One of the highlights of the trip was making it south to Shalatein to see the Lappet-faced Vultures which reside around the town thanks to the large camel market. With a lack of fuel in our hire car, we had to get a local to take us down - Rich stayed at Lahami, but Staines and I took the risk. The jeep was ancient, and broke down twice by the time we reached Shalatein, thus rendering us stuck there until an emergency car was eventually organized to take us back north. Our first views of the birds were largely distant and in flight, but I managed some digi-binned/scoped shots:
Once our car finally arrived, we were quickly whisked around to the north side of the town where two birds were showing at point blank range by the road. They're incredibly tame, as the photo at the top of this post shows!
Shalatein is a hell hole. Lots of Sudanese refugees, dead camels, bad smells and rubbish. But the vultures are worth it...
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