I am going tortoise-watching in Africa!

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piano

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Hello!

I am going on a solo bicycle expedition in Africa in a couple of weeks. Since I have a pet tortoise, and I know tortoises can be found in Africa, I've decided to be on the lookout for them and try to meet some. However, I don't know where to look, among the places I'll be visiting, nor what kinds I should expect to see, or in what habitat. I am hoping to learn all of that information, or further resources for it, from you! (Please don't smugly say "google it" or "wikipedia" - I am looking there too :)

Let me describe my route and the areas I'm going through.

I begin in Djibouti. I travel west through the Danakil Desert where there are volcanos, and explore northern Ethiopia until I hit Lake Tana and travel down the Blue Nile and then onwards to Addis Ababa. From there southwest until crossing in northwestern Kenya at the top of Lake Turkana. I will not spend much time in Kenya. Pushing onwards into Uganda, I skirt the shores of Lake Victoria counterclockwise until Manaka. Then I head south into Rwanda. In Rwanda I will spend the majority of the time in the east. In the northeast particularly is lush rainforest. Are there any tortoises there?? Now turning eastwards I traverse northern Tanzania, going through the Serengeti, and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. Approaching the end of my trip, I hug the coastline at a relaxing pace as I head south to Dar Es Salaam (capital city of Tanzania), stopping at Zanzibar on the way. Then I fly home.

So, I wonder which of these places has tortoises?? Unlike for birds, I image "tortoise-watching" is a little less common a passtime, so I don't expect there to be many tortoise books for this region! But I hope I can gather enough information to make a stab at an interesting survey and get some good photos.

Thanks all for your help.
 

Yvonne G

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Hi piano:

You're so lucky to be able to do this. Its like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I know there are quite a few different types of tortoise indigenous to South Africa. I'm not good on geography and too lazy to look up your itinerary on a map. Good luck in your search, and if you DO come across any tortoises...or any type wildlife, for that matter...be sure to take lots of pictures to share with us when you get back.
 

Neal

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I am insanely jealous. I'm not exactly sure of their range in Ethiopia, but there might be some giant leopard tortoises you could be looking for when you go through there.

Please oh please bring a camera.
 

batchick

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Wow, what awesome trip. Hope you see plenty of awesome tortoises. You'll certainly see a lot of other general awesome stuff too
 

yagyujubei

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There should be leopard tortoises and hingebacks just about everywhere you're going. Giant leopards in ethiopia. Take a lot of pics.
 

Laura

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I doubt they will be hanging out on the roadside... usually you have to wander and look and wait.. :)
It also depends on the weather during that time..
Are you really doing the trip Solo?
 

DesertGrandma

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piano: what a wonderful trip you have planned. I would imagine that it will be much like hiking through the desert. It is very unlikely that a person will come across a desert tortoise unless just very very lucky that day. if you see one while biking, you will be a most lucky person. my suggestion would be to stop and talk to the locals as you pass through if you get the chance (interpretter?). Ask them where tortoises have been spotted. Please post your experiences when you get home for all to see. Have a wonderful trip!!

Also, remember that if you see one do not pick it up or it will release all its water,and could potentially die from dehydration. But, you probably already know that.
 

Jacqui

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Your trip sounds like it would be awesome... well except for the bike riding part. :rolleyes: :p :D I hope you keep us posted along the way.
 

dmmj

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Sounds fun, please take lots of pictures. As for seeing any tortoises, good luck, we had several of our tortoise club members who went to africa and they only saw one tortoise, in a zoo.
 
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