July 2, 2015: Douala, Cameroon 鈥 I had a couple of hours this morning before leaving Ghana, so Kalu and his friend Jonathan took me to a large wetland in Accra called Sakumono Lagoon. It was a productive session, but all too soon it was time to head for the airport. This week has gone by in a flash.
Kalu is very charming and sharp, and is excellent company on a birding trip. (If you ever visit Ghana and are looking for a guide, he鈥檇 be a big help. .)
We really nailed the birds, too: In seven days, we found 318 species of birds, 294 of which (92 percent) were new ones for me!
What a boost for the big year鈥and a heck of an introduction to Africa鈥檚 birdlife.
Ghana is sometimes called the 鈥淕ateway to Africa,鈥 and I鈥檝e now passed through the gate. My path leads next to Cameroon, maybe the most exotic place I鈥檝e yet visited this year.
It may not quite be deepest, darkest Africa, but Cameroon is getting closer; its jungles are one of the wettest places on the planet, and I am visiting during the rainy season. I鈥檒l have 10 days in this country鈥I hope it doesn鈥檛 rain the entire time鈥
My plane touched down in Douala, Cameroon鈥檚 biggest city, at dusk, and I could see green, flooded forests stretching away from the runway. Thick clouds were stacked over the city.
As the plane landed, I realized that today is Day 183, exactly halfway through this year鈥we are now closer to the end of 2015 than the beginning! If the second half of the year is anything like the first, it鈥檚 going to be a wild ride.
New birds today: 6
Year list: 3356
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