Zambia. Comprehensive Birding Tour 28 th August to 16 th September 2019 (20 days) Fülleborn's Longclaw by Lars Petersson

Transcription

1 Zambia Comprehensive Birding Tour 28 th August to 16 th September 2019 (20 days) Fülleborn's Longclaw by Lars Petersson This exciting tour concentrates on the highlights of one of Africa s most remarkable countries, offering vast areas of pristine wilderness and a great diversity of habitat. The tour visits a number of incredible sites within the country, from the breath-taking Victoria Falls, aptly named by the locals as the smoke that thunders, to the rich miombo woodlands, mushitus (riverine forest) and dambos (seasonally inundated wetlands) around Mwinilunga, Mutinondo, and various areas in-between. Key sites include the fabulous Choma region where we can expect to enjoy a wonderful selection of birds such as the endemic Chaplin s Barbet together with Racket-tailed Roller, Red-capped Crombec and

2 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 2 Fülleborn's Longclaw. The Kafue area features the country s second endemic bird species, the delightful Black-cheeked Lovebird, and we stand excellent chances at finding this gorgeous species. Further north towards Mutanda and beyond, the extensive miombo woodlands and bridge crossings give us ample opportunity to find Sharp-tailed Starling, Miombo Pied Barbet, Red-throated Cliff Swallow and the rare Bamboo Warbler. One of the ultimate sites on the route is sure to be the remote north-west of the country which holds an incredible variety of localised specialities. Grimwood s Longclaw, Bocage s Weaver, Black-collared Bulbul, Angola Lark, Forbes s Plover, Bannerman s Sunbird, Black-and-rufous Swallow, Black-necked Eremomela, Laura s Woodland Warbler and Margaret s Batis will all feature prominently. We also visit the vast Mutinondo Wilderness where we stand excellent chances of finding the rare Bar-winged Weaver, Anchieta s Barbet, Anchieta s Sunbird, Bocage s Akalat, Böhm's Flycatcher and Souza s Shrike. We invite you to join us on this incredible adventure through one of Africa s most beautiful countries! THE ITINERARY Day 1 Arrival in Lusaka THE TOUR AT A GLANCE Day 2 Days 3 & 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Days 10 & 11 Day 12 Day 13 Days 14 to 16 Day 17 Day 18 Day 19 Day 20 Lusaka to Mutinondo Wilderness Mutinondo Wilderness Mutinondo Wilderness to Forest Inn Forest Inn to Chingola Chingola: day visit to Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctuary Chingola to Mwinilunga Day trip to Kabompo area Mwinilunga area Mwinilunga to Mutanda Mutanda to North Kafue National Park North, Central and South Kafue National Park South Kafue National Park to Choma Choma Choma to Livingstone Livingstone and depart

3 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 3 TOUR MAP THE TOUR IN DETAIL Day 1: Arrival in Lusaka. Today is essentially set aside as an arrival day. Upon landing at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, located on the outskirts of Zambia s bustling capital city, you will be met by a Rockjumper representative and transferred to our comfortable guest house. If time allows, we will then explore a local greenspace where we hope to see Natal Spurfowl, Red-collared and White-winged Widowbirds, Black-winged Bishop, Red-billed and Jameson s Firefinches, and Blue Waxbill among other fabulous and soon to be familiar species. Day 2: Lusaka to Mutinondo Wilderness. Today we leave Lusaka and embark on the long drive towards the famous Mutinondo Wilderness. This spectacular private reserve, perched above the Muchinga escarpment, is set in verdant woodland punctuated by monstrous whaleback granite domes. Our beautiful private camp is perched atop one of these lovely inselbergs affording breath-taking views. We expect to arrive in the late afternoon, so we will immediately settle into our accommodation, but there may still be time to explore the rocky surrounds of our lodge in search of rock-loving species such as Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Striped Pipit, and Lazy Cisticola. If we are extremely fortunate, we may even encounter a potentially undescribed species of Doublecollared Sunbird that favours these sparse rocky habitats around the lodge. Pale-billed Hornbill by Lars Petersson

4 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 4 Days 3 & 4: Mutinondo Wilderness. We have two full days to explore this superb area and will begin by birding the lovely miombo woodland that surrounds our accommodation. These beautiful broad-leaved forests hold an exceptional number of unique and highly desirable species, although bird densities are usually extremely low and much patience and persistence is required to locate the targets. It is worth noting that we will have numerous chances to locate the full suite of miombo woodland birds during the course of the tour. In the woodlands surrounding our lodge at Mutinondo, we hope to find the uncommon Thick-billed Cuckoo, Green-capped Anchieta's Sunbird by Jonathan Rossouw Eremomela, Cabanis's Bunting, Green-backed Woodpecker, Anchieta's Barbet, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Green-backed Honeybird, Long-tailed Cisticola, scarce Souza's Shrike, nondescript Wood and Bushveld Pipits, Western Violet-backed, Anchieta s and Eastern Miombo Double-collared Sunbirds, Reichard s Seedeater and Orange-winged Pytilia. Mutinondo is also one of the best areas to find the elusive Bar-winged Weaver; a strange species that creeps slowly in search of insects along moss-covered branches. There is also an easily accessible patch of mushitu (gallery forest) on the property, which we will explore in search of the shy and secretive Bocage s Akalat, the noisy Grey-olive and Cabanis s Greenbuls, Laura s Woodland and Evergreen Forest Warblers, Black-throated Wattle-Eye, Green Twinspot, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher and the indescribable Ross s Turaco. The secondary growth and bracken briar supports both Moustached Grass Warbler and Marsh (Anchieta s) Tchagra, while stunted woodland nearby could deliver the incredible and always busy White-tailed Blue Flycatcher. Some of our time will then be devoted to the waterlogged grasslands in the southern part of the reserve. Here our quarry is the extremely secretive and little-known Chestnut-headed Flufftail; one of Africa s rarest birds. This species is notoriously difficult to pin down and we will have to be extremely lucky to obtain a sighting. A host of other specials are also possible and we have decent chances of finding sought-after species such as Blue Quail, Fan-tailed Grassbird, Stout Cisticola, Marsh Widowbird, Fawn-breasted Waxbill and the tricky Locustfinch. A good deal of walking, effort and perseverance will be required to get views of these marsh species, however if the conditions are good then so too are our chances of success. Böhm's Bee-eater by Keith Valentine Day 5: Mutinondo Wilderness to Forest Inn. Depending on what we may still be looking for, we will either spend a little more time birding around Mutinondo or else carry on towards Forest Inn where we expect to arrive in time for a late lunch. This

5 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 5 property is conveniently situated near the Great North Road, which was originally intended to run from Cape Town through to Cairo, and protects an area of around 160 ha of healthy woodland brimming with miombo specials. The tall, closed canopy woodland (which is characterised by trees belonging to the Brachystegia genus) is probably the best place to see both Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver and Böhm s Flycatcher. Both Yellow-bellied and Southern Hyliotas also occur making this a great location to compare these similar species side by side. A number of other excellent species that Anchieta s Barbet by Markus Lilje can be seen here include the enigmatic African Spotted Creeper, Rufous-bellied and Miombo Tits, Miombo Scrub Robin, Black-necked Eremomela, Stierling s Wren-Warbler, and Red-capped Crombec. Day 6: Forest Inn to Chingola. After another visit to the miombo woodlands surrounding Forrest Inn, in search of any of the specials we may still be needing, we will drive towards the mining town of Chingola in Zambia s Copperbelt province. This will form our base, from which we will then explore the areas surrounding the nearby Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctuary. Day 7: Chingola: day visit to Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctuary. Today we will visit the Chimfunshi area, including some other interesting habitats nearby. Chimfunshi itself is best known as a sanctuary where orphaned Chimpanzees are kept, however the area also offers up some exceptional habitat and is a fantastic backup site for many miombo, forest, and general wetland species. A number of lowdensity species are also readily encountered in the miombo woodlands here including the rare and unobtrusive Miombo Pied and Whyte s Barbets, unpredictable Sharp-tailed Starling, and Trilling Cisticola. Patches of evergreen forest nearer the floodplain of the Kafue River support both Brownheaded and Grey Apalises, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, and Purple-throated Cuckooshrike. Day 8: Chingola to Mwinilunga. Today we embark on another long drive towards Mwinilunga, in the far north-western corner of Zambia. This remote area is bordered by Angola to the west and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north, supporting many species that are extremely challenging to see elsewhere. This is undoubtedly one of the most exciting locations on this trip and we have a number of days to explore the varied habitat for the long list of associated specials. Grey-winged Robin-Chat by Cuan Rush On our drive west, we will make frequent stops, in good looking habitat. Bridge crossings can be especially productive and often hold breeding colonies of Red-throated Cliff Swallow at this time of the year. Other quality species such as the little-known

6 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 6 Bamboo Warbler, Bocage s Akalat, White-chinned Prinia, stunning Böhm s Bee-eater and the vocal Yellow-throated Leaflove are all among the list of possibilities. We expect to arrive in Mwinilunga in the late afternoon where we will check into our accommodations for the next few nights. Our comfortable lodgings make for an excellent base from where to explore the various habitat zones, and we are certainly in for an exciting few days as we target the full range of first-class species found in this remote region. Day 9: Mwinilunga area: day visit to the Kabompo area. Our first full day in this exciting area will be spent in the mavunda forest area to the south of Mwinilunga. This superb dry evergreen forest holds a fascinating combination of miombo Bar-winged Weaver by David Hoddinott and mushitu species. The two prized specialties in this area are the stunning viridis race of Gorgeous Bushshrike, which is often split as a separate species (Perrin s Bushshrike), and Margaret s Batis. Both of these birds are regularly associated with mixed feeding flocks, which often also contain Coqui Francolin, Anchieta s Barbet, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Black-necked Eremomela, Red-capped Crombec, Souza s Shrike, Bar-winged Weaver, and both Black-eared and Reichard s Seedeaters. Days 10 to 11: Mwinilunga area: Source of the Zambezi, Zambezi Rapids, Chitunta Plain, and the Kalwelwa Forest. The next two days will be spent exploring this rarely visited Kalwelwa Forest, Chitunta Plain, the Source of the Zambezi, the Zambezi Rapids and Hillwood. Here, several exciting species reach their southern distributional limits. The bizarre and highly sought-after Black-collared Bulbul will certainly feature prominently on most people s target list while the little-known Grimwood s Longclaw, gorgeous Black-and-Rufous Swallow, sweet singing Angola Lark, Bannerman s Sunbird, Dambo Cisticola and the rare Bocage s Weaver should also rank highly. In the early mornings, we will explore the extensive forests. Here we hope to find Grey-winged Robin-Chat, Spotted Thrush-Babbler and Fraser s Rufous Thrush, which are all regularly heard giving their distinctive and beautiful calls from dense cover. We will also keep an eye on any exposed perches in the forest canopy for Western Bronze-naped and Afep Pigeon, which can occasionally be seen sunning themselves in the early morning. Other good birds that we will keep watching for include Western Banded Snake Eagle, Narina Trogon, Honeyguide and Little Greenbuls, Blue-breasted, Shining-Blue and White-bellied Kingfishers, Olive Longtailed Cuckoo, African Thrush of the unique stormsii race, Bamboo Warbler, fabulous African Broadbill, Buff-throated and Brownheaded Apalises, Bates s and Bannerman s Sunbirds, and Splendid Starling. The thick tangles and rank grasses at the forest edge also hold Whistling Cisticola, charming Whitechinned Prinia, Moustached Grass Gorgeous Bushshrike by Markus Lilje Warbler,

7 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 7 Marsh Tchagra, and (if we are extremely fortunate) we may even find the scarce Blackbellied Seedcracker. The striking Black-backed Barbet is another special to this area and can often be seen sitting on the tops of the trees at the forest edge. On one of the days we will go slightly further afield and visit the source of the mighty Zambezi River, the Zambezi Rapids and the Chitunta plain. The source of the Zambezi really is something to behold; nothing more than a dark tiny pool in the middle of a damp forest. At the source, there is however some superb gallery forest and it is here that we hope to find the beautiful Laura s Woodland Warbler, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Black-cheeked Lovebird by David Hoddinott Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher and the shy Redtailed Bristlebill and Blue Malkoha. At the Zambezi Rapids we will scan the river fringes for one of Africa s river specialists, Cassin s Flycatcher, as it hawks insects from dead snags at the water s edge. The uncommon Forbes s Plover is a breeding visitor to this area, from August/September till the end of the year, and we will take time to search for this species in amongst the large granite boulders, adjacent to the river and at the rapids themselves. The Chitunta plain is then a stunning area of open grassland dotted with termitaria. The rare Black-and-rufous Swallow can usually be seen gliding gracefully over the grassland, while wetter parts are home to Black-rumped Buttonquail, Bluebreasted Bee-eater, Rosy-throated and the localized Grimwood s Longclaws. The slightly drier margins hold Black-bellied Bustard, Sooty Chat, Angola Lark, Stout and Dambo Cisticolas, Shorttailed Pipit, Locustfinch and Quailfinch while the scarce Bocage s Weaver can sometimes be found breeding in overhanging trees along the dambo edge. Night walks in the area will provide the opportunity to see some nocturnal birds, which include Spotted Eagle-Owl and African Wood Owl as well as Square-tailed, Swamp and Fiery-necked Nightjars. Day 12: Mwinilunga to Mutanda. This morning we will have a final opportunity to bird the areas surrounding Mwinilunga, before departing for the small town of Mutanda. Our accommodations for the evening are set on the banks of the Mutanda Falls, conveniently offering access to river frontage and dense riparian forest. Here we have another distinct possibility of encountering Bamboo Warbler, Bocage s Akalat, Grey-olive Greenbul, White-chinned Prinia, and Cassin s Flycatcher. Bohm's Flycatcher by Keith Valentine Day 13: Mutanda to North Kafue National Park. After one final opportunity to search for any specials we may have missed at Mutanda, we will depart for the incredible Kafue National Park. Kafue is Zambia s oldest and largest National Park, covering an unbelievable sq miles (22500 sq kms). The gently undulating

8 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 8 terrain in the north is dominated by a miombo-dambo mosaic, while in the south there are patches of mopane and mutemwa (notably the Ngoma forest). The Busanga Plains are located in the far north-western corner of the park and consist primarily of swamps and their surrounding floodplains, with riparian forest growing along all of the major rivers. On the drive from Mutanda, we will pass through some very impressive zones of miombo woodland. This will be our final opportunity for Bar-winged Weaver, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver and Black-necked Eremomela should we have missed any of these incredible species previously. The roads in this part of Zambia are unfortunately often in poor repair and this drive will take most of the day to complete. Days 14 to 16: North, Central and South Kafue National Park. We have three full days to explore the Kafue National Park and its diverse habitats for a wide variety of exciting species. Top of the list will be the gorgeous Black-cheeked African Spotted Creeper by Matthew Matthiessen Lovebird, an endemic to Zambia, which is almost exclusively associated with large stands of mopane woodlands in the very south of the park. The same habitats are shared by Meves s Starling, Whitebrowed Sparrow-Weaver, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Arnott s Chat, and (if we are extremely fortunate) Three-banded Courser. The large stands of miombo throughout the central and northern regions of the park will give us a significant chance at finding uncommon species such as the Böhm s Flycatcher, Miombo Rock Thrush, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Pale-billed Hornbill, Souza s Shrike and the inexplicably scarce Shelley s Sunbird. Fabulous belts of riverine forest can also be found along the various watercourses that punctuate the landscape, particularly in the north. These areas are often frequented by a wide variety of species including many frugivores and insectivores and, during the winter months, can be particularly productive. We will keep a lookout for the gaudy Ross s and Schalow s Turacos, which often give their presence away by their loud calls, while other species like Grey-olive Greenbul and Black-throated Wattle-eye tend to be a little more skulking. These riverine areas are also home to the incredible Pel s Fishing Owl, Crowned Hornbill, Black-backed Barbet, Böhm s Bee-eater, White-browed Robin-Chat, Olive and Green-backed Woodpeckers, scarce Whitebacked Night Heron, and shy African Finfoot. Raptors are also fairly frequently seen in the reserve and we will keep a special lookout in particular for Dickinson s Kestrel. Kafue also harbours a great diversity of wildlife with over 55 mammal species having been recorded. These include African Elephant, Lion, African Wild Dog, Leopard, Serval (Kafue is known as one of the best places in Africa to see these elusive felines), Cheetah, Red Lechwe, (Liechtenstein s) Hartebeest, Sable, Roan, Puku, Defassa Waterbuck and the majestic Common Eland. Racket-tailed Roller by Rainer Summers Day 17 : South Kafue National Park to Choma. Today we bid farewell to the

9 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 9 Kafue National Park, as we drive towards the small farming town of Choma. This region is famous in birding circles for two prime reasons: firstly, because it is the most accessible place to search for the exceptionally localized Chaplin s Barbet and secondly, for once being the holder of the 24-hour world record for the most species seen. There is superb birding to be had here and the reason for the large bird list is directly linked to the habitat being extremely varied. We should have some time to do a little exploring this afternoon and with luck we may well find a few of the areas specials. Day 18 : Choma. This morning we will be out early in order to make the most of our time in this exciting area. Top of the list will be finding the endemic Chaplin s Barbet by David Hoddinott Chaplin s Barbet, one of only two endemic bird species to Zambia. Chaplin s Barbet favours a unique habitat of fairly open grassland and low bush, dotted with large Sycamore fig trees. Other specials of the grasslands include Sooty Chat, Rufousnaped and Flappet Larks, and Croaking Cisticola. Nearby dense thickets and riverine vegetation are where we will search for the beautiful Red-throated Twinspot, Bearded Scrub Robin, Jameson s and Red-billed Firefinches and Green-winged Pytilia. A good deal of our time will also be spent birding the miombo woodlands, which Zambia is so famous for. Highlights of the miombo woodland in this area include the difficult Miombo Pied Barbet, Racket-tailed Roller, Bennett's Woodpecker, Southern Hyliota, Grey Penduline Tit, White-winged Black and Miombo Tits, Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, Orange-winged Pytilia, Black-eared Seedeater and Cabanis s Bunting. Our birding will also take us to various wetlands which can be rather productive depending on water levels. Species on show can often include the likes of Saddle-billed Stork, Glossy Ibis, Little Bittern, White-backed, Knob-billed and African Black Duck, African Pygmy Goose, Collared Pratincole, Lesser Moorhen, African Wattled Lapwing, African Snipe and Malachite Kingfisher. If we are very fortunate we may even find the scarce Lesser Jacana. We will then embark on a night excursion in the area in the hope of tracking down the remarkable Pennant-winged Nightjar, African Scops Owl and the rare Bronzewinged Courser. Victoria Falls by Glen Valentine Day 19 : Choma to Livingstone. After a final breakfast in Choma, we will make our way south towards the town of Livingstone. After settling in at our local hotel, we will take a short drive to the view site for Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls have rightly been considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and we will spend some time appreciating the immense spectacle of the Zambezi River plunging 300ft into the gorge below.

10 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 10 The spray from the falls has created a verdant rainforest and we will undoubtedly find some interesting birds including Natal Spurfowl, Trumpeter Hornbill, Schalow s Turaco, the attractive African Emerald Cuckoo, Tropical Boubou, Bearded Scrub Robin and Red-winged Starling. We will also visit a site further upstream of the falls where we will search for Half-collared Kingfisher, Redfaced Cisticola and Collared Palm Thrush. Above the falls we will scan rocky areas and sandbanks for Rock Pratincole, White-crowned Lapwing, lazing Nile Crocodile and pods of noisy Hippopotamus. In the afternoon if time allows we will visit the nearby waste treatment ponds where a variety of waterbirds are regularly on show. The marshy areas are often a good place to locate African Rail while Marsh Owl can occasionally be seen in the late evening as it leaves its roost area to begin hunting. Black Crake, Common Moorhen and Glossy Ibis are commonly seen and we may be lucky and pick up a Lesser Jacana or Lesser Moorhen if conditions are favourable. Livingstone is also one of the mecca s for purchasing traditional African art and crafts and we will have time to browse through the markets, which offer a wide range of carvings and basket ware, prior to our departure. Day 20: Livingstone and depart. We have a little time this morning to visit a site, set just on the outskirts of town, in search of a few final species. However, unfortunately, we will have to bid each other farewell today as we make our way homewards. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Tour dates, prices, single supplement rates, approximate flight costs and spaces available for this tour are displayed on our website. Please see under IMPORTANT NOTES below. This includes: All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 20; All lodgings; Ground transportation; Reserve entrance fees; Bottled drinking water; All activities as mentioned in the itinerary; and All guiding services (including tips for local guides and services). The tour fee does not include: ANY international flights; Visa fees; Any drinks; Special gratuities; and Telephone calls, laundry and items of a personal nature. Single Supplement: The single supplement cost for this tour will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If RBL cannot provide you with a rooming partner for these nights although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share. IMPORTANT NOTES: a) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we now quote our tours in 4 currencies (see website for all 4 currencies). The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other currencies listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 3 months before the tour.)

11 RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 11 b) Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement will have to be charged. c) Furthermore, these costs are subject to major foreign exchange fluctuations and unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result. d) Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and/or the designated Rockjumper leader/s at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible. Tipping: As noted above, gratuities (drivers, hotel staff, porters, restaurants etc.) are included on this tour. However, this does NOT include your Rockjumper leader. If, therefore, you feel that he has given you excellent service, it is entirely appropriate to tip him. Special Notes We have a number of lengthy drives as we do need to cover some long distances in order to get to the best areas. Kindly stick to 20kgs for check in luggage and 8kg s for hand luggage. Some of the roads can vary considerably from season to season. We expect several roads to be potholed, which can lengthen our overall travel time between destinations. Some of the gravel roads can also deteriorate quite rapidly and can be in poor condition if they haven t been recently graded. The road from North Kafue to Mutanda can often be in poor condition, however we will be in a 4x4 vehicle throughout the tour. Fitness: This Zambia tour does not require a high level of fitness, but participants should be in good general health as most of the birding will be done on foot, and may require walking for several hours at a time. Some off-trail birding especially in the miombo woodlands may be required. Should you have any physical limitations, please notify us in advance. Accommodation throughout the trip is of a generally comfortable standard. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DETAILS: This tour does not include any international airfares. Please ensure that you arrive in Lusaka before 17:00 on day 1. The tour will then conclude after lunch in Livingstone on day 20. The above information in respect of arrivals and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be sent to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office. FLIGHTS: Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, Livingstone (IATA: LVI) and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Lusaka (IATA: LUN) are the main ports of entry for international flights into Zambia. Please DO NOT book any flights until you have consulted the Rockjumper office for confirmation on the status of the tour. Rockjumper Birding Ltd Vanilla Village, Royal Road Black River Mauritius Tel (USA & Canada) toll free: info@rockjumperbirding.com Alternative rockjumperbirding@yahoo.com Website: