Tour Leader: Reece Dodd
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): USD5,200 * GBP4,107 * EUR4,971 * AUD8,178
Zimbabwe is justly famous as a superb birding destination that leaves one with a lasting impression of having experienced the real 'wild Africa.' Pristine wilderness areas, spectacular landscapes and an amazing variety of ecosystems make Zimbabwe a natural history paradise. The diversity of habitats is astounding and ranges from open grassland and afro-montane evergreen forest to broad-leaved miombo woodlands, gallery forest and seasonal wetlands, which together host a large and impressive variety of birds and game. Our tour to this under-birded African destination has been specially designed to incorporate the key habitats and species which are difficult, if not impossible to find elsewhere.
The superb miombo woodlands are home to a vast suite of avian specialities such as the scarce Boulder Chat, recently split Eastern Miombo Sunbird, White-breasted Cuckooshrike and Southern Hyliota, while we can expect seldom-seen and extremely localised species like Chirinda Apalis, Roberts’s Warbler, the delightful Swynnerton’s Robin, Bronzy Sunbird, Black-fronted Bushshrike, little-known Zambezi Indigobird and Cinnamon-breasted Tit in the picturesque Bvumba Mountains of the Eastern Highlands which border Mozambique.
The middle part of the tour is spent around the extensive, seasonal wetlands and bird-rich miombo woodlands around the capital city of Harare. Miombo specialities include Green-backed Honeybird, Whyte’s Barbet, Miombo Tit, African Spotted Creeper, Miombo Rock Thrush whilst the seasonal wetlands within the city boundaries include Streaky-breasted Flufftail, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Cuckoo-finch, African, Baillon’s, Striped and Corn Crakes.
We complete the tour in the northeast of the country, taking in the majestic Victoria Falls, rightly considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. We’ll target a smattering of Okavango delta specials which reach their eastern limit here such as Slaty Egret, Rufous-bellied Heron, the huge Coppery-tailed Coucal, Hartlaub's Babbler, White-crowned Lapwing, Swamp Nightjar, Racket-tailed Roller, Rock Pratincole, Schalow’s Turaco, Bradfield’s Hornbill, and the rare Shelley’s Sunbird.
Swynnerton's Robin; Roberts's Warbler; Chirinda Apalis; Blue Swallow; Boulder Chat; Zambezi Indigobird; Cinnamon-breasted & Miombo Tits; Eastern Miombo, Variable, Shelley's & Bronzy Sunbirds; White-breasted Cuckooshrike; Cabanis's Bunting; Southern Hyliota; Black-fronted Bushshrike; Green-backed Honeybird; Whyte’s Barbet; African Spotted Creeper; Miombo Rock Thrush; Streaky-breasted Flufftail; Yellow-mantled Widowbird; Cuckoo-finch; African, Baillon’s, Striped & Corn Crakes; Slaty Egret; Rufous-bellied Heron; Coppery-tailed Coucal; Swamp Nightjar; Racket-tailed Roller; Rock Pratincole; Schalow’s Turaco; Bradfield’s Hornbill.
Blue Monkey; Mutable Sun Squirrel; Southern African Giraffe; Plains Zebra; Impala; Greater Kudu; Hippopotamus; African Buffalo; African Elephant; Common & Central African Large-spotted Genets; White-tailed Mongoose; Springhare; Wild Cat; Southern Lesser Galago.
woodland, riverine forest, wetlands, rivers, miombo woodland, afro-montane forest, afro-montane grasslands
warm to very hot and humid, some rain possible
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Moderate tour with some easy days & some demanding days. Suitable for the keen to dedicated birder. Not suitable for anyone with mobility or significant health & fitness challenges.
Good to very comfortable lodges
Moderate. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions. Forest birding is more challenging, Miombo birding can be slow. Several low-density target species.
Victoria Falls, Zambezi River cruise, open vehicle safari, African sunset, sundown drinks, Bvumba Mountains
Worthwhile to good. Forest photography is challenging, as are rallids. Somewhat easier around Vic Falls. No dedicated hides.
I got exactly what I asked for - delighted with the species we saw. It was a lovely trip; and a great job of leading was done by Andre Bernon.