| Day 1: Arrival in Lilongwe, and bird through the Brachystegia woodlands to the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve After arriving at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, you will be met by your trip leader. We will then set off west through rural land and beyond into the magnificent Brachystegia woodlands that surround the Dzalanyama Mountain range, which forms the western border of Malawi with Zambia and Mozambique. Days 2 & 3: Dzalanyama Forest Reserve This fantastic area has been set aside as a forest reserve and protects extensive tracts of this endemic woodland type. We will spend the next two days birding the superb open woodland in the hope of finding mixed feeding flocks. Special and highly desirable species that are often associated with these flocks include Stierling’s Woodpecker (a near endemic to Malawi), Olive-headed Weaver (extremely range- restricted), Miombo Pied Barbet, Spotted Creeper, Red- capped Crombec, Miombo Scrub Robin, Yellow-bellied and Southern Hyliota, Bohm’s Flycatcher and the highly active and beautiful White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, which constantly fans it’s wings and tail as it literally falls from branch to branch. Other excellent birds we hope to encounter include Whyte’s Barbet, Green-backed Honeybird, Green-backed Woodpecker, Miombo and Rufous-bellied Tits, Miombo Rock Thrush, Souza’s Shrike, the outrageously beautiful Anchieta’ s and Western Violet-backed Sunbirds, Orange-winged Pytilia, Cabanis’s Bunting and Reichard’s Seedeater. Pale- billed Hornbill can often be seen flying across the road and later on in the afternoon they usually emerge from the woodland and sit on the trees that fringe the surrounding dambos. The Dzalanyama range is also home to Malawi’s only population of Boulder Chat, and this is where they reach the northern limit of their distribution. Day 4: Dzalanyama Forest Reserve to Zomba Plateau This morning we will leave Dzalanyama Forest Reserve and travel in a southerly direction towards the old colonial capital of Zomba. The roads on the way south are lined with locals selling various fruit and vegetables and many more travelling around on their bicycles, undoubtedly the main form of transport for the average Malawian. On our journey towards Zomba we will first drive through the highlands in the Dedza region, which border adjacent Mozambique, and then later we will drop into the lowlands that surround the meandering Shire River before climbing up to the Zomba area. Zomba Mountain, a huge granite outcrop rising to over 6000 feet (2000 meters), will be the focus of our birding and offers open mountain grassland, forest and fast running streams. Some of our targets here are Scarce Swift, White-eared Barbet, Mountain Wagtail and Augur Buzzard. Day 5: Zomba Plateau to Thyolo Mountain We have a full morning to explore the Zomba Plateau forest as well as the area’s various other habitats. Specials in the forest include some of Malawi’s and Africa’s rarest birds. A few of them have only a small range in Malawi and are also extremely localized throughout the rest of their ranges. This is our first opportunity to locate the stunning White-winged Apalis and Thyolo Alethe. The endemic Yellow-throated Apalis is also best searched for on Zomba Mountain and will form the focus of our morning’s birding. After lunch we will then head south to Thyolo Mountain and check into our lodge which is set within the grounds of the Satemwa Tea Estate. This once great mountain has had a rather unfortunate past and one cannot believe that the entire crown was once covered in luxuriant forests. These forests have now been totally destroyed and the forest on Thyolo Mountain is sadly a mere fragment of its former glory. Day 6: Thyolo Mountain to Mulanje Mountain We have the morning to explore the remaining patches of forest as well as the various other habitats that are found on the Satemwa Tea Estate. This morning we will leave our guesthouse early and make our way through the tea plantations up to the last remaining patch of forest. We will again be focusing specifically on trying to locate the White- winged Apalis and Thyolo Alethe, which was named after the mountain where the type specimen was collected, as well as Green-headed Oriole. Other interesting species that can be found in mixed feeding flocks throughout the forest include the breath-taking Bar-tailed Trogon, Livingstone’s Turaco, Pallid Honeyguide, Grey Cuckooshrike and Black-headed Apalis. The trees and gardens that surround our guesthouse provide good feeding areas for a number of interesting species and this is the best place to look for Southern Citril and Black-throated Wattle-eye. Further up from the guest house is a drainage line that usually produces something of interest and we will search this area for the localized Bertram’ s and African Golden Weavers, and Moustached Grass Warbler, whilst keeping one eye scanning upwards for Palmnut Vulture and Western Banded Snake Eagle that occasionally fly overhead. In the afternoon we will head back up to the forest and try and catch up with any of the species we might have missed earlier. If we are very fortunate we may find Buff-spotted Flufftail or hopefully hear its mournful call from somewhere thick in the forest. After a scrumptious lunch we will then depart to our next lodge on Mulanje Mountain. Day 7: Mulanje Mountain Area Today, we have a full day to explore the magnificent forests on Mount Mulanje. We will be based at the wonderful Lujeri Lodge, which is set on a large tea estate with comfortable en suite rooms and wonderful views of the mountain and estate. The birding on Mount Mulanje is simply fantastic and the lower slopes are still covered in excellent forest. Besides being the best site for trying to find the tough Thyolo Alethe the forests here hold a large array of other great species such as White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Cape Batis, Orange Ground Thrush, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Dark-backed Weaver and Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, plus an assortment of Greenbuls that include Little, Grey-olive, Placid and Yellow-streaked. At the edge of the forest one can often find the beautiful Red-throated Twinspot. The magnificent Silvery-cheeked Hornbill can occasionally be seen flying overhead; however it is outnumbered by the more common but just as impressive Trumpeter Hornbill. Today will be a good day to try and connect with any of the special montane species that we may still need to find. Day 8: Mulanje Mountain to Liwonde National Park This morning we depart Mount Mulanje and begin the journey to Liwonde National Park, where our destination will be the tranquil Mvuu Camp, a wonderful tented lodge overlooking the Shire River. Undoubtedly a birding highlight of the trip, the park’s wide range of habitats include open river, swamp, deciduous thicket, riverine forest, seasonal wetland, floodplain and Mopane woodland. Over 350 bird species have been recorded here. After a delicious lunch we will have time to relax in camp next to the ever-refreshing swimming pool; or, for those who would rather bird, we will take a walk around the camp, which is often teeming with birdlife. Species that are regularly encountered in the camp surrounds include the gorgeous Bohm’s Bee-eater, Collared Palm Thrush, noisy Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Scarlet-chested and White-bellied Sunbirds, White-browed Robin-Chat, Bearded Scrub Robin and Yellow-bellied Greenbul. As dusk falls we will search for Fiery-necked and Swamp Nightjars and calling African Barred Owlets. Days 9 & 10: Liwonde National Park We have two full days to explore this incredible wildlife reserve. In our efforts to locate its great variety of bird and mammal species we will undertake a combination of guided walks, game drives and river cruises. The guided walks with an armed ranger are always a highlight as one gets to experience Nature on foot. This morning we will be out in search of the secretive Pel’s Fishing Owl, often described as a giant, ginger teddy bear. Other birds that we hope to encounter include Brown-breasted Barbet, which in Malawi is almost exclusively found in the thickets that surround Mvuu Camp. Green Malkoha, Eastern Nicator, the striking and lively Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Brown-headed Parrot, Broad- billed Roller and African Broadbill are just a few of the other specials we will be on the lookout for. In the Mopane belt that runs through the park we will search for a number of species that include the range-restricted Lilian’s Lovebird, Racket-tailed Roller, Arnot’s Chat, White- breasted Cuckooshrike, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Meves’s Starling, Speckle-throated Woodpecker, Retz’s Helmetshrike and Dickinson’s Kestrel. A boat trip up the Shire River is always a highlight with a constant stream of activity to entertain us. This magnificent river is fairly wide and there are numerous bird species associated with its waters and its banks. On the boat trip we should encounter African Fish Eagle, Western Osprey, Red- necked Falcon, Spur-winged and Long-toed Lapwings and Luapula Cisticola, while numerous species of storks, ibis, herons and kingfishers are ubiquitous. Animals are plentiful in the National Park and especially in the thickets surrounding Mvuu Camp. Impala, Waterbuck, Bushbuck and Warthog are often seen feeding in the camp itself. The stately Sable Antelope is regularly encountered in the nearby dry Mopane woodlands, whilst the Shire River provides sanctuary for some of the largest Hippo and Crocodile populations in Africa. Black Rhino are occasionally observed from within the Rhino sanctuary where they are confined, and Elephant occur throughout the park. In the evening we may get lucky and see the resident Bat Hawk hunting bats over the Shire River. Day 11: Liwonde National Park to Lilongwe This will be our final morning in the park and we will do an early drive enjoying the reserve’s fabulous wildlife and searching for any of the area’s specials that we may not yet have seen. We will then say goodbye to Mvuu Camp and make our long journey westwards back towards the capital city (Lilongwe) where we will overnight in a comfortable guesthouse set within beautiful gardens. Time permitting, we may explore the local nature sanctuary and nearby vleis for Schalow’s Turaco, Olive Sunbird, Green Sandpiper, Red- throated Twinspot and Orange-breasted Waxbill. Day 12: Lilongwe and Departures to Home or Extend This morning we may visit the Lilongwe Sewage works (time permitting) for some last minute waders and water birds. Thereafter, those doing the Nyika Extension will head off towards the Viphya plateau, while those who opt not to do the extension then transfer to the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe for your international flights home. |
| Detailed Itinerary |
| 12 Days Birding and Enjoying Wildlife in Malawi and Zambia |
| For More Information or to Register for this Trip, call Charles at 888-203-7464 or directly at 720-320-1974 or by email at info@PIBird.com. |
Malawi and Zambia
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