I often get asked by clients wanting to book onto a Sunway Safaris trip 2 questions.
1) What the birding will be like on tour? Well it can be great depending on the time of the year they would like to travel. The tours that depart in October through to May are usually better for birding as the summer migrants have arrived. But in General the birding throughout the year is good
2) Do the guides know their birds? Yes most have the guides have a good general knowledge of the birds in the area you travel. Some of the guides specialize in birds so it really is luck of the draw as too which guide you get.

On most of Sunway Safaris tours we visit various hotspots in southern Africa for birding. Below is a breakdown of some of the hotspots you could visit on tour by country.

 

Botswana:
Botswana having more than has more than 570 bird species and is also of great importance to birders and a must to visit in the wet season. Botswana has a wide variety of eco-systems ranging from the Kalahari Desert the Okavango Delta, woodland and open grasslands to the Chobe region in the north. Due to the remoteness of water, especially in the drier areas, there are areas that have a very high concentration of birds that flock to these limited water supplies.
•    Makgadikgadi Pans (Tour code: BTa14, NBa21, NB21, ZBa16, CVa21, CV21, BZac15) – is a great example of a remote area that draws large numbers of birds., it brings in l Large numbers of  

pelicans, waders & flamingos congregate on the pans at times when there is water (summer) which will also breed on the pans at years of high water where they will also breed.
•    The Okavango Delta (Tour code: BT14, BTa14, CV21, CVa21, NB21, NBa21, ZB16, ZBa16, BZac15) – with the annual movements of water in and out of the Okavango and pools drying up and

flooding of pools various birds attend this marvel. With pools drying up fish are caught in these pools which feed thousands of fish eaters, at the same time when the waters reach the delta from

the highlands of Angola it brings the catfish run which bring thousands of catfish into the delta chasing the smaller fish down the channels.

 

Crimson Boubou Shrike

Mozambique:
Mozambique has more than 600 recorded bird species of which 500 breed locally. With a coastline extending over 2500km in length from Tanzania to South Africa it has the longest shore line in Africa. After many years of civil war Mozambique is starting to take off again as a tourist destination. There are various hotspots found throughout Mozambique for birding that are slowly becoming more popular. With a wide variety of eco-systems ranging from miombo woodland to marshlands and lakes together with its long undisturbed coast line makes Mozambique a new birding destination.
•    Gorongosa National Park (Tour code: MMe18) – being a fairly new game reserve in Southern Africa it is a fragile and very special national treasure to Mozambique. It is situated at the

southernmost point of the Great African Rift Valley. A species very special to this park is the Green Headed Oriole. Species - Pennant-winged Nightjar, Madagascar Bee-eater, Palmnut Vulture and

Eastern Nicator.
•    Zambezi Delta (not visited) – or also known as the Zambezi River Floodplain is covered by numerous pans and ox-bow lakes with grasslands and some very productive riverine forest and open

tracts of open woodland making ait a great spot for birds and birders alike. Although the area is a fairly populated it is still very productive when it comes to birding. Species - Comb Duck,

Anchieta’s Tchagra, Basra Reed-warbler and Allen’s Gallinule.

 

Little Bee-eater

Namibia:
Namibia is home to +- 620 bird species and like its neighbouring countries also has a wide variety of eco-systems ranging from the oldest desert to floodplains and grasslands not to forget riverine forests.
•    Walvis Bay (Tour code: CVa21, CV21, NBa21, NB21) – this area was proclaimed a Ramsar site in 1995 and is home to more than 250000 birds during the peak summer months. This area is

12600ha in size and is home to large numbers of flamingos that have this site their home. The Chestnut-banded plover is also found here and 70% of the world’s population is found on its

shores.
•    Etosha National park (Tour code: CVa21, CV21, NBa21, NB21, WVac14) – is home to 412 species and is listed as an important birding area in the country with 40 plus raptor species. All of

Namibia’s vultures are found here together with 12 species of eagle.
•    The Caprivi (Tour code: NBa21, NB21, WVac14) – one of Namibia’s favoured birding destinations is home to some Africa’s rarest bird species including the Pels Fishing owl, Rock Pranticole, African

Skimmers and Pygmy Geese. Together with various herons and kingfishers this is a must see destination.

 

Brown Hooded Kingfisher

South Africa:
South Africa has +- 850 species that have been recorded of which 85% are resident or annual visitors and +- 50% are endemic or near-endemic to South Africa and can only be seen here. Because of the great number of birds and birders alike South Africa has established key birding areas which cover most of our endemic species as well as the migrants. These areas are as follows:
•    Northern Zululand (Tour code: SAa17, SA18, JJa14, MOa14) – being one of the richest species area’s in South Africa with a rich general coverage of forests, marshes, grasslands, acacia woodland,

coastal estuaries and freshwater lagoons which support an amazing array of endemic and migrant birds. Species – Green Barbet, Blue cheeked Bee-eater, Eurasian Curlew and Lemon Dove.
•    West Coast National Park (not visited) – this area includes the Langebaan lagoon and attracts large numbers of waders from the arctic breeding grounds that flock here in the thousands during

summer. Species – African Black Oyster-catcher, Peregrine Falcon and Flamingos.
•    Cape Town and the surrounding area (Tour code: SAa17, SA18, CV21, CVa21) – is a much visited region and has a large number of endemics and has the best wader watching available in the

country. The fynbos area found in the Cape is of particular importance to the endemic sugarbirds and nectar feeders.
•    Wakkerstroom (not visited) – nestled in an area where Mpumalanga, the Free-state and Kwa-Zulu Natal meet is a hot spot for grassland and wetland species and is one of the most visited towns

in the country. It is an area of high grasslands, marshes with mountain patches of forest. Some species found in the area are Rudd’s Lark, Bothas lark, Blue Korhaan and southern Bald Ibis.
•    Lowveld (Tour code: SA18, SAa17, JJa14, MOa14, LMa22, LM22, SAac12) – the Lowveld is predominantly low lying bushland which is home to large populations of game birds and predatory species.

The Kruger National Park covers most of this area and is home to a large amount of raptors. We find the big 6 of birds found in the Kruger National park being the Southern Ground Hornbill,

Saddle-billed stork, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture and lastly and most elusive the Pels Fishing owl.

 

African Green Pigeon

Zambia:
Zambia for a landlocked country and covered by a single biome being miombo woodland has +-753 bird species being recorded of which 600 are resident. Although being covered by miombo woodland it is defined by water. There are 3 large rivers that being the Zambezi, Luangwa and Kafue rivers which give Zambia some great floodplains and swamps. Zambia has only 2 endemic bird species being the Chaplins Barbet and the Black-cheeked Lovebird.
•    Bangweulu Swamps (not visited) – this is the place to find the elusive Shoebill a large stork like bird with a bill that looks like a wooden clog. The swamps feed the Congo River and are believed to be the final resting place of David Livingstone. They are divided into 3 main habitats being open water to the north, huge swampland in the middle and season flooded grass plains to the south

drawing a large variety of birds into the area. Species - Swamp Fly-catcher, Marsh Tchagra and White Cheeked Bee-eater.
•    South & North Luangwa (Tour code: LM22, LMa22, NZe13, MZe20) – these 2 parks have been dubbed the greatest wildlife reserves in Africa if not the world! With over 400 of the 750 bird species to

be found in Zambia these parks are a birders hotspot with a large concentration of water birds being found along the Luangwa River and the oxbow lagoons. Just before the rains set in large

numbers of migrant birds from Europe and intra African species arrive to be a part of the feeding frenzy that occurs with the arriving warm rainy season. Species - Woolly-necked Stork, Madagascar

Pond-Heron, Denhams Bustard and Wattled Crane.
•    Kafue National park (Tour code: WZe21) – A birders paradise with over 500 birds being recorded. The park is split in two by the Kafue River the largest tributary of the Zambezi River and draws

large numbers of birds to it open grasslands and miombo woodlands. Dambos (seasonally flooded area’s) are present along the Kafue River that hold water into the dry season and attract waders

and other species. Species - Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers.

 

African Jacana

Zimbabwe:
Zimbabwe is one of the newest upcoming hotspots for birders with over 670 species being recorded. It has a variety of habitats from the Zambezi Valley to the Eastern highlands and montane grasslands to miombo woodlands.
•    Lower Zambezi Valley (Tour code: LM22, LMa22, MZe20) - once the Zambezi River leaves the mighty Victoria falls it heads east towards Lake Kariba and passes through a series of National parks.

The river dotted with many sandbars and reed islands is home to over 350 bird species. Species - African Skimmers, various herons, storks and bee-eaters.
•    Hwange National Park (Tour code: ZBa16, ZB16, MZe20, BZac15) – is home to 400 bird species and is Zimbabwe’s largest national park. It attracts large numbers of inter-African migrants that

come to the park in the hot/wet season being November to March to feed on the insects found during this period. Species - Racket-tailed Roller, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Red-crested Korhaan

and Southern Ground Hornbill.
•    Eastern Highlands (not visited) – with its mountains, forest and montane grasslands this is a very special area with the mountain chain running north-south being the natural border between

Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The eastern slopes receive rainfall and moisture from the sea. Species - Bronzy Sunbird, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Chirinda Apalis and Swynnertons Robin.

 

Goliath heron

 

Many thanks to Michael Pope who kindly supplied the images for this blog. http://kuwaitbirding.blogspot.com/