Reach Africa Birding and Getaways

Transcription

1 Website: Reach Africa Birding and Getaways Reach Africa Birding Tel: Cell: Fax: P.O Box 409 Allens Nek 1737 Roodepoort, South Africa Image Per Holmen. Southern Mozambique 13 DAY TRIP: 1 to 13 March 2018 This promises to be a truly memorable trip. Our trip focuses on the region from Bilene northwards and includes the Komati and Limpopo River floodplains, the Inhambane peninsula, the woodlands surrounding Panda and the Bobiane thickets, north of Massinga. This area boasts three of the most sought-after Mozambique specials ie Olive-headed Weaver, Crab Plover and the recently rediscovered Eastern Green Tinkerbird. A rapidly dwindling area of miombo woodland, close to the town of Panda, is the only locality in southern Africa where the Olive-headed Weaver has been seen since Crab Plover can be found anywhere from Inhambane up to Ponta da Barra on the far north of the peninsula. The Eastern Green Tinkerbird is found in remnant forest patches near the town of Unguana, north of Inhambane. THE DESTINATIONS The floodplains associated with the Komati and Limpopo rivers have produced very exciting birding over the past couple of years. Huge

2 flat areas of grassland, when flooded, provide very productive birding habitat. Coastal forests near the towns of Macia and Xai Xai hold numerous species normally associated with northern Kwa Zulu Natal. The surrounding areas consists of long, uninterrupted stretches of white sandy beaches, high primary sand dunes, coastal forests, inland flood plains and numerous lakes and accompanying marshlands 2 The town of Panda is a short way inland from the southern Mozambique coast, close to a relict and dwindling patch of miombo woodland, which is presently the only site south of the Zambezi for a localised miombo specialist, the Olive-headed Weaver (Ploceus olivaceiceps). The road from Inharrime to Panda provides some excellent birding, passing through extensive grassy wetland areas, palm savanna and mixed acacia woodland. The city of Inhambane is situated on a peninsula on Mozambique s south coast, on the edge of a tidal mudflat and estuary.

3 Being one of the oldest cities in southern Africa, it boasts impressive architecture and an extremely interesting museum. 3 Mangrove swamps flank the water along the edge of the peninsula, all the way up to Ponta da Barra. Extensive mudflats offer a good variety of migrant waders in summer, the most sought after being the Crab Plover. Inland, a variety of shallow pans and wetlands are to be found. Sandy grassland occurs in patches throughout the indigenous woodland areas. Isolated patches of secondary dune forest are to be found near the coast. The Bobiane-Unguana thickets, west of the EN1, near the town of Massinga in the Inhambane Province, provide some of the richest bird habitats in Mozambique. The area consists of some rather fragmented patches of coastal evergreen thicket, about five to six metres tall, with occasional taller emergent trees. These patches of forest are the remnants of what had been a more widespread habitat before being replaced by subsistence agriculture.

4 BIRDING ATTRACTIONS 4 Komati and Limpopo floodplains, Chizavane Dickinson s Kestrel, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Rufous-bellied Heron, African Pygmy-Goose, Black Coucal, Brown Scrub-Robin, Eastern Nicator, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Rudd s Apalis, Grey Waxbill, Grey Sunbird, Rufous-winged Cisticola. Inharrime to Panda Eurasian Bittern, African Wood-Owl, Swamp Nightjar, African Hobby, Dickinson s Kestrel, Red-necked Spurfowl, Shelley s Francolin, Rufousbellied Heron, Red-chested Flufftail, Lesser Jacana, African Rail, Dwarf Bittern, Little Bittern, Eastern Nicator, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Rudd s Apalis, Neergard s Sunbird, Lemon-breasted Canary.

5 5 Bobiane-Unguana area Eastern Green Tinkerbird, Livingstone s Turaco, Green Malkoha, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, East Coast Akalat, Plain-backed Sunbird, Livingstone s Flycatcher, Black-headed Apalis, Mottled Spinetail, Bohm s Spinetail, Red-throated Twinspot. Panda woodland African Cuckoo Hawk, Coqui Francolin, Olive-headed Weaver, Neergaard's Sunbird, Southern Hyliota, Brown-backed Honeybird, Racket-tailed Roller, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Stierling s Wren- Warbler, Pale Batis, Red-faced Crombec, Grey Penduline-Tit.

6 6 Inhambane peninsula Bar-tailed Godwit, Crab Plover, Red Knot, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Lesser Crested Tern, Little Tern, Mangrove Kingfisher, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Magpie Mannikin, Blackthroated Wattle-eye, Collared Palm-Thrush, Grey-Sunbird, Purplebanded Sunbird, Lemon-breasted Canary, ITINERARY Day 1 (Johannesburg-Letaba, KNP) Depart at sparrows and enter Kruger Park at around lunchtime through Phalaborwa gate. Afternoon spent birding and game viewing. Overnight at Letaba Rest Camp. Day 2 (Letaba, KNP-Xai Xai) Early departure from Letaba and enter Mozambique through Giriyondo border post. Travel via Massingir Dam and Limpopo River floodplain to Zona Braza, north of Xai Xai. Arrive mid-afternoon and overnight at Zona Braza Day 3 (Xai Xai-Caju Afrique) Early morning birding around lodge Depart after brunch for Caju Afrique, near Inharrime. Rest of day spent birding en route Overnight at Caju Afrique.

7 Days 4 & 5 (Panda area) Days spent birding in woodlands and wetlands Overnight at Caju Afrique 7 Day 6 (Panda area-dongane Lake) Morning birding around camp Depart after brunch and head for Dongane Lake. Afternoon forest birding and overnight at Dunes de Dovela Eco Lodge. Day 7 (Dongane Lake-Morrungulo) Early morning birding around lodge Depart after breakfast for Morrungulo. Visit Bobiane thickets for some afternoon birding. Overnight at Morrungulo Days 8 and9 (Bobiane-Unguana area) Day spent birding in woodlands and wetlands Overnight at Morrungulo Day 10 (Morrungulo-Barra Peninsula) Early morning birding around lodge Depart after breakfast for Inhambane Rest of day spent birding en route to Barra Peninsula Overnight at lodge, Barra Day 11 (Barra and surrounding area) Day spent birding Overnight at lodge Day 12 (Barra-Xai Xai) Early morning birding around Barra Depart after breakfast and head for Limpopo floodplain Overnight at Honeypot camp, south of Xai Xai Day 13 (Xai Xai-Johanesburg) Depart early morning Bird the Nkomati floodplain en route to the border Arrive in Johannesburg early evening