Abuko Nature Reserve

On Monday Cathy paid a visit to Dianna Mariam she had been invited by Mary to the morning assembly. Aunty Alberta led the assembly and had the children showing Cathy their phonics skills. Then after a rendition of happy birthday to Mary as it was her birthday, Cathy was presented with a Gambian costume and shirt for James as a thank you for all her help with the teacher training of the phonics. We were then all given a can of pop and a brioche pastry for Mary’s birthday treat to the children.

On Wednesday it was my birthday I was woken early to be given some chocolates and a Nintendo game, unfortunately my new clothes would need some alterations. On the evening we went out for a meal at The Blue Kitchen partly for my birthday and also as another leaving meal for Cathy, James and Felix. The children had a very late night as it was gone 10 o’clock before we arrived back at home.

This morning we were up early as we have decided to go to Abuko Nature Reserve, this time I made sure I packed my camera. We arrived at 8 o’clock paid our 30 dalasi entrance fee and then walked into the park. This time it was very different to the last time we had been in the rainy season. We were able to keep to the path and followed this across a bridge which last time was submerged in water. We arrived at the education centre where there was a lookout area across the crocodile pool. We managed to see a couple of crocodiles in the pool and a Violet Turaco which was flying across the pool. The Turaco has violet plumage and a red and yellow forehead very pretty when it is in flight. We then walked to another bird hive, Paul decided to go off route I wasn,t going to chance it as when Paul came with his mum last time he saw a black cobra. He managed to see a Green Turaco, this is a green bird with a Mohican tuft on its forehead. Other birds which we spotted were Splendid Sunbird, Little Bee-eater, Robin-chat, Weaver birds, African Darter’s, Night Heron, Osprey, Eurasion Coot, Plover’s, Pied Kingfisher and Broad-billed Roller which is a reddish copper colour with yellow beak, so more birds for Abigail to tick off her list.

Little Bee-eater

We continued on walking through the reserve not seeing an awful lot other than a couple of vervet monkeys, these are very tame and come quite close to you. We arrived at the centre where they have some sorry looking animals in cages, baboons, monkeys, bushbuck, turtle, parrots and the adult hyenas which I remember from last time.

We continued on around the rest of the route, we decided to cut back to the entrance and education centre where we could have a picnic lunch. We hadn’t seen a lot of animals so very disappointing when suddenly we heard the shaking of branches and on looking into the surrounding trees there was a group of red colobus monkeys. These monkeys are very shy animals however we had the advantage of being in the education centre lookout so they didn’t seem aware that we were there. I managed to get a few photos as we ate our lunch we then decided to leave for Brikama

Red Colubus Monkey

After a quick stop at Brikama to get some alterations done to our clothes we were back on a gelleh and heading for the coastal route. Once at what they call the turntable we jumped in another gelleh for Hibiscus House as we had arranged to meet Felix for the afternoon before he fly’s back home tomorrow. The hotel had a lovely poolside area so once changed we were straight in the pool and hot tub to cool off. Sam, Jerry and Maurice were also there so we enjoyed a pleasant afternoon with them.