While its well known beautiful
lake fills the southern end of the Rift Valley, Malawi's variety
of other habitats support remarkable bird diversity. This land-locked
country the size of Portugal has an astonishing bird list of 650
species. Many of these are widespread in southern Africa, but a
mouth-watering array of endemic specials make a dedicated Malawi
birding trip essential.
Our standard itinerary includes
13 days in the following recommended birding sites.
One key site is the forested inselbergs and table lands of southern
Malawi. Most are now denuded or covered in tea plantations, but
a few accessible remnants support such rare gems as Green-headed
Oriole, Thyolo Alethe, White-winged Apalis, Yellow-throated Apalis
and Green Barbet.
The western border country is also vital to any itinerary.
Here, vast miombo woodlands, fed by crystal clear streams, clothe
granite hills. The number of miombo endemics is overwhelming, and
include Stierling’s Woodpecker, Whyte’s Barbet,
Sousa's Shrike, Miombo Pied Barbet, Pale-billed Hornbill, Olive-headed
Weaver, Anchieta’s Sunbird, Red-capped Crombec, Miombo Scrub-Robin
and Rufous-bellied Tit.
The far north is dominated by the mighty Nyika Plateau,
a huge tableland cloaked in misty grasslands and dark rainforests.
One of the highlights of any trip to Malawi, it offers many birds
and mammals that will not be seen elsewhere in the country. Some
can be seen elsewhere in East Africa, such as Scarlet-tufted
Sunbird, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Baglafecht Weaver and
Yellow-crowned Canary, but others are endemic to
the Eastern Arc Mountains complex of Tanzania and northern Malawi,
including Rwenzori Nightjar, Black-lored Cisticola, Olive-flanked
Robin-Chat, Fülleborn's Boubou, Forest Double-collared Sunbird,
Yellow-browed Seed-eater and Montane Widowbird.
And then there are one or two really range-restricted species we
have a chance of seeing, such as Ludwig's Double-collared
Sunbird and White-winged Babbling Starling.
We recommend birding at following sites,:
• Miombo woodlands at Dzalanyama
• Viphya Plateau
• Nyika Plateau National Park grasslands and highland forest
• Senga Bay wetlands
• Liwonde National Park
• Zomba Plateau
• Thyolo Mountain and highland forest
• Lilongwe Sanctuary
Malawi’s political stability
and friendly inhabitants, combined with superb birds and scenery,
make it a wonderful holiday destination and one of south-central
Africa’s best-kept secrets.
For more information about our Malawi birding tours, please contact
us.
Featured
Leader: Michael Mills
Michael recommends: This tour
is well suited to world listers, keen birders and mammal enthusiasts.
Michael
Mills has led over 6 trips to Malawi. He gained intimate
knowledge of the key birding areas logistics. Michael grew
up in the Kalahari Gemsbok and Kruger National Parks and has
travelled extensively in Africa, Asia, South America and Antarctica.
Michael obtained a Masters degree
in Conservation Biology after which he continued conducting bird
research, particularly in Angola. Besides birds, he has a strong
interest in mammals, particularly in small carnivores and African
primates.
'Thanks to the meticulously detailed efforts of Birding
Africa I have great memories to keep me energized until my next
trip with you. How you planned everything down to the tiniest detail
was amazing. The accommodations, meals and general trip were excellent.
Michael was beyond belief.' BR,
USA
'Michael was first class on
every aspect.'FH, UK
'Mike was amazing... he stayed cool and collected all the time
[on the Angola trip]. DW, South Africa
'.... tours were excellent. The trips certainly lived up to
my expectations and we saw a large number of incredible birds. Michael
did a great job and is an outstanding tour guide. His skill at finding
birds in all habitats and his knowledge of bird calls is nothing
short of amazing.' JC, UK
'... his spotting skills and ability to pick out the faintest calls
but also his continual energy and enthusiasm to maximise our birding
experience..'ND, UK
* Price per person sharing a
room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, Birding
Africa printed booklet with species lists, boat trips as indicated
on the itinerary, road transport, guide fees, entry fees for the
parks, reserves and botanical gardens, full board accommodation.
Not included: international flights, drinks, optional tips, and
items of a personal nature.
* Price per person sharing a
room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, Birding
Africa printed booklet with species lists, boat trips as indicated
on the itinerary, road transport, guide fees, entry fees for the
parks, reserves and botanical gardens, full board accommodation.
Not included: international flights, drinks, optional tips, and
items of a personal nature.
For keen birders and mammal enthusiasts. Designed
to see as many as possible endemic birds, but while on the walks
we spend a lot of time looking for other aspects of wildlife
such as mammals. We can also customise any itinerary to suit
to the keen birder, the wildlife enthusiast or both.
Photography
Many participants on our trips are amateur wildlife photographers.
And when we get excellent views of a bird or mammal, some time
is usually spent watching and photographing it. However, this
is not a photographic tour and once the majority of the people
have felt that they have absorbed the animal or bird to their
satisfaction, then we move on in search of the next encounter.
Thus, while the photographic opportunities
are very good, the group will only occasionally wait for somebody
who wants to spend even longer getting better photos.
Fitness
No fitness is required. The few walks are generally in relatively
flat areas with occasional small inclines.
Timing
Birding is good all year round. Some species are more difficult
to find in the dry season, but navigation is easier then as
the roads are less muddy. Our tours usually go in November.
Climate
Warm to hot
Comfort
A good standard of accommodation in guest houses,
lodges and small hotels.
Transport
We travel by minibus or four wheel drive vehicle.
Group Size
This depends on the specific tour. Please enquire.
Top birds
Very diverse birding, from montane to woodland specials: Boehm's
Bee-eater, African Broadbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, Green-headed
Oriole, Thyolo Alethe, White-winged Apalis, Yellow-throated
Apalis and Green Barbet, Stierling’s Woodpecker, Whyte’s
Barbet, Sousa's Shrike, Miombo Pied Barbet, Pale-billed Hornbill,
Olive-headed Weaver, Anchieta’s Sunbird, Red-capped Crombec,
Miombo Scrub-Robin, Rufous-bellied Tit, Scarlet-tufted Sunbird,
Mountain Yellow Warbler, Baglafecht Weaver, Yellow-crowned Canary,
Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird and White-winged Babbling Starling,
Chapin's Apalis.
Top mammals
African Palm Civet, Bushpig, African Elephant, Greater Kudu,
Buffalo, Banded Mongoose, Eland, Roan, Sable,
Blue Duiker, Tanzania Mountain
Squirrel, Mutable Sun Squirrel, Side-striped Jackal,
Spotted Hyaena, Blue Monkey.
Booking
Please email
us if you wish to book. You will receive the booking form
and conditions and a tour information pack.
About Birding Africa
Birding Africa is a specialist birding
tour company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed
holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies,
botany and other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa's
and Madagascar's most diverse birding destinations. Our guides'
knowledge of African birds and birding areas is our greatest strength
and together we have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations
with the birding community and had a fun time exploring our home
continent. We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best
birds. Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and
we are dedicated to making professional, best value trips filled
with endemic species and unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997,
we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders,
small birding groups and top international tour companies. We've
run Conservation Tours
in association with the African Bird Club and work with and consult
for a number of other top international tour companies and the BBC
Natural History Unit.
