The top African bird watching destinations for twitchers. Birding in Africa is so diverse and it’s done in the most scenic destinations of southern and East African countries. The first time traveller’s shouldn’t miss out on these fantastic destinations.
1. Zambia or Malawi.
These two countries are not known but they are good destinations for bird watching as well as the African Mega Fauna. South central Africa has also got many endemic birds and a few of them is restricted to only one country. Zambia as a country is known as a single country for finding the greatest bird species, and Malawi, Zimbabwe as well Mozambique, these countries are also good areas for bird watching. Zambia birding trips often highlight the famous for the shoebill stork after Uganda. Also the African Pitta is a most desirable bird and its breeding ground is found in the Zambezi River catchment of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi as well as Mozambique.
- Lochinvar National Park of Zambia.
Lochinvar is popularly known as a perfect bird haven with different water birds, woodland birds, migrants and raptors. There are about 428 recognized species.
Lochinvar National Park is a small 450 km2 park on the Kafue floodplains found in the northern side of Kafue River in Monze–west southern province of Zambia. It is without a doubt thought to be one of the rich swamplands for birding in the world, because there are around 428 different bird species to watch – that’s almost a different bird for every square kilometre. There, you’ll locate the egret, wattle crane, sand grounce and also the pratincole among additional other bird species.
The wattled crane is the largest crane on the African continent, reaching an impressive height of about 175 centimetres (or more than 5.7 feet). Its back and wings are laden with beautiful grey feathers, while the head and wattles are white. Unfortunately, it is listed as vulnerable since its population appears to have undergone a rapid decline which currently stands at just 2,000 throughout the whole world!
The above assertion is valid; thanks to the variety of habitats including riverine woodland, the Chunga lagoon and Kafue flats wetlands. The Lochinvar National Park is also particularly known for the large herds of Kafue Lechwe. More than 30,000 of them make the flats their home and move seasonally according to the flood levels.
1. South Africa Birding
This is the most known country for the first time travelers to Africa and it’s an amazing country with variety of mountains, white and sand beaches and as well as wildlife. It’s known that the experience here is so wonderful and the birders always return as often as they can. These return even though they have seen all the bird species found in the area. This country is so big and it takes several weeks of birding to get sighting these spectacular bird species. This is usually the big excuse for most of those visitors that return to South Africa for birding.
This country has got the big five (BIG 5) animals and variety of smaller mammals. The Zulu land game reserve and the Kruger National Park have got variety of these small mammals. Deciding to have a 2 week birding tour that starts from Durban and ending in Johannesburg, you will be able to see all the mammals as well as the 400 bird species found in this area. By adding the cape, you will view the over 150 bird species as well as the whale and many more.
South Africa is not so expensive and you can bird the whole country on a self-drive tour. The country has got variety of friendly and comfortable Bed and Breakfast lodges and Hotels. In order to enjoy yourself drive, it’s better to link up with a birding tour operator with in the country. In case you like to read about the different parts of South Africa that you need to cover, there are many itineraries on the website that can help you, and for those interested in seeing the big mammals and the birds, a visit to the Kruger Escarpment area will give you the best experience ever!
1. Tanzania Birdwatching
The best alternative to enjoy South Africa, is to have a week safari in Tanzania. This is also a good country to visit if you give it at least 2.5 weeks if possible. By birding in Tanzania, you will enjoy variety of East African Endemics and almost over 20 endemics in the country. The famous birding destinations include Selous birding, Ruaha, Serengeti, Mahale, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Gombe, Tarangire, Arusha and Katavi. You will as well get chance to see your first Miombo (the south central African) endemic bird species with in Tanzania. Within Tanzania, get chance to view the country’s small and large animals along with the most beautiful famous tourist sites. Some of these sites include; Serengeti with its big cats and the Annual Migration of the zebras and wildebeests, the Great Rift Valley and the many Flamingo- filled lakes, the great Ngorongoro crater and the Kilimanjaro, which is one of the world’s most isolated massive mountain and it’s one of Africa’s highest mountain that rises straight out of the plains of wildlife below to the height of 19,341ft above the sea level.
1. Birding in Uganda
As you plan to explore Africa for your birding safari, a 12 day Uganda safari will help you enjoy most of the bird species found in Africa. You will get chance to encounter the shoebill stork, and the albertine rift endemics, as well as he green breasted Pitta. The mammals to be enjoyed here include; the Gorillas and the chimpanzees. The country is also famous for the beautiful colobus monkeys and many more. Choosing to have 19 days spent for your safari in Uganda, you will get chance to meet people that are fluent in English and also friendlier than in the other parts of Africa. You will get chance to see the great Albertine or the western rift, the famous Bwindi Impenetrable national park that is famous for the mountain gorillas, the mighty source of the Nile found at Jinja, the biggest lake called lake Victoria as well as the papyrus swamps that are well famous for the Shoebill stork, which is the most monstrous bird that is placed by many authorities in its order since it’s so different from any other species of bird on earth.
5. Namibia Birding
This is also a must visit country in Africa due to its uniqueness, it has got the world’s oldest desert including the highest sand dunes in the whole world. These have got spectacular red colour, the other sand dunes come down the sea and the rugged desert mountains that are along the Namibian Escarpment, Rhinos and the desert elephants , it has also got one of the world’s greatest game parks; the Estosha National Park. This country has also got variety of bird species that are not found in any other part of the world and it’s also adjacent to Angola.
As you tour Namibia, you can pass by Botswana in order to see the Pel’s fishing Owl, which is one of Africa’s most liked bird, the Slaty Egret, which is an endemic specie and many more that are found in the panhandle of the great Okavango Delta. You will also be close to one of the beautiful and impressive water falls called Victoria Falls, having a 2 day to this site either from Zimbabwe or Zambia side is so worthwhile and will make you view many birds in this area. An 18 day birding day tour will make you adventure and explore Namibia, the Okavango and the Victoria falls. Those most interested in wildlife are welcome to this beautiful country since it’s filled with both small and large mammals. Namibia is also the “Gabon of southern Africa since it’s expensive and it’s not so good for bird watching.
Are you likely to go out for a birding safari n Zambia? Contact Us Email: nahubwesafarilodge@gmail.com Cell phone/WhatsApp: +26 0955361449