Guide to birds of Tunisia, bird photography, Tunisia bird photos, birds Tunisia, Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Tunisia, Birding Tour, Luxury Bird Watching Adventures in Tunisia, Bird Checklist in Tunisia, Tunisia Birding Holidays
A bird checklist in Tunisia discloses about 390 special species of bird are to be found in the country, 187 of them breeding. Most species are of Palearctic or desert origin. Bird watching holidays to Tunisia offer a profusion of exciting species. Be amazed by the impressive number of species of birds ranging common, wintering and migrant birds in the several Tunisia ecosystems. The country has several magnetic spots and water bodies, which are home to many thousand visiting and resident birds every year. Bird watchers to Tunisia have always enjoyed looking at and listening to birds, but an increasing number nature enthusiast have taken an interest in identifying the wide spectrum of birds and in travelling to new spots to see them.
Birds of Tunisia
Among the species of the checklist of the birds of Tunisia you can find  waterfowl and wading birds, a large suite of raptors, game birds, swifts and nighthawks, etc, many of which occupy several ecosystems simultaneously. Common sightings include the Northern Pintail, White-headed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Smew, Common Goldeneye, Egyptian Goose, Whooper Swan, Barnacle Goose Black Scoter, Greater Scaup, Tufted Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Marbled Teal, Long-tailed Duck Oldsquaw, Common Teal, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Common Pochard, Brent Goose Brant, Greater White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, etc.

TUNISIA BIRDING HOTSPOTS

Lake Kelbia
Kelbia is one of the great flood-plain wetlands situated in central Tunisia, about 20km north-east of Kairouan and 30km west of Sousse. It watered by three major rivers that rise in the mountains of the Dorsale, the Nebhana, the Merguellil and the Zeroud. This is a lake on the edge of the pre-desert steppe, which dries out completely in dry years, but is important for groundwater conservation and, in wet years, for flood control and waterfowl. The lake currently holds vast and impressive numbers of water birds such as the Purple Swamphen, Marbled Duck and White-headed Duck all of which breed on a more or less regular basis. Others include Sedge Warbler, Moustached Warbler, and Great Reed Warbler breed in the dense vegetation around the lake and Greater Short-toed Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Calandra Lark, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Crested Lark and Thekla Lark in the immediate area. Spectacled Warbler is also present and Marmora’s Warbler occurs in winter. At peak times Lake Kelbia may attract more than a quarter of a million birds.
Ichkeul National Park
Over 226 species of birds including 34 breeding residents are known to reside and visit the park. Lake Ichkeul and the marshes are exceptional stopover points for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds that winter at Ichkeul. Wintering wetland birds include the threatened marbled teal, ferruginous duck, and corncrake, and numbers of green-winged teal, northern pintail, northern shoveler and black-winged stilt. Flamingos are more prominent on the lake during summer. Predators include Booted Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Egyptian Vulture, Marsh Harrier, Lanner Falcon, Threatened Peregrine Falcon, Collared Pratincole and Moussier’s Redstart. Migrant Marsh Harrier and Reed Warbler are common, also the threatened migrant white stork. The rare Black Stork and Glossy Ibis are recorded.

When to go for Bird Watching
The best tourist season in Tunisia is late October / early November then goes through to March. Nonetheless, bird breeding in Tunisia is more prevalent in the summer. This is when the rare varieties are most visible and its also when you can watch them build their nests and raise their young.
Common Tips For Successful Bird Watching in Africa;
- Be sure you have a decent pair of binoculars and have adjusted and practiced using them.
- Always locate a bird first with a naked eye. The field of view through binoculars is much narrower, making it harder to search.
- Note the behaviour. Wading in shallow water, climbing a tree trunk, swimming, diving through the air, emerging from a mud nest, or sitting on a fence post, all narrow the choices down considerably.
- Size is helpful, but conditions can be misleading. A bird towering overhead or flying by, may seem much larger or smaller than reality. A reference object is helpful – a tree, fence post, telephone pole, etc.
- Observe the shape or profile of the bird. A long-bill, long legs, or tufted head immediately eliminates many possibilities.
- Habitat is always a useful consideration. In the midst of a coniferous forest you expect to see a different set of birds (avifauna).
- Lastly, hire a good bird guide as they identify characteristics most helpful to identification.

BEST HOTELS IN TUNIS

1. Sheraton Tunis Hotel & Towers
Situated in the business district, the hotel overlooks the city of Tunis in full and boasts excellent world-class facilities. Contact: Avenue De La Ligue Arabe; Tel: +216 71782100; Fax: +216 71782208; Email: Reservations.01483@Sheraton.Com; Website: www.Sheraton.Com/Tunis

2. El Hana International Hotel
El Hana International Hotel is nestled right in the heart of the city close to the old medina, a 24 hour business area. Contact: Tel: (71) 331 144; Fax: (71) 349 071; E-Mail: Inter.Elhana@Planet.tn; Website: www.El_Hana_International_Hotel_Tunis.htm

3. Abou Nawas Gammarth Hotel
Abou Nawas Gammarth Hotel is lies in a residential area of Gammarth surrounded by a large park with direct access to the beach. Contact: Tel: (71) 741 444; Fax: (71) 740 400; Website: www.Abounawas.Com.tn

4. Abou Nawas Hotel
282-roomed Abou Nawas Hotel is situated in the city center, close to the main shopping and business area. Contact: Tel: (71) 350 355; Fax: (71) 352 992; Website: www.Abounawas-tunis.Com

5. L’Africa Meridien Hotel
L’Africa Meridien Hotel is a high-rise building in Tunis, Tunisia. Contact: Tel: (71) 347 477; Fax: (71) 347 432.

6. Hotel La Maison Blanche
Contact: Tel: (71) 849 849; Fax: (71) 793 842

7. Le Palace Tunis Hotel
Located in the city centre, Gammarth; Contact; Tel: (71) 912 000; Fax: (71) 911 971; Email: Lepalace.Tunis@Lepalace.Com.tn; Website: www.Lepalace.Com.tn

8. Golden Tuliples Hotel Tunis
Located Cotes De Carthage – Gammarth. Contact; Tel: (71) 910 107; Fax: (71)913 913; E-Mail: Gtct.Com.tn

9. Hôtel Corinthia Khamsa
This is a Five-Star Corinthia Khamsa Hotel in Tunis. Contact; Tel: (71) 911 100; Fax: (71) 910 041; Email: Khamsa@Corinthia.com; Website: Www.Corinthia.Com/Khamsa

Oriental Palace Hotel

10. Oriental Palace Hotel
The Oriental Palace Hotel, Tunis is located at the heart of the ancient city, at Jean Jaures Avenue and has access to most parts of the city of Tunis. Contact; Tel: (71) 348 846 / 342 500; Fax: (71) 350 327; Email: Cht@Planet.tn

11. Abou Nawas El Mechtel
Abou Nawas El Mechtel is a luxurious 4-star hotel situated in the heart of Tunis. It enjoys a privileged position overlooking the Belvedere Park and Old Town. Contact; Tel: (71) 783 200; Fax: (71) 784 758; Website: Www.Abounawas.com.tn

12. Hotel Le Belvedere Tunis
Prefect choice for the Tunis dwellers. Contact; Tel: (71) 783 133; Fax: (71) 782 214; Email: Hotel.Belvedére@Planet.tn

13. Hôtel Les Ambassadeurs
The hotel is just a few minutes away from the old city of Tunis, the Medina. Contact; Tel: (71) 846 000; Fax: (71) 780 042; Website: www.hotel_Les_Ambassadeurs_Tunis.htm

14. The Residence Hotel

Situated on excellent, golden sandy beaches of the Mediterranean, The Residence Hotel is 25 minutes away from the busy city center of Tunis. It boasts an oasis of charm and serenity. Contact; Tel: (71) 910 101; Fax: (71) 910 144 / 749 888; Email: Residence.Tun@Gnet.tn; Website; www.The_Residence_Tunis-La_Marsa.html

15. Ezzahra Dar Tunis Hotel
Ezzahra Dar Tunis Hotel is located in Ezzahra. It prides in its superb situation between the magnificent seaside resorts Ez-eahra and Hammam-Lif. Contact; Tel: (71) 450 788 – 468 788; Fax: (71) 452 625; Website: www.ezzahradartunis.com

16. Ibn Khaldoun Hotel
Ibn Khaldun is rightly situated in the heart of Tunis, centre of the business district and 12 minutes from Tunis-Carthage International airport. The hotel is ideal facilities for International Conventions and meetings. Contact; Tel: (71) 83 32 11/ 83 22 11; Fax: (71) 83 16 89; Email: hotelibn.Kaldoun@Planet.tn; for reservations; www.booking.com/hotel/tn/yadis-ibn-khaldoun.en.html

17. Hôtel Naplouse Tunis
The four-storey Naplouse hotel stands on a peaceful downtown street, very close to the Place de la République. Contact; Tel: (71) 331 402; Fax: (71) 353 798; Website: www.hotel-naplouse.com

18. Hotel Le National, Tunis

Oriental Palace Interior

The hotel is situated west of Tunis in the suburb of Le Bardo. Contact; Tel: (71) 782 955 / 288 901; Fax: (71) 785 707

19. Le Diplomat Hotel Tunis
The Le Diplomat Hotel Tunis is a business hotel, which is fitted out with all the international facilities. It is ideally situated in the town center near the old Medina. Contact; Tel: (71) 785 233; Fax: (71) 781 694; Website: www.diplomat-hotel-tunis.com

20. Le Pacha Hotel Tunis
Three stars Khereddine Pacha is located in the heart of the Tunis. It lies about 30 minutes from Sidi Bou Said and the Bardo Museum. Contact; Tel: (71)787 749; Fax: (71) 789 418; Website: www.tunis.le-pacha.tobook.com

21. Sol Phebus Hotel
Phebus Hotel, Tunis. The hotel is located just a few kilometers from the Cartago ruins, near beautiful Sidi Bou Saïd. Contact; Tel: (71) 910 010; Fax: (71) 910 070; Email: Phebus@tryp.tourisme.tn; Website: www.webtourist.net/tunisia/…/sol-phebus-hotel-la-marsa.phtml

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Planning to Travel to Tunisia, there is no better way to get travel information about the destination without reference to the destination map. Our Map of Tunisia offers Geographical and information guide of Tunisia. The Tunisia Map also features resourceful information on the weather, major cities and major tourist destinations of the country. Tunisia Map and travel guide.

About Tunisia

With its historical geographical endowments, Tunisia is a country that calls all kinds of travellers. This Maghreb country is the northernmost country in Africa. It shares borders with Algeria in the west, Libya in the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea in the north and east. Tunisia is the smallest of the nations situated along the Atlas mountain range covering approximately 163,610 sq km.

Map of Tunisia

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City of Tunis, Capital

Tunis is the largest and capital of Tunisia and the Tunis Governorate. It has over 1,300,000 residents. It is the country’s main administrative centre and also the country’s main harbour. The city of Tunis has renowned attractions among them include The Bardo Museum with the major collection of Roman empires and Greek Ancient, Carthage ruins, the Old Medina and many others. The city also plays several other functions.

Other Major Cities in Tunisia

Kairouan, Aryanah, Gafsa, Sfax, Ettadhamen, Gabès, Sousse, Bizerte, and El Mourou

Other Tunisia Facts

Official Name: Tunisian Republic

Independence: March 20^th, 1956

Area: 163,610 sq km

Capital: Tunis

Government Type: Republic

Languages: Arabic (official); French (Business)

Population: 10,589,025 (July 2010 est.)

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Also see; Map of Malawi, Map of Uganda, Map of South Africa, Map of Mozambique, Map of Zimbabwe,  Map of Rwanda, Map of Seychelles, Map of Zambia,  Map of Tanzania, Map of Cameroon, Map of Botswana, Map of Ivory Coast, Map of Mauritius, Map of Namibia, Map of Congo, Map of Swaziland, Map of Zanzibar, Map of Algeria,

Visit Tunisia’s heritage areas where the country’s great wealth has been held in trust; and preserved in numerous sites and museums from the small Punic museum in Utica to the huge collections of the celebrated National Museum in Bardo. They have free entrance and usually a caretaker who act as the tour guide.

Your Tunisia vacation also gives you chance to visit some of the ancient Roman, Arab, Berber or Phoenician sites in the world. With this rich historical for reality’s sake visitors will return again and again captivated by the diversity of this Mediterranean land.

Whatever the season, your first glimpse of Tunisia will be its golden beaches and a deep blue sea. With over 1200km of coast this sunny Mediterranean land is a paradise for the vacationer. These waters have a long been a traditional passage for sailors and today dhows still ply the calm waters of the coastline.

Visitors are always welcome and urged to participate in “joie de vivre”, a reflection of Tunisian festivals. Whether it be in dancing, sharing a cup of tea or just a friendly smile. This Saharan Festival is of special interest to those who dream of the vast expanse of dunes and sober beauty of the Sahara.

A balmy summer evening under a magnificent starry sky is often the setting for these occasions. This unique atmosphere awaits you.
While Tunisia has a justified deserved reputation for beautiful beaches and sparkling clean seas, with the mild year round climate, this blessed land is also a heaven for the sports minded. Sea sports enjoyed during the summer can well be practiced for most of the year in southern resort areas. The coast is an ideal place to explore by boat, and the beaches are ideal for all kinds of water sports such as boating, waterskiing and windsurfing. Where some sports are not available at your hotel, clubs with small entry fees furnish additional facilities.

Undoubtedly Tunisia’s greatest asset is the mix of both Mediterranean weather and the Saharan desert where vastness and variety are the keynotes of life. You will be thrilled by the breathtaking charm of such scenery!
Tunisia Vacations offers a wide range of hotel accommodation for her growing economy and tourist industry. Country hotels and park lodges are of varying comfort, elegance and convenience. They are classified according to the international star system.

In addition, nearly all Tunisia Hotels are built with the visitor’s comfort and enjoyment in mind and their restaurants feature both international as well as Tunisian diets. There are budget local hotels with minimum standards for sanitation and most have business centers for the convenience of the visitor.

Indeed have a lot to enjoy on your Tunisia Vacation Tours by exploring our colorful destinations as pursue your own interests to create your dream in Tunisia. Enjoy your Tunisia stay!

1. Tunis-Carthage International Airport

Airport Contact
Tel: (216) 1 755 000
Fax: (216) 1 781 460
Airport information:
Distance from major town: 8km
Town: Tunis – Capital
Operating hours: 24hrs
Customs facilities: 24hrs
Passenger services:
Banks in operation: BNA-STB-BS-BIAT
Duty Free Shops- Available
Airport Transport – Private Companies (Taxis & Buses)

2. Jerba – Zarzis International Airport

Airport Contact
Tel: (216) 5 650 233
Fax: (216) 5 650 585
Airport information:
Distance from major town: 10km
Town: Houmt Essouk
Operating hours: 24hrs
Customs facilities: 24hrs
Passenger services:
Banks in operation: BNA-STB-BS
Duty Free Shops: Available
Medical facilities
Airport Transport- Private Companies (Taxis & Buses)

3. Monastir H. Bourguiba International Airport

Airport Contact
Tel: (216) 3 460 300
Fax: (216) 3 460 318
Airport information:
Distance from major town: 9km
Town: Monastir
Operating hours: 24hrs
Customs facilities: 24hrs
Passenger services:
Banks in operation: BNA-STB-BS-UBCI
Duty Free Shops: Available
Medical facilities
Airport Transport- Private Companies (Taxis & Buses)

4. Sfax-Thyna International Airport

Airport Contact
Tel: (216) 4 241 740
Fax: (216) 4 241 359
Airport information:
Distance from major town: 6km
Town: Sfax
Operating hours: 0600-1800 adjustable
Customs facilities: 0600-1800 adjustable
Passenger services:
Banks in operation: STB
Duty Free Shops: Available
Medical facilities
Airport Transport- Private Companies (Taxis & buses)

5. Tozeur-Nefta International Airport

Airport Contact
Tel: (216) 6 450 342
Fax: (216) 6 450 402
Airport information:
Distance from major town: 4km
Town: Tozeur
Operating hours: According to scheduled flight
Customs facilities: As operating hours
Passenger services:
Banks in operation: STB
Duty Free Shops: Available
Medical facilities
Airport Transport – Private Companies (Taxis & Buses)

6. 7 Novembre – Tabarka International Airport

Airport Contact
Tel: (216) 8 644 100
Fax: (216) 8 644 437
Airport information:
Distance from major town: 15km
Town: Tabarka
Passenger services:
Duty Free Shops: Available
Medical facilities
Airport Transport – Private Companies (Taxis & Buses)

Tunisia has long been known as an adventurer’s paradise said to be a land of endless opportunity for a lively traveler; of colors and contrasts. Spices and scents is the siren bell the welcomes you to a country also rich with possibilities for holiday and adventure.

Home to a very active equestrian community, Tunisia welcomes you to enjoy its natural beauty, ancient cities, lively festivals and warm friendliness of its citizens. Welcoming visitors to its shores has long been an honored Tunisian tradition.

Music and entertainment lovers, the International Music Festival is held for long evenings in the El Jem Coliseum. It will be an unforgettable experience for you hearing music of Tunisian renowned artists and symphonic orchestras in the outstanding setting of the majestic Roman coliseum in a mild summer night.

The Saharan Festival is of special interest to those who dream of the vast expanse of dunes and sober beauty of the Sahara. Douz -the gateway to the desert, offers an authentic and genuine picture of desert traditions, folk art and customs. The village itself, surrounded by sand dunes, is the departure point for the Mehares and Saharan safaris.

Shopping in Tunisia is definitely an art. Tunisia is an appropriate place to indulge in a novel shopping experience to memorize. For instance in Medina- an old city, the Souks offer a selection of objects of unsurpassed beauty and distinction, excellent arts and craft and traditional work. Spending your  Tunisia holidays would also bring you closer to the rich cultural fabric of this beautiful country.

For accommodation, nearly all Tunisia Hotels are built with the visitor’s comfort and enjoyment in mind. They are fitted with world class facilities and their restaurants feature both international as well as Tunisian diets. The impressive infrastructure of these modern hotels, restaurants, tourism offices and information centers has been developed to add to the guests comfort and pleasure. Holiday travelers are always welcome to participate whether it be in dancing, sharing a cup of tea or just a friendly smile.

Whether you prefer a long walk along miles of sparkling beaches, wind surfing the cool Mediterranean breezes, exploring ancient sites and legendary cities a game of golf or just a long lazy day relaxing on the warm golden sands, Tunisia has it all. Enjoy your Tunisia holidays!

Today’s Tunis is full of surprises. Smart hotels, steel and glass conference halls, International banks, chic boutiques, bookshops art galleries, broad tree-shaded avenues and busy yellow taxis give it all the bustle of a modern Mediterranean city. Yet around the corner is the Medina, almost unchanged since mediaeval times. As you enter its maze of narrow streets, alleys and covered passageways, the centuries slip away. Small shops, their treasures of brass, olive wood, leather, Berber jewellery, carpets, pottery and brightly colored garments spilling out into the street, vie for your attention. Continue upwards towards the Mosque of the Olive Tree, ‘Ez Zitouna’, at the heart of the Medina and as old as the town itself.

Rebuilt in the 9th century, Ez Zitouna was for centuries the focal point of the city. Traditionally, only the noble tradesmen like booksellers, perfumeries, dried fruit sellers and cloth merchants were allowed to operate within close proximity to the mosque. This is evident even today as only the traditional clothing shops, perfume souks and the spice shops are located alongside its walls.

Places of interest

Bardo National Museum, housed in a 13th century Hafsid palace, contains a major collection of Roman and other antiquities; Ez Zitouna Mosque; Carthage Archaeological site; Tourbet El Bey Mausaoleum and, nearby, the picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said. If your next holiday destination is Tunisia, remember to include Tunis touring safari in your package.

Its glorious historical past has left the country with an exceptional legacy with twin sites of Phoenician and Roman Carthage, the hub of the Roman Empire in Africa. Fro, Kerkouane, today a World Heritage Site, to the walled city of Kairouane, considered as the fourth holiest city in Slam during the mediaeval period, visitors with an avid interest in the past will enjoy exploring the many historic sites of Tunisia. The Kasbahs and busy Medinas of Tunis and Sousse, where buildings designed by Islamic architects more than 1,000 years ago, are still in everyday use.\\The troglodyte pit houses and ‘Ksour’ (fortified granaries) of the Berbers reveal q way of life that has changed little over the centuries.

For lovers of sport, there are championship golf courses and opportunities for hiking, horse riding and camel trekking. Along the coast there is fishing and diving and at Tabarka, a coral reef. Shoppers will enjoy exploring the souks in search of bargains – Tunisia produces fine ceramics, splendid carpets, intricate jewellery and a huge range of utensils and ornaments fashioned from copper, brass and olive-wood.

The fertile, mountainous north acts as the country’s main source of agriculture providing cereals, vegetables and fruits. To the south of the mountains the high plain falls away, first to a series of shimmering salt lakes and luxuriant palm tree oasis, then into a sandy desert that merges into the vast emptiness of the Sahara. Along the 1,100 km coastline are busy ports, quiet fishing villages and modern resorts such as Nabeul, Hammamet, Sousse and Jerba, where visitors can laze on wide, sandy beaches enjoy a wide range of water sports of take advantage of the many-state-of-the-art thalassatherapy centres.

Tunisian culture has evolved over the generations through an intermingling of both European and Arab traditions – a mélange that manifests itself in Tunisian music, which displays Berber and Andalusian influences, the pottery and ceramic arts that heave flourished since Roman times and the cuisine which unites French flair with Arab and African culinary traditions.

The hospitable land of colors and contrasts, spices and scents invites you to enjoy its natural beauty, ancient cities, lively festivals and an impressive infrastructure of modern hotels. Whether you prefer a long walk along miles of sparkling beaches, windsurfing on the cool Mediterranean Sea, exploring ancient sites and legendary cities, a game of golf or just a long, lazy day relaxing on the warm golden sands, Tunisia’s blend of history, culture and modern facilities is captivating.

Entertainment and events

The country offers a wide choice of entertainment from nightclubs and discotheques to fine restaurants and casinos. Festival events of the Mountain Oases (late April); Festival of Symphonic Music, El-jem (July – August); International Festival of Carthage (July-August); International Festival of the Saharan (early December). The Medina Festival in Tunis (during the Holy month of Ramadan.)

Where to Stay

City hotels, beach resorts and spas.