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Zambia Birding Tours

Zambia offers over 750 recorded species, 2 endemics, large tracts of unspoilt wilderness and a stable political environment! It's also the perfect setting to search for one of Africa's most desired specials: African Pitta is reliably found here in December when they migrate into riverine forests to breed.

Our Zambia tour focuses on the Zambezi endemics found primarily in the Miombo woodlands cloaking large parts of the country. The tour also targets Zambia's only two endemics, Chaplin's Barbet and Black-cheeked Lovebird.

For more information on our Zambia birding tour itineraries, please contact us.

Standard Itinerary: Zambia 12 days

1. Lusaka
2. Lusaka to Mutinondo Wilderness
3-4. Mutinondo Wilderness
5. Mutinondo to Forest Inn
6. Forest Inn to Choma
7. Nkanga River Conservancy
8. Nkanga to Livingstone
9. Day outing in search of Black-cheecked Lovebird
10. Livingstone to Zambezi Valley
11. African Pitta Quest: saving the best for last!
12: Return to Lusaka

Featured Leaders: Michael Mills

Michael recommends: This tour is well suited to world listers and mammal enthusiasts.

Michael Mills has a broad African birding experience. Anyone who has birded with him in forests will recognise the value of his keen ear at picking out calls of the rarer and more tricky species. He'll be visiting Ghana for two weeks prior to this tour, having goodies lined up when this trip commences...

Michael grew up in the Kalahari Gemsbok and Kruger National Parks and has travelled extensively in Africa, Asia, South America and Antarctica. He 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.

Michael designs and leads tours for Birding Africa to Ghana, Uganda, Gabon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Madagascar and Angola.

Our Zambia tour may also be led by Callan Cohen.

What participants say...

Please have a look at what participants say about our tours led by Michael Mills ...

'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

Chaplin’s Barbet © Claire Spottiswoode
Chaplinís Barbet endemic to Zambia can be found in open woodland where arthropods and fig trees provide fruit and nesting sites, such as Kafue National Park. However it is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red list © Claire Spottiswoode

Black-cheecked Lovebirds © Lambert Nanzhila
Black-cheecked Lovebirds, a very localised Zambian endemic threatened by habitat loss can still be seen in southwest Zambia at Kafue National Park. © Lambert Nanzhila.

Racket-tailed Roller on a BIrding Africa Zambia Tour © Trevor & Jenni Franks
The charchteristic racket-shaped tail feathers of Racket-tailed Rollers are only present during the breeding season. This bird was photographed on a Birding Africa Zambia Tour © Trevor & Jenni Franks. It can also be seen on Birding Africa tours to Angola, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania.


At Nchila Wildlife Sanctuary in North Western Zambia, we look for specials such as Bamboo Warbler and Red-throated Cliff Swallow on a Birding Africa Zambia Tour © Michael Mills.


Near the source of the Zambezi, at Nchila Wildlife Sanctuary, we find the regal Sable antelope on a Birding Africa Zambia Tour © Michael Mills


At the Chitunta plains, an IBA (Important Bird Area) in north western Zambia, we look for specials such as Grimwood's Longclaw among countless termite mounds © Michael Mills on a Birding Africa Zambia Tour.


The Chitunta plains are fed by the Chitunta and the Luakera Rivers. Along the shrubs of these rivers, we look for colonies of Bocage's Weaver (very localised in Zambia) on a Birding Africa Zambia tour © Michael Mills.


Inbetween lush vegetation run the rapids of the Zambezi River © Michael Mills on a Birding Africa Zambia Tour.


2013 Tour dates and cost

Birding Africa Tours Dates Days

Cost*

Single**

Detailed itinerary Tour report
Zambia Please enquire Please enquire Please enquire Please enquire Please enquire link to website


* Cost per person sharing a room, ** Single room supplement.
* Included in the above price: Birding Africa tour leader, Birding Africa printed booklet with species lists, activities as indicated on the itinerary, road transport, guide fees, entry fees for the parks, reserves and botanical gardens, full board accommodation and drinking water on the bus. Not included: international flights, drinks, optional tips, and items of a personal nature are not included.


Practical tour information

Focus 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. 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 Various times. Please enquire.
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 African Pitta, and the country's two only endemics, Chaplin's Barbet and Black-cheecked Lovebird.
Top mammals African savanna elephant, Lion
Booking Your booking can be secured with a booking form and deposit. You will receive confirmation and our tour information pack with practical information on what to expect and how to prepare for the tour. The balance is due 150 days before the tour. Contact us to enquire about availability.


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.

For feedback from our guests, please see our Client Comments. Please also browse our Latest News and Trip Reports.


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Please do not use any text, images or content from this site without permission.
Black Harrier photograph courtesy of Keith Offord.
© Birding Africa 1997-2012info@birdingafrica.com

[African Tailorbirding CC (CK2003/020710/23) trading as Birding Africa]
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