All I had to work with growing up was Ethiopia's birds. By contrast, American birds are mostly boring. What I did not have to consider, other than hyenas if I stayed out until sundown, was what you DO need to worry about elsewhere in Africa. PH/guides are handy when lions, leopards, elephant, etc. are likely birding guests. (Once heard about predator calling and a leopard in the lap. Of course, I heard the same thing about deer grunt calling and the rancher's bull!) You'd quickly estimate what he/she costs as peanuts against getting stomped, eaten, etc.
