Zambia

Day 1: The tour begins in Livingstone where, depending on arrival times, we’ll have our introduction to Zambia’s birds on our accommodation’s grounds along the banks of a tributary of the Zambezi River. We may encounter Black Crake, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Magpie Shrike, Violet-backed Starling, White-fronted Bee-eater, White-browed Robin-Chat, Holub’s Golden-Weaver, and with luck, the resident Ross’s Turaco, a rare vagrant that arrived a few years ago and decided to stay. Night in Livingstone.  

Day 2: We’ll visit the wastewater treatment plant, a productive spot for shorebirds and waterfowl. We can expect White-faced Whistling-Duck, Blue-billed Teal, Red-billed Duck, African Swamphen, Long-toed Lapwing, Greater Painted-Snipe, and Collared Pratincole. The area also attracts falcons and with luck we may spot Dickinson’s Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon, or Eurasian Hobby. We'll be hyper-alert as this site has a reputation for turning up vagrants.. 

Nearby Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park offers a diverse mix of habitats, including Zambezian and Mopane Woodlands, riverine forests, and the mighty Zambezi River. As we explore, we’ll be on the lookout for Rock Pratincole, Yellow-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, Bateleur, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Broad-billed Roller, Retz’s Helmetshrike, and Collared Palm-Thrush. The park is also home to an array of mammals, including Plains Zebra, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, African Elephant, and Impala—and with luck, we may even encounter a White Rhinoceros. 

After lunch, we’ll experience the breathtaking Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi plunges 350 feet into the gorge below. The constant spray has created a lush rainforest, providing habitat for species like Schalow’s Turaco and Trumpeter Hornbill. Night near Livingstone. 

Day 3: We’ll venture west of Livingstone for a full day’s birding in prime habitat for our main target, the near-endemic Black-cheeked Lovebird. Along the way, we’ll encounter a rich variety of other birds including Meyer’s Parrot, Brown Snake-Eagle, Green Woodhoopoe, Marico Flycatcher, Violet-eared Waxbill, and Shaft-tailed Whydah. Night in Livingstone. 

Day 4: We’ll target any species we may have missed in the Livingstone area before departing in the afternoon for Choma and the fig-tree savanna biome. Night in Choma. 

Day 5: We’ll have the full day to bird the Nkanga Conservation Area, one of the most reliable sites for the endemic Chaplin’s Barbet. Other distracting birds include Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Martial Eagle, Racket-tailed Roller, Miombo Barbet, Miombo Tit, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, and Sooty and Arnot’s Chats. If there’s water, we may find Lesser Moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, and Parasitic Weaver. Night in Choma. 

Day 6: A travel day: After breakfast, we’ll make our way toward the capital and our lodging north of the city. A nearby private farm offers outstanding birding, and if time allows, we’ll make an evening visit where we could witness an impressive gathering of waterfowl, waterbirds, and shorebirds, including over a thousand Marabou Storks. Other highlights might include Coppery-tailed Coucal, Kittlitz’s Plover alongside a dozen other shorebirds, African Spoonbill, and both Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans. Night north of Lusaka. 

Day 7: We’ll complete our drive to Kasanka National Park, our base for the next three nights. Along the way, we’ll make a few stops to stretch our legs and pursue some target birding for Black-backed Barbet, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Bocage’s Akalat and the elusive Evergreen-forest Warbler. If time allows, we may even have the chance to witness the truly spectacular sight of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of Straw-colored Fruit Bats emerging from their roosts at dusk. Night at Kasanka. 

Days 8-9: Kasanka is home to over 110 mammal species and an impressive array of birds. We’ll spend two full days exploring the National Park on the lookout for species such as Boehm’s Bee-eater, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Boehm’s Flycatcher, Miombo Scrub-Robin, Rufous-bellied Tit, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, among many others. On the mammal side, we may encounter the rare Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, which has a healthy population here, as well as Sable, Puku, Sitatunga, and Sharpe’s Grysbok. 

Our lodge, nestled beside a productive lake, is home to a variety of fantastic waterbirds including African Openbill, Lesser Jacana, and Wattled Crane. The lodge deck provides a perfect spot for relaxed scanning of the lake. Nights in Kasanka. 

Days 10-11: We’ll depart Kasanka, then detour to search for the highly localized Katanga Masked-Weaver, which has a patchy distribution in northwest Zambia and southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We may also spot a few hundred Black Lechwe. From there, we’ll continue on to Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge, where we’ll stay for two nights in one of Zambia’s most scenic regions. 

Nestled among dramatic inselbergs, the area offers species exclusive to the region such as Eastern Miombo Sunbird, Bar-winged Weaver, Laura's Woodland-Warbler, White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher, Marsh Widowbird, and Green-headed Sunbird. In addition, Bocage's Akalat, Gray-olive Greenbul, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Anchieta's Sunbird, and Western Miombo Sunbird are more readily found here than in Kasanka. 

We’ll also spend time searching for the rare and super elusive Chestnut-headed Flufftail. As of this writing, there are only about a dozen records of this bird on eBird. Nights at Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge. 

Day 12: We’ll spend the morning looking for species we may be missing before relocating to Forest Inn, halfway back towards Lusaka. Although a stopover, the birding around the Inn can be productive and may include species we haven’t seen. Night at Forest Inn. 

Day 13: Leaving the north behind, we’ll make the long trek south towards the Lower Zambezi valley. Along the way, we’ll stop for an excellent lunch and locally roasted coffees near Lusaka. Upon arrival in the valley, we’ll find another unique woodland habitat dominated by open-canopied mopane trees and crossed by the occasional streams lined with riparian vegetation. Night near Chirundu. 

Day 14: We’ll concentrate on the highly prized African Pitta. Having just returned to their breeding territory, they’ll be on full display making it easier to see this normally secretive species. We’ll also search for other marvelous birds that occur in this new habitat, including Barred and African Emerald Cuckoos, African Broadbill, Eastern Nicator, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, and Bearded Scrub-Robin.  

In the afternoon we’ll take an evening cruise along the Zambezi River traversing both sides of the Zambia/Zimbabwe River as we circle around sandbars and islands. Knob-billed Ducks are often in the hundreds, and we should expect to see a fine variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, waterbirds, and other birds such as White-winged Tern, White-fronted, Southern Carmine, and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, White-crowned Lapwing, Collared Pratincole, and with luck, African Skimmer. Night near Chirundu. 

Day 15: We’ll have a second morning as a backup for African Pitta and mop-up birding before heading back to Lusaka for flights home.  

South Luangwa Extension 

Ext Day 1 (Day 15): Those continuing on the extension will spend the night in Lusaska.  

Day 2: We’ll take a one-hour flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe and transfer to our accommodation on the scenic Luangwa River. Our stunning lodge has literally thought of everything to make our stay as comfortable and personable as possible. Here we may encounter some mammals for the first time including hippos, Impala, and perhaps lion. The lush property should be full of birds including Jameson’s Firefinch, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, Tropical Boubou, Retz’s Helmetshrike, and perhaps our first Lilian’s Lovebirds. The river supports a host of waterbirds including an excellent representation of storks, namely Yellow-billed, Saddle-billed, and Marabou. At night we may fall asleep to the sounds of hippos, distant hyenas and perhaps a Square-tailed Nightjar. Night in South Luangwa. 

Ext Days 3-4: Covering an area over 5,600 sq miles, South Luangwa National Park has a reputation for being an unspoiled wilderness and is a renowned destination for mammal viewing. Among the large numbers of Impala and Puku, we’ll keep an eye out for African Buffalo, “Crawshay’s” Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, and a host of predators including African Lion, African Wild Dog, Spotted Hyena, and an impressive number of Leopards. Not only is the safari aspect unparalleled, but the birding is exceptional with over 400 species occurring in the park. One of our main targets will be Lilian’s Lovebird, which is unlikely to be seen on the main tour, but common in the park. 

The river hosts an impressive array of birds such as flashy Southern Carmine Bee-eaters, which breed in colonies on the riverbanks, African Skimmer, various lapwings that prefer sandy islands, and perhaps large gatherings of Gray Crowned-Crane. If we are particularly lucky, we may spot the elusive African Finfoot in the shadows of trees overhanging the water or a roosting Pel’s Fishing-Owl.  

We’ll explore a variety of habitats, from the distinctive mopane woodlands to the lush riverine forests along the Luangwa River. In this area, we recently discovered a remarkable local population of African Pittas, and during our first tour here, we recorded half a dozen individuals—including a riveting sighting of two battling it out. This will serve as an excellent backup for our primary pitta location on the main tour. 

In addition to the pittas, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for Red-billed and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers riding around on the abundant game, the striking Red-throated Twinspot, a diverse array of hornbills, and vibrant starlings. We’ll also observe small flocks of finches at waterholes, including Southern Cordonbleu, Green-winged Pytilia, and Red-billed Firefinch. Every day, we’ll accumulate an impressive variety of species totaling around a hundred species. Nights in South Luagnwa.    

Ext Day 5: Depending on the flight, we may have some time to bird locally after breakfast before catching our flight back to Lusaka where the extension concludes.  

2024 Narrative

With everyone arriving in Livingstone on schedule, we had a couple of hours on our first evening to explore the area around our accommodation. Situated outside of town, the surrounding habitat provided excellent birding opportunities right on foot—a perfect introduction to the region’s birds. 

Directly behind our lodge, a seasonal riverbed with scattered pools of standing water hosted an array of species, including Wood, Green, and Common Sandpipers, Three-banded Plover, African Jacana, Little Bittern, Little Egret, Striated Heron, and a nest-building Brown-hooded Kingfisher. In recent years, a Ross’s Turaco—typically found much farther north—has taken up residence in this area, and it put on a great show for the group before we moved on. Other highlights included Crested and Black-collared Barbets, Black Cuckooshrike, Southern Black-Tit, White-browed Robin-Chat, Violet-backed Starling, and Jameson’s Firefinch. 

Leaving the riverbed behind, we ventured into open woodland interspersed with farm plots. Here, we encountered Magpie Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Lilac-breasted Roller, Village Indigobird, and a pair of Bennett’s Woodpeckers, among others. By the end of our first group outing, we had already recorded nearly 60 species—not a bad start! 

At sunrise the next morning, we arrived at the Dambwa Lagoons—the Livingstone wastewater treatment plant—just in time for the golden hour. We spent the next hour scoping out the water pans, where White-faced Whistling-Ducks, African Swamphens, White-winged Terns, Black-winged Stilts, and both African Sacred and Glossy Ibis were abundant. Smaller numbers of Blue-billed Teal, Red-billed Duck, Long-toed Lapwing, African Snipe, Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff, Collared Pratincole, and the striking Greater Painted-Snipe added to the diversity. Several falcons also made an appearance, including Dickinson’s Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon, and Eurasian Hobby. 

From there, we continued into Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Along the Zambezi River, we encountered an array of waterbirds such as African Openbill, Marabou and Yellow-billed Storks, African Darter, Goliath Heron, Hamerkop, and a half-dozen Rock Pratincoles. Raptors were equally well-represented, with excellent sightings of White-backed Vulture, Bateleur, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, and African Fish-Eagle. Other highlights from around the park included White-fronted Bee-eater, five species of kingfishers, Broad-billed Roller, Lesser Honeyguide, Retz’s Helmetshrike, and Collared Palm-Thrush. Mammals were also well-represented with the likes of elephants, giraffes, hippos, and a couple White Rhinos up-close! 

With our morning list already surpassing 100 species, we headed to lunch at a scenic spot along the river. While we ate, a distant African Finfoot appeared, offering scope views, and a short walk nearby rewarded us with excellent looks at a cooperative Half-collared Kingfisher. 

No visit to Livingstone would be complete without a stop at Victoria Falls, so we spent over an hour exploring the lush vegetation nourished by the falls’ perpetual mist. Between breathtaking views of the falls, we spotted Trumpeter Hornbill, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, and Red-winged Starlings. A quick scan across the border even added a few species to our Zimbabwe list. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon looping around the outskirts of town, picking up Green Woodhoopoe, Little Sparrowhawk, Crowned Hornbill, and large numbers of African Swifts soaring over a canyon. 

Leaving the Victoria Falls region behind, we packed our bags and set off northeast toward Kafue, Zambia’s largest national park. By mid-morning, we reached the park gate, where we were greeted by Village Weavers, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Greater Blue-eared Starling, and a particularly cooperative Levaillant’s Cuckoo as we checked in. 

Continuing north, we added European Roller, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Meyer’s Parrot, and Zebra Waxbill to our growing list. As we neared the southern shores of Nanzhila Lake, both bird and mammal activity intensified. Highlights included Black-bellied Bustard, Saddle-billed Stork, Wattled Lapwing, Black-crowned Tchagra, Crested Francolin, Senegal Coucal, Green-winged Pytilia, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, and Common Scimitarbill. 

By late evening, we arrived at our accommodation, where we were warmly welcomed with a fantastic feast. As we dined, the calls of African Scops-Owls echoed from every direction, and a pair of Southern Ground-Hornbills boomed from across the way, setting the perfect soundtrack for our night in Kafue. 

The following morning, we set off in search of one of the tour’s primary targets—the highly localized Black-cheeked Lovebird. Retracing our route along the southern shores of Nanzhila Lake proved exceptionally rewarding, not only for birds but also for mammals. A wounded Impala caught our attention, hinting at a nearby predator. After a bit of “Where’s Waldo?” scanning, we finally spotted a well-camouflaged Leopard lurking in the distance. Just moments later, further down the road, we were treated to an incredible sight—an African Wild Dog in full pursuit of an Impala. What a way to start the day! 

The birding was equally productive. We added African Green-Pigeon, White-rumped Swift, Lappet-faced Vulture, Little Bee-eater, Lesser Gray Shrike, Dusky Lark, Eastern Paradise-Whydah, and the regionally special Arnot’s Chat to our growing list. Leaving the lakeshore behind, we turned south, heading toward more promising lovebird habitats. Though initially quiet on the lovebird front, we picked up several excellent species along the way, including Black Cuckoo, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Golden Oriole, Mosque Swallow, Red-billed Quelea, and a roadside group of Southern Crested Guineafowl. 

As the hours passed, we began to brace for disappointment, knowing we still had a long drive ahead. But just as we were starting to accept defeat, an excited voice rang out—"Lovebird!" Sure enough, several Black-cheeked Lovebirds were perched in a large tree amid farm plots. With great excitement, we enjoyed extended scope views and even managed some decent photos of our long-awaited target. With that, the rest of the drive felt far more relaxed, mission accomplished! 

Early the next morning, we visited a private farm known as a reliable site for the endemic Chaplin’s Barbet. Eager to find this special bird, we set out on foot across open grasslands dotted with fig trees—its favorite food source. Along the way, we encountered a wealth of new species, including the more common Brubru, Burnt-neck Eremomela, Croaking Cisticola, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, and Pin-tailed Whydah, along with several Sooty Chats. It didn’t take long before we spotted a Chaplin’s Barbet perched atop a fig tree, where we enjoyed prolonged views of this regional rarity. 

Raptors were also putting on a show, with our first African Harrier-Hawk and Brown Snake-Eagle making appearances. Nearby, a small pond hosted a Malachite Kingfisher, several Crowned Lapwings, and a pair of Knob-billed Ducks. As we continued exploring, we came across a Puff Adder along a fencerow—a striking but highly venomous encounter. 

A visit to the farm’s owners to express our gratitude turned out to be perfectly timed, coinciding with a brief 15-minute rain shower. From the comfort of their porch, we sipped coffee and birded their gardens while waiting for the rain to pass, spotting Trumpeter Hornbill, Broad-billed Roller, and an array of sunbirds, including our first Copper Sunbird. 

Once the rain had cleared, we took one final loop around the farm, adding even more highlights: our first Martial Eagle, Miombo Barbet, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, Southern Yellow White-eye, Kurrichane Thrush, Lesser Blue-eared (Miombo) Starling, Black-eared Seedeater, and Amethyst Sunbird. We also heard a Narina Trogon, which didn’t want to be seen. 

After lunch, we enjoyed a relaxed afternoon walk just outside the town of Choma. This productive outing yielded more views of Schalow’s Turaco and Miombo Barbet, along with new additions such as Brown-necked Parrot, Northern Fiscal, African Penduline-Tit, Pale Flycatcher, Red-headed Weaver, and Woodland Pipit. 

The next day was a travel day as we left the south behind and began our journey toward northeastern Zambia. We broke up the drive with a delicious lunch and locally roasted coffee in the capital, Lusaka, before arriving at our accommodation north of the city by mid-afternoon. 

With a couple of hours to spare, we took advantage of special access to explore an extensive farm teeming with birds. White-faced Whistling-Ducks dominated the wetlands, with over 500 individuals present, alongside a half-dozen other duck species, including our first Yellow-billed Ducks and Southern Pochards. The shorebird numbers were equally impressive, with Ruffs leading the way—at least 400 individuals—accompanied by our first Common Ringed and Kittlitz’s Plovers, as well as Little Stint and ten other species of shorebirds. Other waterbird highlights included Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, African Spoonbill, Black Crake, and an astonishing gathering of no fewer than 1,200 Marabou Storks—a spectacular sight! 

Besides the wetlands, the surrounding farmland produced a variety of additional highlights. We encountered Coppery-tailed and White-browed Coucals, an African Marsh-Harrier patrolling the wetlands, Gray-rumped Swallows, Yellow Bishop, Fan-tailed Widowbird, and Thick-billed Weaver. Several warblers were also present, including Sedge Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, and Lesser Swamp Warbler. A surprise flyby from a pair of Greater Striped Swallows added an unexpected bonus, as they are not typically recorded in this region. 

Today was another travel day as we continued our journey toward Kasanka National Park, one of Zambia’s hidden gems. A stop along the way proved exceptionally rewarding, offering a chance to see some real specials, including Black-backed Barbet, Evergreen-forest Warbler, Bocage’s Akalat, and Reichard’s Seedeater. We also spotted Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Trilling Cisticola, Pale-throated and Little Greenbuls, and Olive Sunbird. The Bocage’s Akalats were particularly obliging, allowing for fantastic views. 

By late afternoon, we arrived at Kasanka National Park and checked into our lodge, which boasts stunning views overlooking a vibrant, wildlife-rich lake. The water hosted the usual array of ducks, shorebirds, and other waterbirds, while Wattled Crane, several Lesser Jacanas, and a number of Sitatungas added extra flair to the scene. After dark, we were treated to the calls of an African Barred Owlet on our way to dinner, capping off a perfect introduction to this remarkable park. 

We set out early the following morning, dedicating a couple of hours to birding the Miombo Woodlands before breakfast. It was a fruitful session, with a number of Miombo specialties making an appearance, including White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Rufous-bellied Tit, Black-necked Eremomela, Miombo Scrub-Robin, and Black-eared Seedeater. We also spotted a migrant Collared Flycatcher among the local residents. 

After breakfast, a quick scan of the lake in front of our accommodation revealed our first White-fronted Plover of the trip. The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring more Miombo Woodlands and a nearby Riparian area, where we added more species to our growing list, including African Emerald Cuckoo, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bohm’s and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Moustached Grass-Warbler, Chirping Cisticola, Fan-tailed Widowbird, and Black-and-white Mannikin. 

As the evening approached, we were fortunate to witness one of Zambia’s most impressive spectacles—the mass exodus of millions of Straw-collared Fruit Bats from their daytime roosts to head out and forage for the night. The swirling mass of bats grew more and more unbelievable as dusk fell, and it became clear that this incredible sight alone is worth the trip north. On our way back, we were treated to a final highlight—a Spotted Eagle-Owl perched just off the road, adding a perfect ending to an unforgettable day. 

This morning, we returned to the fruit bat roost to witness the incredible spectacle of millions of bats returning from their night of feeding. It was just as breathtaking as the night before! We spent extra time on the observation tower—originally built for bat viewing—to see what birds we could spot from the vantage point. Just after sunrise, an astonishing 10,000 Barn Swallows streamed past below eye level, a striking reminder that this area isn’t just vital for fruit bats but also serves as an important staging ground for migrating birds. Other highlights from the tower included African Hobby, Moustached Grass-Warbler, and Cabanis’s Greenbul, while our journey out of the area yielded sightings of Fan-tailed Grassbird, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Senegal Lapwing, and Sharp-tailed Starling. Nearby, we also encountered a pair of Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls along with a Crowned Eagle perched atop its nest. 

After breakfast, we ventured back into the Miombo Woodlands, adding several more key species to our list, including Green-backed Woodpecker, White-crested Helmetshrike, Red-capped Crombec, Tabora Cisticola, Anchieta’s Sunbird, and Cabanis’s Bunting. 

The afternoon offered a more relaxed pace after our late nights and early starts, but we still managed to pick up a few more species, including a pair of African Hawk-Eagles and a Pennant-winged Nightjar. As night fell, African Wood-Owls called persistently from the trees above our rooms, providing the perfect soundtrack to fall asleep to. 

After finding a Purble-banded Sunbird around our accommodation the next morning we packed up to begin our journey to Mutinondo. Rather than heading straight there, the plan for today was to detour north to look for the highly localized Katanga Masked-Weaver, the highly localized Katanga Masked-Weaver, a species rarely encountered by birding groups. 

Working our way towards the Luapula River floodplains, we traversed vast open grasslands picking up Siffling and Desert Cisticolas, Capped Wheatear, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Red-capped Lark, Red-headed Qualea, Long-tailed Widowbird, and Blue-breasted Bee-eater. 

Upon reaching the floodplains, it didn’t take too long before we found several Katanga Masked-Weavers, which only has about 75 reports on eBird, proving how few people see this regional specialty. We also added Lanner Falcon, Black-throated Canary, White-throated Swallow, and the aptly named Luapula Cisticola. We also had a large number of “Black” Lechwe, an endemic subspecies found only in the surrounding Bangweula Wetlands. 

From here we returned south and worked our way towards the Mutinondo Wilderness Camp, nestled among dramatic inselbergs in one of Zambia’s most scenic regions. On the drive in we had great looks at several Miombo Tits. 

The next morning many of us were awaken to the sound of Freckled Nightjars, African Barred Owlet, and a displaying African Broadbill before heading towards an early breakfast.  

With renewed energy, we set out for a dambo, a seasonally flooded grassland, for our first attempt at finding the elusive Chestnut-headed Flufftail. As one of the primary targets of this tour and one of the main reasons we visit Mutinondo, this highly localized and sought-after species has only around a dozen eBird records. A sighting would be no small feat, but we ventured into the dambo with hope. The morning air remained cool, and bird activity was high. Despite our concerted effort, no flufftail was seen or heard. However, we did spot a Greater Whitethroat and flushed a Dwarf Bittern—a welcome consolation. 

As we made our way back to the vehicles along a track through Miombo woodland, we encountered African Spotted Creeper, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Miombo Rock-Thrush, and an exceptionally cooperative Miombo Scrub-Robin. 

Returning to camp for lunch, we enjoyed further views of local specialties we had already encountered, including Miombo Tit, Anchieta’s Sunbird, and Black-eared Seedeater. A particular highlight was our first and only Western Violet-backed Sunbird of the trip. 

In the afternoon, we made a second attempt for the Chestnut-headed Flufftail, hoping to spot this difficult species alongside other dambos specialists. Once again, the flufftail remained elusive, but we did flush a striking African Grass-Owl and observed several Marsh Widowbirds along with a handful of Fawn-breasted Waxbills. 

Shifting our focus to the woodlands, we targeted Brown-headed Apalis and Gray-olive Greenbul, successfully obtaining views of both. As the sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow over the landscape, a nearby dambo rewarded us with distant views of a Fülleborn's Longclaw, a perfect way to close out the day. 

On our final morning at Mutinondo, we started the day with views of a displaying African Broadbill before heading to a nearby dambo for one last attempt at the elusive Chestnut-headed Flufftail. Unfortunately, the dambo was much drier than expected—far from ideal conditions. Still, a quick burst of playback immediately elicited a response from nearby. We rushed to the spot and waited. Then, the call came from another direction. The flufftail was toying with us. Despite our best efforts, we never managed to lay eyes on it, though simply hearing one felt like an achievement. A pair of flyover Quailfinches added another species to our growing trip list. 

After breakfast and packing up, we squeezed in a few final additions around camp, including Lazy Cisticola, African Dusky Flycatcher, and White-necked Raven, before beginning our journey south arriving at Gwabi Lodge in the Lower Zambezi Valley the following evening.  

The Lower Zambezi Valley introduces an exciting array of new species, but the star of the show—and the primary reason for our visit—is the highly sought-after African Pitta. We positioned ourselves in a dense thicket where a few individuals were on territory, waiting patiently for any sign of movement. After a long and careful watch, we finally heard one calling, and soon, a glimpse of vivid colors emerged from the undergrowth. Some even managed to snap a few photos before it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Fortunately (spoiler alert), those who joined the tour extension would get an even better looks! 

Shifting our focus to other secretive species in this habitat, we were rewarded with views of Bearded Scrub-Robin, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Eastern Nicator, and exceptionally close encounters with Livingstone’s Flycatcher—a real highlight. 

By midday, temperatures had risen, but the shaded gardens around our accommodation provided a welcome respite for both birds and birders. Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Peter’s Twinspot, Gray Tit-Flycatcher, and Sober Greenbul were added to our growing list. 

No visit to the Lower Zambezi Valley would be complete without a boat trip along the mighty Zambezi River. In the late afternoon, we boarded a boat and spent a few hours exploring its shorelines and sandy islands. Large numbers of shorebirds and waterfowl were roosting, including an impressive 800+ Knob-billed Ducks. We also enjoyed excellent views of species we had previously already seen including White-crowned Lapwings, Collared Pratincoles, Goliath Heron, and Hamerkop, along with dozens of other species. 

The real highlight, however, belonged to the bee-eaters. White-fronted and Blue-cheeked were joined by a couple dozen of our first Southern Carmine Bee-eaters, dazzling us with their vibrant colors as they gathered near their nesting sites in the riverbanks. 

This boat trip was the perfect way to wrap up what had been an incredibly successful main departure. We had seen nearly every major target species—along with a wealth of exciting bonus birds—making for a truly memorable tour. 

EXTENSION 

A quick 1-hour flight brought us to the edge of South Luangwa National Park, one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations, renowned for having some of the highest concentrations of mammals on the continent. We were warmly welcomed at our comfortable lodge with refreshing cold face towels and some of the most genuine hospitality you could imagine. After two weeks of intense birding, this was a perfect retreat, offering a lodge that has thoughtfully considered every detail to ensure a seamless and enjoyable stay. 

We spent the next half day, followed by two full days and another morning, embarking on morning and afternoon safaris in search of both birds and mammals. Each drive turned up new species and exciting surprises. Birding highlights included our main target—the highly localized Lilian’s Lovebird, with one flock of around 35 individuals. This is undoubtedly the prime location to see this species. We also had our first Purple-crested Turaco, White Stork, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Mourning Collared Dove, African Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Bearded Woodpecker, African Skimmer, Gray-headed Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, and Black-winged Bishop among others. A migrant group of Amur Falcons also passed through during our stay showcasing how these are later arrivals into the subregion. On two separate evenings at dusk, we were treated to sightings of the elusive Pel’s Fishing-Owl, perched on an exposed branch over a small waterway. 

The real surprise, however, came when we discovered a thicket teeming with African Pittas! We heard at least half a dozen calling and were able to observe two incredible individuals engaged in a territorial dispute, completely unaware of our presence. These birds proved to be more reliable and easier to spot than the traditional pitta location in Zambia! 

Of course, the mammals were a major highlight as well. The usual antelope species, such as Puku, Impala, and Kudu, were well represented, alongside the iconic Elephants, Buffalos, Hippos, and Warthogs. Special to the region were sightings of Crawshay’s Zebra, Thornicroft’s Giraffe, and Cookson’s Wildebeest. With such prolific game came an abundance of predators, and we were not disappointed with Lions, Spotted Hyenas, African Wild Dogs, and Leopard sightings. We also kept an eye out for smaller creatures, with highlights including the Large-spotted Genet, Four-toed Elephant Shrew and a Black Mamba. 

After a wonderful three-night stay, we sadly had to depart, marking the end of a relaxing conclusion to an incredibly productive Zambia tour!

-- Ethan Kistler 

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