Choco have been destroyed. Large development plans and the impending completion of the Pan American Highway threaten the biodiversity of the Choco and the lives of the many indigenous communities who have lived for thousands of years on the waterway’s shores.
The Amazon and Andean areas’ of lowland tropical forest are also suffering from African oil palm plantations, agriculture and for ethanol production.

By visiting the wild areas of the country you support their preservation. Our local guides, community non-profits, stakeholders and Colombia’s lively people are enthusiastic about showcasing their wonderful birds………and country.

The various scientists, ornithologists, environmental and tourism stakeholders have been working hard to preserve areas and improve infrastructure in the many existing parks. The great majority of avian and endemic species can be viewed by the birder who has the spirit to make the enjoyable effort.

Please fill out the form below and advise us the number in your party and desired range of dates for your tour to Colombia!

Number and Names of Endemic Bird Species of Colombia: 85

Non-Passerines (38):

Chestnut-winged ChachalacaOrtalisgarrula, Colombian ChachalacaOrtaliscolumbiana, Cauca Guan Penelope perspicax, Blue-billed Curassow Craxalberti , Chestnut Wood-Quail Odontophorushyperythrus,Gorgeted Wood-Quail Odontophorusstrophium, Colombian Grebe Podicepsandinus, Bogota Rail Rallussemiplumbeus, Tolima Dove Leptotilaconoveri, Santa Marta Parakeet Pyrrhuraviridicata, Brown-breasted Parakeet Pyrrhuracalliptera, Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchuslineola, Rufous-fronted Parakeet Bolborhynchusferrugineifrons, Indigo-winged Parrot Hapalopsittacafuertesi, Todd’s Nightjar Caprimulgusheterurus, White-chested Swift Cypseloideslemosi, Bogota SunangelHeliangeluszusii, BlossomcrownAnthocephalafloriceps, Black-backed ThornbillRamphomicrondorsale, GorgetedPufflegEriocnemisisabellae, Colorful PufflegEriocnemis mirabilis, Black Inca Coeligenaprunellei, White-tailed StarfrontletCoeligenaphalerata, Dusky StarfrontletCoeligenaorina, Santa Marta WoodstarAcestruraastreans, Red-billed Emerald Chlorostilbongibsoni, Chiribiquete Emerald Chlorostilbon Olivares, Santa Marta SabrewingCampylopterusphainopeplus, Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird Amaziliacastaneiventris, Indigo-capped Hummingbird Amaziliacyanifrons, Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird Lepidopygalilliae, Blue-tailed Trogon Trogoncomptus, Sooty-capped PuffbirdBucconoanamae, White-mantled Barbet Capitohypoleucus, Five-colored Barbet Capitoquinticolor, Grayish PiculetPicumnusgranadensis, Beautiful Woodpecker Melanerpespulcher, Choco Woodpecker Veniliornischocoensis .

Passerines (47):

Silvery-throated SpinetailSynallaxissubpudica, Rusty-headed SpinetailSynallaxisfuscorufa, Streak-capped SpinetailCranioleucahellmayri, Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner Automolusrufipectus, Recurve-billed BushbirdClytoctantesalixii, Parker’s AntbirdCercomacraparkeri, MoustachedAntpittaGrallariaalleni, Santa Marta AntpittaGrallariabangsi, Cundinamarca AntpittaGrallariakaestneri, Bicolored AntpittaGrallariarufocinerea, Brown-banded AntpittaGrallariamilleri, Santa Marta TapaculoScytalopussanctaemartae, Pale-throated TapaculoScytalopuspanamensis, Upper Magdalena TapaculoScytalopusrodriguezi, Stiles’sTapaculoScytalopusstilesi, Brown-rumpedTapaculoScytalopuslatebricola, ParamilloTapaculoScytalopuscanus, Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant Phylloscarteslanyoni, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant Myiotheretespernix, Apical Flycatcher Myiarchusapicalis, Chestnut-capped PihaLipaugusweberi, Choco Vireo Vireomasteri, Niceforo’s Wren Thryothorusnicefori ,Santa Marta Wren Troglodytes monticola, Apolinar’s Wren Cistothorusapolinari, Munchique Wood-Wren Henicorhinanegreti, Santa Marta Warbler Basileuterusbasilicus, White-lored Warbler Basileuterusconspicillatus, Yellow-crowned Redstart Myioborusflavivertex, Black-and-gold Tanager Bangsiamelanochlamys, Gold-ringed Tanager Bangsiaaureocincta, Black-cheeked Mountain-Tanager Anisognathusmelanogenys, Multicolored Tanager Chlorochrysanitidissima, Turquoise Dacnis-Tanager Pseudodacnishartlaubi, Caqueta Seedeater Sporophilamurallae, Chestnut-bellied Flower-piercer Diglossagloriosissima, Sierra Nevada Brush-Finch Arremonbasilicus, Santa Marta Brush-Finch Atlapetesmelanocephalus, Yellow-headed Brush-Finch Atlapetesflaviceps, Dusky-headed Brush-Finch Atlapetesfuscoolivaceus, Antioquia Brush-Finch Atlapetesblancae, Sooty Ant-Tanager Habiagutturalis, Crested Ant-Tanager Habiacristata, Mountain Grackle Macroagelaiussubalaris, Red-bellied Grackle Hypopyrrhuspyrohypogaster, BaudoOropendolaGymnostinopscassini, Velvet-fronted EuphoniaEuphoniaconcinna .

Field Trips and Public Presentations

Our ecologists, entomologists, zoologists, scientists, photographers, naturalists and, birders, can lead your group locally on various field trips in NJ, NY and other states or countries.

These professionals can prepare and present customized Power Point presentations or formal talks on a wide array of subjects. For custom field trips costs or presentation costs please fill out the following form and we will contact you.

Also see our field trips sections of this website.