In July 1999 I spent more than three weeks in Malawi and the Luangwa Valley in Zambia with Staf & Jos Elzermans, Vital & Riet van Gorp, Wilfred Sterk and Eric Wille. The main objective of the trip was to see as many birds as possible. The two major habitats we covered during our visit were (Brachystegia) woodland and montane forests. We recorded 367 species during this time, including Bronze-winged Courser, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Boehm's Bee-eater, Brown-breasted Barbet, Pallid Honeyguide, White-chested & Cholo Alethe, East Coast Akalat, White-winged Apalis, Brown Warbler (Parisoma), Green-backed Twinspot, Striped Pipit and a host of miombo species such as Pale-billed Hornbill, Racket-tailed Roller, Stierling's Woodpecker, Souza's Shrike and Boehm's Flycatcher.
Malawi, formerly known as the Nyasaland Protectorate, is a small narrow country bordered by Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia and is best known for Lake Malawi, the third largest lake of Africa. Malawi does not support as many species as Kenya or South Africa, but its relatively modern infrastructure, short distances, fine landscapes and excellent avifauna, including quite a few birds which are hard elsewhere to see, make it a worthy destination. Combined with a visit to South Luangwa National Park of adjacent Zambia, a trip to this part of Africa should produce a fine selection of birds and mammals.
Malawi is densely populated, but the Malawi government seems keen to protect the country's natural resources. They have designed nine national parks and many forest reserves, which may help the threatened birds occurring in Malawi. However, forest sites such as Soche Mountain and the Thyolo Mountains are probably living on borrowed time.
We travelled to Malawi via Brussels, London and Harare (Zimbabwe). Our return-ticket (British Airways) for the air journey cost us about 850 US$. You do not need a visa for Malawi, but you definitely need one for Zambia. A yellow fever inoculation certificate is compulsory and must be submitted with your visa application. We applied for one at the embassy at Brussels and the visa cost us 25 US$. When you're leaving Malawi, you have to pay 20 US$ departure tax.
The official currency of Malawi is the Malawi Kwacha (MK). The Kwacha fluctuated between 42 and 45 to the Dollar. The unit of currency in Zambia is the Zambian Kwacha. The exchange rate was about 2400 Zambian Kwacha to the Dollar.
All major credit cards and traveller cheques are accepted. Changing money at any of the commercial banks is usually easy and often, but not always, quick.
There are expensive first-class hotels in the main towns, cheaper resthouses in all urban centres. All wildlife reserves and larger forest reserves have accommodation of varying standard.
Prices of accommodation:
Malawi | ||
---|---|---|
Dzalanyama Forest Resthouse | 1080 MK | double room |
Tiyeseho (Try) Hotel, Mchinji | 200 MK | double room |
Kasungu Inn, Kasungu | 1260 MK | double room |
Chalet, Nyika NP | 100 US$ | 2 double rooms |
Camping at Nyika NP | 5 US$ | per person |
Chikale Beach Resort, Nkhata Bay | 850 MK | double room |
Camping at Liwonde NP | 8 US$ | per person |
Chalet at Liwonde NP | 38 US$ | per person |
Grace Bandawe Conference Centre, Blantyre | 500 MK | double room |
Chalet, Lengwe NP | 270 MK | double room |
Hotel Capital, Lilongwe (plush!) | 216 US$ | double room |
Zambia | ||
Wildlife Camp (chalet), South Luangwa NP | 60 US$ | 2 double rooms |
Generally quite good. Stay away from uncooked fruits and vegetables that you haven't peeled yourself, and don't use ice. It is best to avoid drinking the water unless you know it is boiled. Restaurants are available in towns and some national parks (South Luangwa, Nyika and Liwonde). During our stay at the other reserves we bought food for a few days. Most of the towns have small supermarkets where you can buy most of your supplies. We also bought mineral water, Fanta, Sprite and beer (Carlsberg). Fresh vegetables can easily be purchased at local markets. We did not experience any serious stomach upsets despite regularly eating local food.
The entrance fees of national parks in Malawi are 5 US$ p.p. per day, and a car cost 2 US$ per day. Park fees in Zambia are considerably higher, and the entrance fee of South Luangwa National Park was 20 US$ p.p. per day and a car cost 15 US$ per day!
For vaccinations consult your own doctor for up to date advice. Malaria is a major risk, so all precautions against malaria are a must. Lake Malawi is generally free from bilharzia at the main beaches, but don't paddle in still water or around reeds. A Yellow Fever Inoculation Certificate is required to enter and leave Malawi and Zambia!
Theft is really not a problem in Malawi unless you are careless. Malawians are very friendly and helpful, and the country is very safe, and the worst that the traveller is likely to encounter is a pickpocket in Blantyre or Lilongwe. Lock your car at all times, never leave valuables in open sight.
TAKE CARE: Many of the animals local to the camps in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia are very used to humans - and their food and litter! Baboons, elephants, hyenas and even lions can cause major problems for visitors - don't leave anything outside at night and never sleep even partially outside a tent. Make sure that your tent is fully zipped up. Elephants in Liwonde National Park are unpredictable and can be dangerous, so give them a wide berth. Never approach elephants, hippos, lions or other large animals too closely.
English is the official language in Malawi and Zambia and is widely spoken nearly everywhere.
The weather was generally pleasant, sometimes warm and sunny. Humidity was only really high at Nkhata Bay. In the early morning at Nyika NP it was really cold.
Since this is the Southern Hemisphere, mid-winter is June/July and mid-summer is December/January. The best time of the year to visit Malawi is at the start of the wet season (October to November) and January to February, when the birds are breeding. For cooler, more pleasant weather, try April - September, when birdwatching is still excellent.
A small tape recorder and the excellent bird call sets of South African birds by Guy Gibbon is quite useful for drawing in birds. Guy Gibbon's comprehensive set of pre-recorded southern African birdcalls is available at approximately $60 for a set of 6 cassettes. The set may be ordered from Wild Sounds, Cross Street, Salthouse, Norfolk NR25 7XH, England, telefax: 44-1263-741100.
A good torch is a must. A telescope is useful at lakes and very useful for viewing canopy species especially from roadsides. Photography is NOT difficult, as birds are easy to approach and light conditions are good.
Clothing can be T-shirt and shorts anywhere (during the daytime) except at Nyika National Park.
Road conditions in Malawi vary, but are generally good by African standards, make getting around easy. The main roads are sealed, but elsewhere are poor-quality dirt, where a 4-wheel drive would be a distinct advantage.
WARNING: If you haven't a high clearance 4WD vehicle in Nyika NP, don't even consider visiting this reserve, or you will certainly get some big problems!
It is very difficult to get around in Malawi without personal transport, as public transport is not recommended. In Malawi, it's best to hire a car if you can afford it. For car rental, you will need a major credit card and a valid international driver's license. Car hire was pre-booked in Belgium with Wilfred Sterk. Wilfred, a Belgian, living eight months a year in Zimbabwe, has a few Landrovers and can be contacted at the following address: Wilfred Sterk, Rekai Tangwena Avenue 5, Marondera, telephone 79/23087. We had to pay Wilfred 75 US$ per Landrover per day.
It is forbidden to alight from one's car away from specified areas in South Luangwa National Park and Liwonde National Park. This is no great disadvantage as we found most of the birds and animals most confiding, and the car provided a superb hide.
In Africa there is much confusion regarding the English names for birds, and often each author, having their own preferences which results in the same species having up to 3 or 4 different names. For instance:
Pycnonotus barbatus: Blackeyed Bulbul (Newman and Roberts), Garden Bulbul (Howard and Moore), Common Bulbul (Clements), Yellow-vented Bulbul (Williams/Arlott) ... ridiculous!
I have decided to follow the English names of James F. Clements (July 1991, Birds of the World, A Check List).
The following list of birds we saw frequently, and if you spend any sort of time in the right habitats you will too: Long-tailed Cormorant, Black-headed Heron, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Hadada Ibis, African Openbill, African Fish-Eagle, Bateleur, Helmeted Guineafowl, Ring-necked (Cape Turtle) Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Emerald-Spotted Wood-Dove (Greenspotted Dove), Speckled Mousebird, African Palm-Swift, Pied Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, Red-billed Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, Common Fiscal, Black-backed Puffback, Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, Meve's Glossy-Starling, Wire-tailed Swallow, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Common (Blackeyed) Bulbul, African Yellow White-eye, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Green-backed Camaroptera (Bleating Warbler), Grey-headed Sparrow, Blue-breasted Cordonblue (Blue Waxbill), Bronze Mannikin, African Pied Wagtail, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Variable (Yellowbellied) Sunbird, Yellow-fronted (Yelloweyed) Canary.
For a detailed report of species and numbers please refer to the systematic list at the end of this report.
Nigel Wheatley's Where to watch birds in Africa is useful at the planning stage.
I found the detailed notes by Henk Hendriks most useful, with additional information from the report by Jon Hornbuckle.
BirdBase & BirdArea. I use this software to keep track of the birds I have seen and to make lists of any country, labelling endemics and birds previously seen in that country, outside it, or both. BirdArea can produce checklists of the birds of any country of Clements' world birds.
Many thanks to Mark van Beirs and Henk Hendriks for help and advice, and particularly to Jos and Staf Elzermans for driving the Landrovers with Wilfred from Zimbabwe (Harare) to Malawi and back to Zimbabwe.
Malawi | |
---|---|
July 10 | Chaam * Brussels * London |
July 11 | Harare * Lilongwe * Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary * Dzalanyama Forest Reserve |
July 12 | Dzalanyama Forest Reserve |
July 13 | Dzalanyama Forest Reserve * Mchinji |
Zambia | |
July 14 | Mchinji * Chipata * South Luangwa National Park |
July 15 | South Luangwa National Park |
July 16 | South Luangwa National Park |
July 17 | South Luangwa National Park * Chipata * Mchinji* Kasungu |
Malawi | |
July 18 | Kasungu * Mzuzu * Rumphi * Nyika National Park |
July 19 | Nyika National Park |
July 20 | Nyika National Park |
July 21 | Nyika National Park * Rumphi * Mzuzu * Nkhata Bay |
July 22 | Nkhata Bay - Kalwe Forest Reserve * Nkwadzi Forest Reserve * Nkhata Bay |
July 23 | Nkhata Bay * Salima * Liwonde National Park |
July 24 | Liwonde National Park |
July 25 | Liwonde National Park |
July 26 | Liwonde National Park * Zomba * Blantyre |
July 27 | Blantyre * Thyolo Mountains * Blantyre |
July 28 | Soche Mountain * Lengwe National Park |
July 29 | Lengwe National Park |
July 30 | Lengwe National Park * Blantyre |
July 31 | Blantyre * Soche Mountain * Blantyre * Lilongwe |
August 1/2 | Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary * Harare * London * Brussels * Chaam |
Most of the sites are detailed in the trip reports, so I will restrict to a brief description and mention the species we have seen.
Accommodation: a hotel in Lilongwe.
Lilongwe NR, situated in the middle of the capital in Central Malawi, may be your first introduction to the common species of Central Malawi. It is a good place to bird when you have a free afternoon after arriving or the last morning of your trip to Malawi before taking your plane.
The thick bush, gallery forest, bamboo thickets and woodland supports White-backed Night-Heron, African Finfoot, Half-collared Kingfisher and Magpie Mannikin, to name a few.
Birds seen: Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant,Yellow-billed Duck, Black-headed Heron, Hamerkop, Black Kite, Helmeted Guineafowl, Ring-necked Dove (Cape Turtle Dove), Red-eyed Dove, Emerald-Spotted Wood-Dove (Greenspotted Dove), Speckled Mousebird, Livingstone's, Half-collared Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Green (Redbilled) Woodhoopoe, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-collared Barbet, Bearded Woodpecker, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, Tropical Boubou, (Orange-) Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, Chinspot Batis, Black-throated Wattle-eye (Wattle-eyed Flycatcher), Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, African Dusky Flycatcher, Ashy (Bluegrey) Flycatcher, White-browed Robin-Chat (Heuglin's Robin), Wire-tailed Swallow, Common Bulbul, Terrestrial Brownbul, African Yellow White-eye, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Greencap Eremomela, Peters' (Redthroated) Twinspot, Red-billed Firefinch, Blue-breasted Cordonblue (Blue Waxbill), Bronze Mannikin, Magpie (Pied) Mannikin, African Pied Wagtail, Mountain (Long-tailed) Wagtail, Golden Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Village (Spottedbacked) Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Collared Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Variable (Yellowbellied) Sunbird, Yellow-fronted (Yelloweyed) Canary.
Birds we did not see: Black Goshawk, White-backed Night-Heron, African Finfoot, White-faced Scops-Owl, Narina Trogon, African Broadbill.
Accommodation: Dzalanyama Forest Resthouse in the reserve. You have to make reservations. We did not make reservations, but we managed to get rooms at the resthouse. You have to bring your own food and drink.
Southwest of Lilongwe (two hours driving to the resthouse) towards the Zambian border lies an impressive expanse of pristine miombo woodland at Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, an excellent site for the miombo specialities.
Miombo bird-watching is a pretty easy-going affair, you just drive slowly along the forest until you come across a bird party, stop and get out, don't panic and you may well pick up twenty or more species in ten minutes.
Birds seen: (Western) Banded Snake-Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, African Hawk-Eagle, Coqui Francolin, Ring-necked Dove (Cape Turtle Dove), Red-eyed Dove, Emerald Spotted Wood-Dove, Speckled Mousebird, Schalow's Turaco, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Pale-billed Hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Whyte's Barbet, Miombo Barbet, Stierling's Woodpecker, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Black-headed Oriole, White-breasted Cuckoo-Shrike, Souza's Shrike, Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, Black-crowned Tchagra, White Helmetshrike, Retz's (Redbilled) Helmetshrike, Chinspot Batis, Miombo Rock-Thrush, Kurrichane Thrush, Pale (Mousecoloured) Flycatcher, Boehm's Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, Ashy (Bluegrey) Flycatcher, Miombo (Central Bearded) Scrub-Robin, Common Stonechat, Familiar Chat, Wire-tailed Swallow, Eastern Sawwing, Common Bulbul, African Yellow White-eye, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Green-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Greencap Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Southern (Mashona) Hyliota, Rufous-bellied Tit, Yellow-throated Petronia, Orange-winged (Goldenbacked) Pytilia, Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch), Peters' (Redthroated) Twinspot, Blue-breasted Cordonblue (Blue Waxbill), Bronze Mannikin, Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah, Mountain (Longtailed) Wagtail, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Olive-headed Weaver, Anchieta's (Red and Blue) Sunbird, Amethyst (Black) Sunbird, Variable (Yellowbellied) Sunbird, Miombo Sunbird, Shelley's Sunbird, Black-eared Seedeater, Cinnamon-breasted (Rock) Bunting, Golden-breasted Bunting, Cabanis' Bunting.
Birds we did not see: Pennant-winged Nightjar (absent during this time of the year), Red-capped Crombec, Stierling's Wren-Warbler, Lesser (Nyasa) Seedcracker.
Accommodation: It is possible to camp or to hire a chalet at Chelinda Camp. The campsite is 2 km from the main accommodation. There is a restaurant at Chelinda.
At the northern end of Lake Malawi is the Nyika Plateau (3135 km2), an almost tundra-like area of upland dotted with montane rainforest patches, marshes and small lakes that is part of the western rim of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by Brachystegia covered foothills.
This is the premier birdwatching destination in Malawi or for anyone wishing to escape the summer heat of the valleys below. Due to the high altitude, night temperatures some times drop below freezing from May - September as we noticed.
The road across the plateau and until the junction towards the Chelinda Camp area forms the international border with Zambia with free access between Malawi and Zambia. The park is quite well covered in Bob Medland's ABC article, but the recommended Zambian resthouse has been closed.
To get the most out of your visit it is necessary to visit two rainforest patches: Zovo Chipolo Forest and Chowo Forest, the latter is actually in Zambia. Allow some time entering and leaving the park to bird the Brachystegia woodland on either side of Thazima gate for bird parties.
Birds seen: Little Grebe (Dabchick), Yellow-billed Duck, Black-headed Heron, White-backed Vulture, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, Augur Buzzard, Red-winged Francolin, Common Quail, Knobbed Coot, Stanley Bustard, Common Sandpiper, African (Rameron) Pigeon, Dusky (Pinkbreasted) Turtle Dove, Ring-necked Dove (Cape Turtle Dove), Speckled Mousebird, Schalow's Turaco, Grey Go-away-bird, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Freckled Nightjar, Bar-tailed Trogon, Pied Kingfisher, Common (Greater) Scimitar-bill, Crowned Hornbill, Moustached Green-Tinkerbird, Black-collared Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Olive Woodpecker, White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher, White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Drongo, White-necked Raven, African Black-headed Oriole, White-breasted Cuckoo-Shrike, Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, Black-crowned Tchagra, Fuelleborn's Boubou, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Malawi Batis, Miombo Rock-Thrush, Kurrrichane Thrush, White-chested Alethe, Waller's Starling, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher, Southern Black-Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Sharpe's Akalat, Olive-flanked Robin-Chat, Cape Robin-Chat, Common Stonechat, Familiar Chat, White-headed Black-Chat (Arnot's Chat), Spotted Creeper, Wire-tailed Swallow, Common Bulbul, (Olivebreasted) Mountain Greenbul, Sharpe's Greenbul, African Yellow White-eye, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Trilling Cisticola, (Mountain) Black-lored Cisticola, Lazy Cisticola, Churring Cisticola, Wing-snapping (Ayres') Cisticola, Bar-throated Apalis, Brown-headed Apalis, Mountain Warbler, Greencap Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Brown Warbler (Parisoma), Mountain Illadopsis, Abyssinian Hill-Babbler (Mountain Babbler), Rufous-bellied, Miombo (Northern Grey) Tit, African (Grey) Penduline-Tit, Rufous-naped Lark, Black-tailed (Grey) Waxbill, Yellow-bellied Waxbill (East African Swee), Common Waxbill, Variable-Indigobird (Black Widowfinch), African Pied Wagtail, Buffy Pipit, Jackson's Pipit, Spectacled Weaver, Buff-shouldered Widowbird (Mountain Marsh Widow), Anchieta's (Red and Blue) Sunbird, Green-headed Sunbird, Amethyst (Black) Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Variable (Yellowbellied) Sunbird, Miombo Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Red-tufted Sunbird, Miombo Sunbird, Cape Canary, African Citril, Southern Yellow-rumped Seedeater (Blackthroated Canary), Yellow-fronted (Yelloweyed) Canary, Reichard's (Stripebreasted) Seedeater, Yellow-browed Seedeater, Cabanis'Bunting.
Birds we did not see: Wattled Crane (we were one month too early), Pennant-winged Nightjar (absent this time of year), Blue Quail, Black-backed Barbet, Orange Ground-Thrush, Chapin's Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Evergreen Forest Warbler (luckily we did see this bird near Blantyre), Blue Swallow (absent this time of year), Angola Swallow, Baglafecht Weaver, Oriole Finch.
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver and Babbling Starling are said to be easy at Kawyia Camp at Vwaza Marsh, a large reserve just south of Nyika NP, a place we did not visit.
Accommodation: Chikale Beach Resort at Nkhata Bay or plenty of other accommodation.
Close to Nkhata Bay are the lakeshore reserves: Kalwe Forest Reserve and Nkwadzi Forest Reserve. Both remnant patches of rainforest are the best locations for the elusive East Coast Akalat (Gunning's Robin), difficult to see at its better known haunts along the Kenyan Coast.
Kalwe Forest Reserve: Go inland on the main road to Mzuzu. A few kilometres west of the Nkhata Bay/Mzuzu/Chinteche junction is a remnant patch of rainforest. The forest is signposted on the left-hand side of the road coming from Nkhata Bay. There is a fairly good road into the forest. Park your car a few hundred metres up this road and play the tape.
Nkwadzi Forest Reserve: This forest is situated en route from Nkhata Bay to Chinteche, approximately 15 kilometres from the Nkhata Bay/Mzuzu/Chinteche junction. After the second stretch of rubber plantation (Vizarra Estate), there is nice patch of rainforest: Nkwadzi Forest. At the southern side of the forest there is a small village. Park your car here and ask for the park guards. They will gladly accompany you on the difficult-to-find track on the other side of the main road.
In both forests East Coast Akalat was easy to find, but otherwise both forests were rather lifeless.
Birds seen: Green-backed (Little Spotted) Woodpecker, African Golden-Oriole, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, Chinspot Batis, Green-backed Camaroptera, East Coast Akalat (Gunning's Robin), Lemon-breasted Seedeater (near Kalwe FR at a marshy area along a river on the Mzuzu road), Purple-banded Sunbird.
Birds we did not see: Bronze-naped Pigeon, Broad-billed Roller, Yellowbill, Narina Trogon, Black-bellied Gloss-Starling, Grey Sunbird.
Accommodation: the campsite or a chalet at Mvuu Camp, but I recommend camping.
Liwonde encompasses part of the Shire River and some marshes and mopane woodland in the Shire Valley. The dominant vegetation is Mopane woodland.
Birdlife is abundant in Liwonde with over 500 species having been recorded. Mvuu Camp on the banks of the Shire River, is a very attractive birding spot, and here we spent most of our time. Around the campsite we saw amongst many others: African Cuckoo-Falcon, Red-necked Falcon, African Barred Owlet, Boehm's Bee-eater, Brown-breasted Barbet, Livingstone's Flycatcher and Collared Palm-Thrush. A serious problem at the camp is that you are not allowed to go birding on your own (walking). The nest site of the Brown-breasted Barbet is only 400 metres from the camp, but you are not allowed to walk to this place.
The local guide is now Benjamin (Ben), since Robert Nyirenda has left the place. Ben is knowledgeable and sharp-eyed, although we did surprise him when we identified a melanistic form of the Gabar Goshawk within 5 seconds. He did not believe us, and after consulting his book he reluctantly admitted that we were right. Make a bird walk with Ben in the early morning with an armed ranger, although this is very expensive (18 US$ p.p.), but it is the only way to see the barbet.
Birds seen: Great (Whitebreasted) Cormorant, African Darter, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Comb Duck, Intermediate Egret, Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Goliath Heron, Striated (Greenbacked) Heron, Hamerkop, Glossy Ibis, Hadada Ibis, African Spoonbill, African Openbill, Marabou Stork, African Cuckoo-Falcon, African Fish-Eagle, White-headed Vulture, (Western) Banded Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, African Marsh-Harrier, African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene), Gabar Goshawk, Wahlberg's Eagle, Ayres' Hawk-Eagle, Dickinson's Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon, Helmeted Guineafowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, African Jacana, Common Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Bronze-winged Courser, Temminck's Courser, Long-toed Lapwing, Blacksmith Plover, White-headed Lapwing, Senegal Lapwing (Lesser Blackwinged Plover), Gray-headed Gull, Laughing Dove, Ring-necked Dove (Cape Turtle Dove), Red-eyed Dove, Emerald-Spotted Wood-Dove (Greenspotted Dove), Tambourine Dove, Namaqua Dove, Brown-headed Parrot, Lilian's Lovebird, Red-faced Mousebird, Purple-crested Turaco, Grey Go-away-bird, African Emerald Cuckoo, Burchell's Coucal, Fiery-necked Nightjar, African Barred Owlet, African Palm-Swift, Malachite Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Boehm's Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, African Hoopoe, Green (Redbilled) Woodhoopoe, Common (Greater) Scimitar-bill, Red-billed Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Brown-breasted Barbet, Greater Honeyguide, Lesser Honeyguide, Green-backed (Slenderbilled) Honeyguide, Cardinal woodpecker, Livingstone's Flycatcher, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, African Golden-Oriole, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, Brown-crowned (Threestreaked) Tchagra, Tropical Boubou, (Orange-) Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Chinspot Batis, Black-throated Wattle-eye (Wattle-eyed Flycatcher), Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, Southern Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, (Longtailed) Meves' Glossy-Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, African Dusky Flycatcher, White-browed Robin-Chat (Heuglin's Robin), Red-capped Robin-Chat, Collared Palm-Thrush, White-headed Black-Chat (Arnot's Chat), Grey-rumped Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Common Bulbul, Sombre Greenbul, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Placid Greenbul, Terrestrial Brownbul, African Yellow White-eye, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Cape (Longbilled) Crombec, Arrow-marked Babbler, Southern Black-Tit, Cinnamon-breasted Tit, Flappet Lark, Grey-headed Sparrow, Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch), Red-billed Firefinch, Jameson's Firefinch, Blue-breasted Cordonblue (Blue Waxbill), Bronze Mannikin, Cutthroat, Village Indigobird (Steelblue Widowfinch), Eastern Paradise-Whydah, African Pied Wagtail, Yellow-throated Longclaw, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Collared Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Variable (Yellowbellied) Sunbird, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Yellow-fronted (Yelloweyed) Canary, Cinnamon-breasted (Rock) Bunting.
Birds we did not see: Rufous-bellied Heron, White-backed Night-Heron, Bat Hawk, Lesser Jacana, Pel's Fishing-Owl, Boehm's Spinetail, Racket-tailed Roller, Black-winged Bishop.
Accommodation: A hotel in Blantyre: Grace Bandawe Conference Centre.
Amongst the many tea plantations on the Thyolo Mountains to the south of Blantyre, remnant montane forest patches support some rare African species.
This site, just south of Blantyre is supposedly the easiest site to observe the Cholo Alethe, Malawi's (well almost) only endemic.
From Blantyre take Victoria Road and Kapemi Road to the top of hill with the satellite disk on your left. Turn right at the satellite (crossroads) and drive into a small dirty village. Park your car at the PHC-church (50 m before the transformer mast) on the right side of the road and walk along the church to the mountain. Follow the main path into the forest. Key birds we did see were: Pallid Honeyguide, Green-backed Honeyguide, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Malawi Batis, Pale Batis, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Cholo Alethe, Placid Greenbul, Black-headed Apalis, White-winged Apalis, Striped Pipit,
The Thyolo Mountains, an hour's drive from Blantyre, hold almost the same birds as Soche Mountain. Green-headed Oriole is said to be easy here, but we dipped miserably.
Drive from Blantyre to Limbe and then take the very bad road to Thyolo (a new road was almost finished!). It is almost 30 km from Blantyre to the Satemwa Tea Estate. The Tea Estate is signposted along the main road.
Birds seen in both areas: African Fish-Eagle, Shikra (Little Banded Goshawk), Ovampo Sparrowhawk, Verreaux's (Black) Eagle, Martial Eagle, Eurasian Kestrel, Lanner Falcon, Ring-necked Dove (Cape Turtle Dove), Tambourine Dove, African Palm-Swift, Livingstone's Turaco, White-eared Barbet, Green Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Pallid (Eastern) Honeyguide, Green-backed (Slenderbilled) Honeyguide, Square-tailed Drongo, African Golden-Oriole, African Black-headed Oriole, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Malawi Batis, Pale (Mozambique) Batis, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Olive Thrush, Cholo Alethe, Ashy (Bluegrey) Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, (Eastern) Bearded Scrub-Robin, Common Stonechat, Familiar Chat, Eastern Sawwing, Common Bulbul, Little Greenbul, Stripe-cheeked Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Placid Greenbul, Grey-olive Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, African Yellow White-eye, Tawny-flanked Prinia, White-winged Apalis, Black-headed Apalis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Greencap Eremomela, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Southern (Mashona) Hyliota, Yellow-throated Petronia, Green-backed Twinspot, Peters' (Redthroated) Twinspot, Blue-breasted Cordonblue (Blue Waxbill), Black-and-white (Redbacked) Mannikin, Mountain (Longtailed) Wagtail, Striped Pipit, Wood Pipit, Bertrand's Weaver, Southern Masked-Weaver, Forest Weaver, Yellow Bishop (Yellowrumped Widow), Olive Sunbird, Amethyst (Black) Sunbird, Variable (Yellowbellied) Sunbird, African Citril.
Birds we did not see: Crowned Hawk-Eagle, Bar-tailed Trogon, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Orange Ground-Thrush, Green-headed Oriole, Red-faced Crimsonwing.
Accommodation: a chalet at the entrance of the park. You have to bring your own food and drink .The very friendly people at the main gate have an excellent cook.
Lengwe NP is a dense deciduous thicket park in the lower Shire Valley and is quite different from the other parks. It is a hot and dusty park, but you can find a wide variety of species here scarcely found elsewhere. During the time we were there, there was no water in the park, except in the four artificial waterholes.
Only the hide near the entrance was in excellent condition, the other hides were in a very bad shape.
Birds seen: Intermediate Egret, Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Hadada Ibis, African Openbill, Woolly-necked Stork, Marabou Stork, Black-shouldered Kite, African Fish-Eagle, Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, (Western) Banded Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene), Lizard Buzzard, African Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Helmeted Guineafowl, Bronze-winged Courser, Laughing Dove, Ring-necked Dove (Cape Turtle Dove), Red-eyed Dove, Emerald-Spotted Wood-Dove (Greenspotted Dove), Tambourine Dove, Brown-headed Parrot, Lilian's Lovebird, Speckled Mousebird, Grey Go-away-bird, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Burchell's Coucal, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Square-tailed (Mozambique) Nightjar, African Palm-Swift, Malachite Kingbird, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Boehm's Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, African Hoopoe, Green (Redbilled) Woodhoopoe, Common (Greater) Scimitar-bill, Red-billed Hornbill, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Crested Barbet, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Green-backed (Little Spotted) Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Livingstone's Flycatcher, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Square-tailed Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, African Golden-Oriole, White-breasted Cuckoo-Shrike, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, Common Fiscal, Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, Tropical Boubou, (Orange-) Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike, White Helmetshrike, Retz's (Redbilled) Helmetshrike, Chinspot Batis, Southern Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, Southern Black-Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Wire-tailed Swallow, Common Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Placid Greenbul, Grey-olive Greenbul, Eastern (Yellowspotted) Nicator, African Yellow White-eye, Rattling Cisticola, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Southern Black-Tit, Grey-headed Sparrow, Yellow-throated Petronia, Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch), Blue-breasted Cordonblue (Blue Waxbill), Bronze Mannikin, African Pied Wagtail, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Forest Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Collared Sunbird, Amethyst (Black) Sunbird, Variable (Yellowbellied) Sunbird, White-breasted Sunbird, Yellow-fronted (Yelloweyed) Canary, Cabanis' Bunting.
Birds we did not see: Madagascar Squacco-Heron, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Ruwenzori Batis.
Accommodation: close to the entrance are a few camps. I recommend
staying at the Wildlife Camp along the Luangwa River.
You can either camp here or hire a chalet. In the park are some
This national park is accessible on good roads from Malawi (six
hours from Lilongwe). The main camp, Mfuwe, is 130 km north-west of
Chipata on the Zambia/Malawi border.
The natural beauty, variety and concentration of wildlife make
this huge park one of the last great wildlife strongholds on earth.
Game is so prolific Luangwa is called "The Crowded Valley". The park
has one of the highest concentrations of Elephant on the continent.
We spent three days in this superb wilderness. South Luangwa is
renowned for its animals, rather than its birds. You will not find any
real specialities in this park, and most of the species are birds
commonly found in southern Africa. The advantage of this reserve,
compared to other famous parks in Africa is the fact that this park
combines plenty of wildlife with few visitors, the main reason for us
to visit this park.
There is no better park in Africa for night game drives than South
Luangwa and you will almost certainly see a Leopard.
Birds seen:
Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant, African Darter, Egyptian Goose,
Intermediate Egret, Grey Heron, Goliath Heron, Great Egret, Cattle
Egret, Squacco Heron, Striated (Greenbacked) Heron, Hamerkop, Hadada
Ibis, Sacred Ibis, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, African
Openbill, Saddle-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, African Fish-Eagle,
Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, White-headed
Vulture, Brown Snake-eagle, (Western) Banded Snake-Eagle, Bateleur,
African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene), Lizard Buzzard, Shikra (Little
Banded Goshawk), Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Dickinson's Kestrel,
Helmeted Guineafowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, Swainson's Spurfowl, Grey
(Southern) Crowned-Crane, African Jacana, Common Sandpiper, Water
Thick-Knee, Three-banded Plover, White-fronted Plover, Blacksmith Plover,
White-headed Lapwing, Senegal Lapwing, African Skimmer, Double-banded
Sandgrouse, Laughing Dove, Ring-necked Dove (Cape Turtle Dove), Red-eyed
Dove, Emerald-Spotted Wood-Dove (Greenspotted Dove), Lilian's Lovebird,
Speckled Mousebird, Grey Go-away-bird, Senegal Coucal, Burchell's Coucal,
Verreaux's (Giant) Eagle-Owl, Square-tailed (Mozambique) Nightjar,
African Palm-Swift, Little Swift, Malachite Kingfisher, Striped
Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White-fronted Bee-eater,
Little Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Southern Carmine Bee-eater,
Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous-crowned (Purple) Roller, Common (Greater)
Scimitar-bill, Red-billed Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, African Grey
Hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Crested
Barbet, Lesser Honeyguide, Bennett's Woodpecker, Golden-tailed
Woodpecker, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pied Crow, African Golden-Oriole,
Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, Black-crowned Tchagra, Brown-crowned
(Threestreaked) Tchagra, Tropical Boubou, Chinspot Batis, White
Helmetshrike, Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, (Longtailed)
Meves' Glossy-Starling, Wattled Starling, Yellow-billed Oxpecker,
Red-billed Oxpecker, White-browed Robin-Chat (Heuglin's Robin),
Plain (Brownthroated) Martin, Wire-tailed Swallow, Lesser
Striped-Swallow, Common Bulbul, African Yellow White-eye, Rattling
Cisticola, Piping Cisticola (Neddicky), Tawny-flanked Prinia,
Green-backed Camaroptera, Arrow-marked Babbler, Yellow-throated
Petronia, Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch), Red-billed Firefinch,
African (Bluebilled) Firefinch, Jameson's Firefinch, Blue-breasted
Cordonblue (Blue Waxbill), Bronze Mannikin, Village Indigobird
(Steelblue Widowfinch), Purple Indigobird (Purple Widowfinch),
Pin-tailed Whydah, Eastern Paradise-Whydah, African Pied Wagtail,
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Lesser
Masked-Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Variable (Yellowbellied) Sunbird,
White-breasted Sunbird, Brimstone (Bully) Canary, Cinnamon-breasted
(Rock) Bunting.
Our trip started with a British Airways flight from Brussels to
London and via Harare to Lilongwe. The flight touched down at Lilongwe
at 11.15 a.m. local time (no time difference with the Netherlands).
Wilfred, Jos and Staf were waiting for us at the airport with the two
Landrovers.
From the airport we drove straight to Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary,
an area of riverine forest and mixed miombo woodland, were we had a
first flavouring of Malawian birds. We only spent two hours here, and
amongst the birds we noted were Green Woodhoopoe, Yellow-fronted
Tinkerbird, Black-throated Wattle-eye and Peters' Twinspot.
The rest of the afternoon day we spent driving to the nearby
Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. It was a two hours drive and it was
already dark when we arrived at the forest resthouse. It took some
time before we got rooms, because we did not have a voucher, but
after a while we got permission to sleep in the resthouse.
After a good night's sleep we started early on our second day making
a stroll in the large pristine miombo woodland. The forest provided a
fine selection of difficult species amongst them Miombo Barbet, Stierling's
Woodpecker, Souza's Shrike, Miombo Rock-Thrush, Boehm's Flycatcher, Miombo
Scrub-Robin, Orange-winged Pytilia, Olive-headed Weaver, Shelley's
Sunbird and perhaps best of all, the beautiful Anchieta's Sunbird.
Our cook had made a fine meal at the resthouse while he had also
taken care of an ample supply of Carlsberg.
We spent all morning in the forest and amongst the additions to our
trip list were Pale-billed Hornbill, Rufous-bellied Tit, Southern Hyliota
and Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah.
At midday we left Dzalanyama and headed for Mchinji on the Zambian
border. We made a few stops, but the best stop was at a large river,
20 kilometres before we arrived in Mchinji. We had marvellous looks of
more than 10 Lesser Jacanas, a bird I had seen only once in Cameroon.
In the late afternoon we arrived at Mchinji, a rather dusty village
on the Zambian border, where we checked into the very dirty Tiyeseho
Try Hotel. We had to wait two hours for our dinner, and when I got
impatient and visited the kitchen I wished I had not done that. The
others ate their chips and chicken, but I refused to eat and went to
bed, hungry and chagrined.
After a "comfortable" night in the hotel we drove to the border. We
had to wait at the Malawi/Zambia border, but soon the inevitable paperwork
was complete. We made a stop at Chipata to stock up on food and to change
money, before driving to South Luangwa National Park.
It was a hot and dusty ride on the 130 km long unmettaled road to Luangwa
and at midday we arrived at Wildlife Camp, an idyllic accommodation on the
banks of the Luangwa River. Four of us hired a chalet and three decided
to camp and were very much aware of the thieving monkeys.
In the afternoon we made a short stroll around our camp along the
Luangwa River. Hippos and crocs abounded in the muddy river, a tributary of
the Zambesi. A couple of interesting sightings included White-fronted Plover,
White-headed Lapwing, Lilian's Lovebird, Giant Kingfisher and dozens of
Red-necked and Swainson's Spurfowls coming to drink just before dusk.
We spent the evening on the terrace along the Luangwa River, sipping
from our Mosi lager.
The wild yelp of the fish eagle was our daily alarm clock along the
Luangwa River. We eagerly set off early to the nearby Mfuwe Gate of Luangwa
National Park. We spent all day in Luangwa.
A wealth of species quickly expanded our list, and most noteworthy of
these birds were Lappet-faced Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Martial Eagle,
African Skimmer, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Southern Ground-Hornbill,
Crested Barbet and Eastern Paradise-Whydah.
In addition to the birding, which was good, Luangwa was also great
for game-viewing. This was 'classic' Africa with large concentrations of
game, many Elephants, several large herds of Buffaloes, Thornicroft's
Giraffes, a dozing pride of Lions, ever alert Pukus and Impalas and
wallowing Hippos.
Our night game drive started out slowly until we noted two Giant
Eagle-Owls and a pride of Lions. Square-tailed Nightjars were fairly
common, and we then followed a leopard at close range, which all but
ignored our presence. We had quite a thrill when the leopard attacked a
group of impalas. A close miss, lucky for the impalas.
Other sightings on the night game drive included Spotted Hyena and a
number of mongoose and genet.
After a "comfortable night" with the hippos of the Luangwa River
we again headed to the national park. The birdlife here was similar to
the birds seen the previous days. Amongst the "new" birds we encountered
were Hooded Vulture, African Harrier-Hawk, Southern Carmine Bee-eater,
Lesser Honeyguide, Bennet's Woodpecker, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike,
Piping Cisticola, Jameson's Firefinch and Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver.
The night game drive was not very successful, but we did see Honey
Badger and African Civet.
During the night we were awakened by an elephant, silhouetted in the
moonlight and standing next to our chalet.
After a night in the 'camp', we were prepared for the next leg of the
trip, which would take us north en route to Nyika National Park. As we
left the camp we did see a pair of Grey-crowned Cranes, the only ones
of the trip.
The journey was straightforward on the fairly good dirt road all the
way to Chipata. Some birding stops along the road turned up Augur Buzzard,
Dickinson's Kestrel and a group of six Racket-tailed Rollers, a species
I had not seen as the only member of our group on a birding trip two
years ago in Zimbabwe.
We made a short stop at Chipata to buy some drinks and food. Hereafter
we headed to Mchinji and then onwards to Kasungu.
Near Kasungu we stopped at a marshy area and some of the more
notable species here included Red-billed Duck, Black-shouldered Kite,
Capped Wheatear, Red-capped Lark and African Pipit.
We checked into the Kasungu Inn, a good hotel, where I made a
very expensive phone-call to Holland
Today was largely a travelling day as we set out to drive to Nyika
National Park in north-western Malawi. We made a stop at Rumphi, the
last town to stock up on food and drinks, before we drove to Nyika.
The dirt road was at some places very bad, but the drive proved less
of an ordeal than we thought it would be.
When we arrived at the gate the birding started, and the highlands
produced a whole new set of birds including Red-winged Francolin,
Common Quail, Stanley (Denham's) Bustard, White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher,
Malawi Batis, Churring Cisticola, Abyssinian Hill-Babbler, Jackson's
Pipit (for the non-Sibley&Monroe birders) and Buff-shouldered
Widowbird.
The last part of the road was diabolical, but we arrived at Chelinda
Camp before dark and hired a comfortable self-catering bungalow,
overlooking a small lake where Bushbuck were coming down to drink.
It was very cold next morning, when we headed to the fine Chowo
forest on the Zambian side of the border. It was hard work in the
forest, and after a few hundred metres the trail was hardly visible.
Our efforts were not very successful, but our stroll produced amongst
others Mountain Illadopsis, Sharpe's Akalat, White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher,
Waller's Starling, Mountain Greenbul and White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher.
The rest of the day we explored the montane grassland. We were
disappointed to find that large areas had been burned out.
We spent all day here, and the prize birds gradually gave themselves up:
Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, Trilling Cisticola, Black-lored Cisticola,
Black-tailed Waxbill, Green-headed Sunbird, Red-tufted Sunbird
and Yellow-browed Seedeater.
The 'game' element of birding on these grasslands was not absent,
and we did see Side-striped Jackal, Bushbuck, Common Zebra, Eland,
Southern Reedbuck and Roan Antelope.
The following day involved an early start as we visited Zovo Chipolo
Forest. We spent three hours in the deadly quiet forest, but we managed
to see Olive Woodpecker, Moustached Green Tinkerbird, Brown-headed Apalis
and Mountain Illadopsis.
Hereafter we again explored the narrow trails in Chowo Forest and
amongst the highlights were Bar-tailed Trogon, White-starred Robin,
Fuelleborne's Boubou, Olive-flanked Robin-Chat and White-chested Alethe.
In the afternoon we headed to Chosi View Point and visited both dams.
Highlights included Yellow-billed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Dusky
Turtle-Dove, Buff-shouldered Widowbird, Reichard's Seedeater and
Yellow-browed Seedeater.
From our bungalow two Ruwenzori Nightjars performed little sallies
and called persistently, and during the night drive we added Spotted
Eagle-Owl and Freckled Nightjar to our triplist. We had supper at the
restaurant, a rather expensive meal.
Not having completely achieved our objectives at Nyika we set off
for the gate. En route to the gate we had great views of a group of more
than 20 Stanley Bustards. We made a few roadside stops in the miombo
woodland in the Thazima Gate area.
While exploring the forest we encountered a few very large flocks.
In one flock I counted 23 birdspecies.
The flocks held amongst others Black-collared Barbet, Grey-headed
Bushshrike, Miombo Rock-Thrush, Southern Black Flycatcher, White-headed
Black-Chat (Arnot's Chat), Spotted Creeper, Brown Warbler, Cinnamon-breasted
Tit, Miombo Tit, African Penduline-Tit, Peters' Twinspot, Anchieta's
Sunbird, Southern Yellow-rumped Seedeater and Cabanis' Bunting.
In the late afternoon we arrived at the small town of Nkhata Bay,
and we checked in at the Chikale Beach Resort along the shore of
famous Lake Malawi.
At dawn the following day we set off to drive to nearby Kalwe Forest.
Our stroll in the forest proved once again that birding in African
lowland rainforest can be the most frustrating branch of the hobby.
I still have nightmares about my walk in Sokoke Forest in Kenya so many
years ago. Kalwe Forest was as lifeless as Sokoke Forest and we had to
work very hard with the tape before we seduced our target bird, the East
Coast Akalat into view. We had excellent views of this elusive species.
Then we explored a small marshy area near the forest, and goodies
seen here included White-winged Widowbird, Lemon-breasted Seedeater
and Purple-banded Sunbird.
An afternoon visit to the Nkwadzi Forest was almost as frustrating
as our morning visit to Kalwe Forest. In the company of two rangers
we made a walk in this rainforest. East Coast Akalat was again seen
very well, but the only other birds we noted were Green-backed Woodpecker,
Black Cuckoo-Shrike, Chinspot Batis and Green-backed Camaroptera.
We spent all day travelling by the shores of Lake Malawi to Liwonde
NP. After a long and tiring drive we arrived at the gate of the park.
En route to Mvuu Camp we made a few roadside stops, and the open
woodland held Dickinson's Kestrel, Southern Ground-Hornbill and
Scarlet-chested Sunbird, to name but a few.
It was almost dark when we put up our tents along the Shire River,
but the Hippo's did not wake me.
Before breakfast we spent some time birding along the edge of the
Shire River. Mvuu Camp was a hive of activity and birding in this area
produced a variety of birds: the very tame Boehm's Bee-eaters were
everywhere, Collared Palm-Thrushes were very approachable, and amongst
the other highlights we did see were Lilian's Lovebird, Giant Kingfisher,
Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Livingstone's Flycatcher, African
Paradise-Flycatcher and Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch).
The rest of the day we spent driving around Liwonde. Our huge bird
list in this park included African Cuckoo-Hawk, Banded Snake-Eagle,
Ayres' Hawk-Eagle, Red-necked Falcon, Temminck's Courser, Senegal
Lapwing, Purple-crested Turaco, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Greater
Honeyguide and Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike.
Game animals of course were conspicuous and included Elephant,
Impala, Bushbuck and good numbers of Waterbuck.
In the early morning Eric and I made a bird walk with Benjamin, and
we soon added Brown-breasted Barbet to our birdlist, a bird we most
likely not would have seen without the guide.
We had very good views of a mystery-bird (Ben did not identify
the bird either) and after consulting my sketch of this bird in my
diary and lots of literature at home I still don't know what bird
we did see!!
We again spent most of the day driving around in Liwonde. Most
birds we did see where the same ones as the previous day, but we added
Long-toed Lapwing, Barred Owlet, Green-backed Honeyguide, Red-capped
Robin-Chat, Terrestrial Brownbul, Cape Crombec, Flappet Lark and
Cut-throat to our list.
Our nightdrive was successful, because we had amazingly close encounters
with a Bronze-winged (Violet-tipped) Courser, a bird I had dipped on all
my African trips. The courser was watched at length, and we were able
to photograph the bird at less than three meters.
Much of the morning was spent at Mvuu Camp and amongst the birds we saw
were Spur-winged Goose, Comb Duck, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Sombre Greenbul
and Terrestrial Brownbul. We then left the miombo woodland and reed fringed
Shire River of Liwonde and set off for the old town of Zomba. Unfortunately,
the time we spent here was marred with rain. We explored the wooded gardens
and secondary growth above the parliament building, and although we did hear
the very localised White-winged Apalis, we were not able to find the bird.
Demoralised and wet we left Zomba and headed to Blantyre and checked into
the Grace Bandawe Conference Centre.
We set off very early the following morning for the Thyolo Mountains.
An hour later we arrived at the Satemwa Tea estate and had no trouble in
getting permission from the manager's wife to enter the estate.
We had hardly started our birding when we had great views of the
astonishing White-winged Apalis, Black-headed Apalis, Green Barbet and
Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler.
We birded all day at this remaining patch of upland forest. An array
of greenbuls included good looks at Little Greenbul, Mountain Greenbul,
Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Placid Greenbul, Grey-olive Greenbul and
Yellow-streaked Greenbul, whilst above our heads Black-headed Apalis and
White-winged Apalis flitted through the canopy.
Other interesting birds encountered here were Verreaux's Eagle,
White-eared Barbet, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Black-fronted Bushshrike,
Pale Batis, Evergreen Forest-Warbler, Green-backed Twinspot and
Bertrand's Weaver.
We did hear the Cholo Alethe, but were very disappointed to dip the
Green-headed Oriole, a bird every birder sees here.
Why is it that on every trip I dip an important species?
This morning we spent a few hours at the nearby Soche Mountain. The start
was rather frustrating, as we were unable to find the right track to the
mountain. Eventually we reached via a different (steep) route the mountain
and spent enough time in the right habitat to find a few goodies, amongst
them Pallid Honeyguide, White-starred Robin, Familiar Chat, Malawi Batis,
Black-and-white Mannikin and Olive Sunbird. During the climb Jos and I
were attacked by red ants, and when the ants got up in our long trousers
our birdwatching composure had had it. Much later we did see the elusive
Cholo Alethe, which unfortunately only gave us a tantalisingly brief glimpse.
The next stage of our trip involved a short drive to Lengwe National
Park, where we spent the night in a chalet.
We spent all day in this hot and dusty park. The time spent at the
artificial waterholes was not too exciting, however we could take
excellent pictures of drinking birds. After so many days in Malawi we
did not see many new birds, but amongst the birds we noted were Marabou,
African Goshawk, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo a very pleasant surprise,
African Harrier-Hawk, our only Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Little
Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-olive Greenbul, Eastern Nicator and Red-headed Weaver.
After a comfortable night at our chalet we had a pre-breakfast
stroll near the camp. A dawn watch at the main waterhole should be a
magical experience, but I spent two hours in the blind and saw nothing,
nada, rien. When Tsetse flies hit with a vengeance I had my only "magical"
experience.
Hereafter we tried to locate Elephant Marsh, but it was impossible
to find the marsh in the large sugarcane fields along the Shire River.
With the help of a friendly employee of the sugarcane-company we were
able to make a morning boat trip on the Shire River. The trip was more
memorable for spectacular scenery than birds, although we did see
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Kittlitz's Plover, thousands of Plain
Martins, Wire-tailed Swallows and Lesser Striped-Swallows and Tinkling
Cisticola.
Hereafter we returned to Blantyre and again checked into Grace
Bandawe Conference Centre. We celebrated Vital's birthday with a
dinner at the luxurious Soche Mountain Hotel.
Next morning found us on the right track at Soche Mountain. We spent
a few hours here and again had excellent views of White-winged Apalis
and also did see Square-tailed Drongo, Bearded Scrub-Robin, Yellow-breasted
Apalis, Southern Hyliota, Striped Pipit, Forest Weaver and Cabanis' Bunting.
At midday we said goodbye to Jos, Staf and Wilfred and wished them
'bon voyage' on their journey in Mozambique to Zimbabwe. The final part
of the trip took us back to the capital as we drove by stagecoach to Lilongwe.
In the late afternoon we arrived at the plush Capital Hotel, where we checked in.
The final morning once again saw us back in Lilongwe Nature
Sanctuary. We concentrated our efforts on the trail along the
river, hoping to find Half-collared Kingfisher. We split our efforts, and
eventually Eric located the bird, but by the time Vital and I arrived
at the spot, the bird had been gone... Some birds I will never see
(Murphy's Law).
This was my eleventh trip to Africa, but it seems that I had to
make another trip (October 1999, Ethiopia),
to see the Half-collared Kingfisher (Yes, we did see the kingfisher).
Three hours delayed we left Lilongwe at 21.00 p.m. which meant that
we missed our luggage on the connecting flight to Brussels, and at
13.30 p.m. the next day I was back in the Netherlands.
The final total for the three weeks trip was 367 species of birds. I
finished the trip with 58 lifers, mostly of birds found elsewhere only
in Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. In addition to all these birds 38
species of mammal were seen on the trip.
My ten best birds of the trip? Bronze-winged Courser, Barred
Long-tailed Cuckoo, Boehm's Bee-eater, Brown-breasted Barbet, Souza's
Shrike, East Coast Akalat, White-winged Apalis, Brown Warbler,
Green-backed Twinspot and Striped Pipit, lifers all of course.
This list follows the taxonomy, names and sequence of James F.
Clements (July 1991, Birds of the World, A Check List and
Supplements No. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).
This specific treatment follows Dr. Charles Sibley and Dr. Burt L. Monroe,
Jr (1990, Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World, Yale University Press).
Species in brackets are the English names in Birds of Southern
Africa and the supplement Birds of Malawi by Kenneth
Newman, but only mentioned when these differ substantially from the Clements
Check List.
The Dutch names follow the translated Complete Checklist of
Birds of the World (Complete Checklist van Vogels van de Wereld)
of Michael Walters.
Numbers quoted are estimates of the minimum numbers seen.
The following abbreviations are used:
(Z) = Zambia This list follows the sequence and scientific nomenclature of
The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals by Jonathan
Kingdon. Data are estimates of the minimum numbers seen. The Dutch
names follow Elseviers Gids van de Afrikaanse
Zoogdieren by Haltenorth/Diller/Smeenk.
Daily Log
Saturday/Sunday 10/11th July
Monday 12th July
Tuesday 13th July
Wednesday 14th July
Thursday 15th July
Friday 16th July
Saturday 17th July
Sunday 18th July
Monday 19th July
Tuesday 20th July
Wednesday 21st July
Thursday 22nd July
Friday 23rd July
Saturday 24th July
Sunday 25th July
Monday 26th July
Tuesday 27th July
Wednesday 28th July
Thursday 29th July
Friday 30th July
Saturday 31st July
Sunday/Monday 1st/2nd August
Systematic List of Birds
FR = Forest Reserve
NP = National Park
NS = Nature Sanctuary
100+ = at least 100 birds
Only one bird seen at Nyika NP.
Commonly observed throughout Malawi and Zambia in suitable habitat.
Very common in Liwonde NP along the Shire River.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 2 at Liwonde NP.
60+ at Liwonde NP and 10+ along the Shire River.
Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A single one at Liwonde NP.
5 at Liwonde NP.
2 near Mchinji, small numbers near Kasungu, 20+ at Nyika NP, a few at Lilongwe NS.
15+ near Kasungu.
10+ near Kasungu, small numbers near Nkhata Bay.
Single ones at South Luangwa NP (Z), near Nkhata Bay and Lengwe NP, 4 at
Liwonde NP.
Widespread in small numbers.
Fairly common and widespread. Up to 20+ a day.
3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP.
2 near Mchinji.
Widespread in small numbers.
A common appearance in both countries.
2 near Mchinji, 1 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 4 at Liwonde NP.
Singles at South Luangwa NP (Z), Nyika NP and at Nkhata Bay, 2 at
Liwonde NP and 4 along the Shire River near Lengwe NP.
12 along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
A ratther common and widespread species.
A single observation at Liwonde NP.
A rather common and widespread species.
Fairly common at South Luangwa NP.
Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z) and at Liwonde NP.
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A common and widespread species.
A single one at Lengwe NP.
11 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP, 6 at Lengwe NP
A single observation at Liwonde NP.
1 near Mchinji, 4 en route Kasungu Mzuzu, 1 at Nyika NP, 5 at Lengwe NP.
Surprisingly scarce. Small numbers of this "Yellow-billed Kite" at
Lilongwe NS and en route in Malawi.
A rather common and widespread species.
A single bird in the Thyolo Mountains.
3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Lengwe NP.
Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Nyika NP, 8 at Lengwe NP.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
6 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP.
4 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Lengwe NP.
2 at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at South Luangwa NP, up to 4 a day at Liwonde NP, 7 at Lengwe NP.
Commonly observed throughout both countries.
2 near Mchinji, 1 at Liwonde NP.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 5 at Lengwe NP.
2 at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at Liwonde NP (melanistic form).
2 at Lengwe NP.
Single observations at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Zomba.
A single sighting en route near Salima.
A single observation at the Thyolo Mountains.
5 at Nyika NP.
1 near Mchinji and 6 at Nyika NP.
8 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Lengwe NP.
3 at Liwonde NP.
3 at the Thyolo Mountains.
A pair at Dzalanyama FR.
A single bird at Liwonde NP.
2 at South Luangwe NP (Z), 2 at Liwonde NP and also 2 at the Thyolo Mountains.
1 at Lengwe NP.
A single sighting at the Soche Mountain.
Single sightings at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
A single observation at Liwonde NP.
1 near Mchinji, 2 at the Soche Mountain, 1 at Lengwe NP.
A single bird at the airport in Lilongwe.
A very common and widespread species.
7 at Dzalanyama FR, 1 at South Luangwa NP.
4 at Nyika NP.
Small numbers at South Luangwa NP and Liwonde NP.
Common in South Luangwa NP (Z).
Very common at Nyika NP.
3 at Nyika NP.
A pair at South Luangwa NP (Z).
25+ at Nyika NP.
Commonly observed in Malawi and Zambia in suitable habitat.
Fairly common at a river east of Mchinji.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and single ones at Nyika NP, Liwonde NP and
along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
60+ at South Luangwa NP.
A few at South Luangwa NP (Z), 5 at Liwonde NP and a few along the Shire
River near Chikwawa.
1 at Liwonde NP (nightdrive) and 8 at Lengwe NP during a nightdrive.
1 at Liwonde NP.
2 along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
A few at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A single bird along the Luangwa River at Wildlife Camp (Z).
A single observation at Liwonde NP.
Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z), 2 at Liwonde NP.
Up to 10 a day at South Luangwa NP (Z).
4 at Liwonde NP.
Small numbers at South Luangwa NP and Liwonde NP.
Common along the Shire River at Liwonde NP.
9 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A single bird at South Luangwa NP (Z).
Fairly common around villages and towns.
15+ at Nyika NP.
4 at Nyika NP.
Very common at South Luangwa NP (Z), a few at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
3 along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
Abundant in both countries.
A fairly common and widespread species.
A common and widespread species.
A single bird at Nkhata Bay. Probably overlooked many times.
Small numbers at Liwonde NP, Soche & Thyolo Mountains and Lengwe NP.
2 at Liwonde NP.
8 at Liwonde NP.
Very common at South Luangwa NP (Z), fairly common at Liwonde NP.
Seen in good numbers at most places visited.
25+ at Liwonde NP.
A few at Nyika NP and Dzalanyama FR.
A few at the Soche Mountain and the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at Lilongwe NS.
2 at Liwonde NP.
A fairly common and widespread species.
A single observation at Lengwe NP.
A female at Liwonde NP.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 3 at Liwonde NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
5 during a nightdrive at Nyika NP.
2 during a nightdrive at South Luangwa NP (Z).
1 at Dzalanyama FR.
A single observation at Liwonde NP.
Heard at Liwonde NP and 1 seen at Lengwe NP.
A pair at Nyika NP.
A single one at Nyika NP.
Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 1 at Lengwe NP.
A very common and widespread species.
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and at Chikwawa.
A poor flight view of a bird at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
A single observation at Lilongwe NS.
Small numbers at suitable habitats.
A few along Lake Malawi, at Liwonde NP, Lengwe NP and Lilongwe NS.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), a few along Lake Malawi, Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
5 at South Luangwa NP (Z), several along Lake Malawi (Nkhata Bay).
A common and widespread species.
Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A common and widespread species.
Small numbers at Dzalanyama FR and South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP.
Common at Liwonde NP, 15+ at Lengwe NP.
Only one bird seen at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A very common and widespread species.
6 en route from South Luangwa NP (Z) to Chipata (Zambia/Malawi border).
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
1 near Chipata (Z), several at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
A rather common and widespread species.
10+ at South Luangwa NP (Z), 3 at the entrance of Nyika NP, 1 at Liwonde NP
and a few at Lengwe NP.
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
Only one observation at Lengwe NP.
A rather common and widespread species.
A fairly common and widespread species.
10+ at Dzalanyama FR.
4 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 4 at Lengwe NP.
17 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 4 at Liwonde NP and 1 at Lengwe NP.
7 at the Soche Mountain and 8 at the Thyolo Mountains.
6 at Dzalanyama FR.
4 at the Thyolo Mountains.
6 at Nyika NP.
2 at the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at the Soche Mountain.
4 at Lilongwe NS.
2 at Dzalanyama FR.
1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 1 in the garden of Hotel Capital in Lilongwe.
A splendid observation of a pair at Liwonde National Park.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 1 at Lengwe NP.
A single one at Liwonde NP.
Singles at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
A single one at the Soche Mountain.
A single observation at Liwonde NP and 1 at the Soche Mountain.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Lengwe NP.
Single ones at Nkwadzi Forest near Nkhata Bay and Lengwe NP.
1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP, 2 at Liwonde NP and 4 at Lengwe NP.
3 at Dzalanyama FR.
1 at Lilongwe NS and 2 at Lengwe NP.
A single one at Nyika NP.
Small numbers at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
A single one at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
6 at Chowo Forest & Zovo Chipolo Forest in Nyika NP.
A few at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
Fairly common at the Thyolo Mountains and a few at Lengwe NP.
A common and widespread species.
A common and widespread species, especially near towns and villages.
Common at Nyika NP.
3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Kalwe Forest near Nkhata Bay, 1 at Liwonde NP,
10+ at Lengwe NP and 1 at the Soche Mountain.
Single ones at Dzalanyama FR, at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and at the Soche Mountain.
A few at Dzalanyama FR, 3 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 1 at Lengwe NP.
2 at the Thyolo Mountains.
1 at Nkwadzi Forest near Nkhata Bay, a few at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
4 at Dzalanyama FR.
Small numbers throughout.
Up to 4 a day, seen most days.
Commonly observed throughout Malawi, 3 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
2 at Dzalanyama FR, 3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
1 at South Luangwa NP (Z), up to 4 a day at Liwonde NP.
Commonly observed throughout Malawi and Zambia in suitable habitat.
2 at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
Singles at South Luangwa NP (Z) and at Liwonde NP, 2 at Lengwe NP, 2 at Lilongwe NS.
4 at the Thyolo Mountains and 1 at the Soche Mountain.
1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 4 at Liwonde NP.
Up to 15 a day at Dzalanyama FR and Lengwe NP.
Up to 10 a day at Dzalanyama FR, 10+ at Lengwe NP.
A few at Nyika NP, 2 at the Soche Mountain.
A rather common appearance.
2 at the Soche Mountain.
A few at Lilongwe NS, small numbers at Liwonde NP and the Soche Mountain.
6 at Dzalanyama FR and 2 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
2 at Nyika NP and singles at the Soche Mountain and Thyolo Mountains.
4 at Dzalanyama FR and 4 at Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
A single one at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
Heard at the Thyolo Mountains and a brief view of one bird at the Soche Mountain.
Fairly common at Nyika NP.
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
Seen, but not every day.
Commonly observed in South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
10+ at South Luangwa NP (Z).
15+ at South Luangwa NP (Z).
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
A few at Dzalanyama FR.
3 at Nyika NP.
6 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
4 at Dzalanyama FR.
Small numbers seen at most sites visited.
2 at Dzalanyama FR, 4 at the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at the Soche Mountains
and 1 at Lilongwe NS.
2 at Nyika NP, 2 at the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at the Soche Mountain.
Heard at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
1 at Kalwe Forest and 3 at Nkwadzi Forest near Nkhata Bay
2 at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
1 at Nyika NP and 1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
1 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP, 3 at Blantyre and 3 in the garden
of Hotel Capital in Lilongwe.
2 at Liwonde NP and 1 at Lengwe NP.
Fairly common at Liwonde NP.
2 at the Soche Mountain.
5 at Dzalanyama FR.
2 at Dzalanyama FR, up to 10 a day at Nyika NP, 3 at the Thyolo Mountains.
6 in the vicinity of Kasungu.
4 at Dzalanyama FR and 2 at the Soche Mountain.
5 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 4 at Liwonde NP.
A single one at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
A few at South Luangwa NP (Z), abundant along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
A few near Mchinji, 20+ at Kasungu, 20+ at Liwonde NP.
Commonly observed throughout Malawi and Zambia in suitable habitat.
Small numbers in the Kasungu area.
A few near Mchinji, common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and abundant along the
Shire River near Chikwawa.
A few near Mchinji.
2 at Dzalanyama FR, small numbers along Lake Malawi (Nkhata Bay) and at
the Thyolo Mountains.
A very common and widespread species, seen every day of the trip.
2 at the Thyolo Mountains.
2 at Liwonde NP.
Up to 10 a day in the forests at Nyika NP.
3 at the Thyolo Mountains.
Common at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
4 at the Thyolo Mountains, 3 at Lengwe NP and 2 at the Soche Mountain.
4 at Liwonde NP and a few at Lilongwe NS.
2 at the Thyolo Mountains and 5 at Lengwe NP.
A few at the Thyolo Mountains.
A single observation at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
3 at Lengwe NP.
A fairly common and widespread species.
3 at Nyika NP.
Small numbers at Nyika NP.
A single one at Nyika NP.
A few at South Luangwa NP and Lengwe NP.
Common at Nyika NP.
3 along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
A single one at South Luangwa NP (Z).
2 at Nyika NP.
Commonly observed throughout the places visited.
3 at Nyika NP.
Heard at Zomba, 6 seen at the Thyolo Mountains and 4 at the Soche Mountains.
Several at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
Small numbers at the Thyolo Mountains and the Soche Mountain.
A single one at Zovo Chipolo Forest in Nyika NP.
Localised in Malawi, seen only at Lilongwe NS and at Lengwe NP.
Commonly observed throughout Malawi in suitable habitat.
2 at the Thyolo Mountains.
1 near Mchinji, 2 along the Shire River near Chikwawa and 1 at Lilongwe NS.
Up to 4 a day at Nyika NP.
2 at Dzalanyama FR.
Fairly common at Dzalanyama FR, 6 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP, a few
at the Soche Mountain, 2 at Lilongwe NS.
A single one at Liwonde NP.
7 at the Thyolo Mountains.
1 at Dzalanyama FR and 3 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
A few at Dzalanyama FR and 4 at the Soche Mountain.
2 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
2 at Zovo Chipolo Forest and 1 at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
A single one at Nyika NP.
Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
A few at Liwonde NP and at Lengwe NP.
A single sighting at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
A single one at Liwonde NP.
10+ at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
A single bird at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
Small numbers at Nyika NP.
1 at Liwonde NP.
4 en route Dzalanyama FR to Mchinji and 2 near Kasungu.
Commonly observed near settlements.
A fairly common and widespread species.
A rather common apperance in Malawi and Zambia.
2 at Dzalanyama FR.
3 at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), a few at Liwonde NP and
1 at Lengwe NP.
A splendid observation at the Thyolo Mountains.
5 at Lilongwe NS, 1 at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at the Soche Mountain.
Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z), Liwonde NP and Lilongwe NS.
A few at South Luangwa NP.
6 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 4 at Liwonde NP.
A very common and widespread species.
Up to 6 a day at Nyika NP.
Small numbers at Nyika NP.
20+ at Nyika NP, a few in the Nkhata Bay area.
A fairly common appearance in both countries.
10+ at the Soche Mountain.
A group of 15+ at Lilongwe NS.
A single one at Liwonde NP.
1 near Mchinji, 4 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 5 at Liwonde NP.
A single one at Nyika NP.
A single one at South Luangwa NP (Z).
Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z).
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 4 at Liwonde NP.
5 at Dzalanyama FR.
A fairly common and widespread species.
2 at Dzalanyama FR, 3 at the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at Lilongwe NS.
1 at Dzalanyama FR and 2 at Liwonde NP.
A splendid observation at the Soche Mountain.
1 near Mchinji, 3 near Kasungu.
A single one at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
A single sighting at the Thyolo Mountains. The subspecies seen here is
sometimes considered as a separate species: Wood Pipit, Anthus
nyassae and is not on the Clements Checklist!
2 at Nyika NP. This species is not on the Clements Checklist!
1 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A very common and widespread species.
6 at the Thyolo Mountains.
A few at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Lengwe NP.
A few at Lilongwe NS, 1 at Nyika NP and a few at Liwonde NP.
Small numbers at Liwonde NP and Lilongwe NS.
A few near Mchinji, common at Liwonde NP and along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
Small numbers in the Blantyre area.
25+ at Lilongwe NS and a few near Chikwawa.
Small numbers at the Thyolo Mountains, the Soche Mountain and Lengwe NP.
3 at Dzalanyama FR.
A female at Lengwe NP.
A very common and widespread species.
A few at the Soche Mountain.
A few along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
A few in the Nkhata Bay area.
Fairly common at Nyika NP in suitable habitat.
Single ones at Dzalanyama FR and the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
2 at Lilongwe NS, 3 at Liwonde NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
1 at the Thyolo Mountains and 3 at the Soche Mountain.
A single observation at Nyika NP.
7 at Dzalanyama FR, a few at Nyika NP, the Soche Mountain and Lengwe NP.
Singles at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and near Lake Malawi, a few at Liwonde NP.
A common appearance.
1 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 2 at Lengwe NP.
Several at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
10 at Nyika NP, 1 at Liwonde NP.
3 at Nyika NP.
A single bird at Nyika NP.
A single one at Dzalanyama FR.
A single one at Nkhata Bay.
A few at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
Small numbers at Nyika NP, the Thyolo Mountains and Soche Mountain.
A few at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
Several at Nkhata Bay.
Fairly common in Malawi.
A few at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A single one at Nyika NP.
Fairly common at Dzalanyama FR.
Common at Nyika NP
A few at Dzalanyama FR and South Luangwa NP (Z), 2 at Liwonde NP.
1 at Dzalanyama FR.
2 at Dzalanyama FR, 1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP, 4 at Lengwe NP.Systematic List of Mammals
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A few at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
A common and widespread species.
A few at Nyika NP and at the Soche Mountain.
Several at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP, 2 at Lengwe NP.
4 at South Luangwa NP (Z), very common at Nyika NP, 1 at Liwonde NP
and 2 at Lengwe NP.
A single one at Nyika NP.
Small numbers at Nyika NP.
A common and widespread species.
A few at the Soche Mountain and at the Thyolo Mountains.
4 at Nyika NP.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 1 near Nkhata Bay.
1 at Dzalanyama FR.
10+ at South Luangwa NP (Z).
5 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP.
6 at South Luangwa NP (Z), heard at Nyika NP.
6 during the nightdrives at South Luangwa NP (Z).
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A splendid observation during a nightdrive at South Luangwa NP (Z).
6 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
A single one at the Soche Mountain.
Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z), 50+ at Liwonde NP.
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z), small numbers at Nyika NP and Liwonde NP.
Commonly observed at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP, a few along
the Shire River near Chikwawa.
A few at South Luangwa NP (Z), Nyika NP, Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
25+ at South Luangwa NP (Z).
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 50+ at Lengwe NP.
5 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 6 at Nyika NP, 5 at Liwonde NP.
Small numbers at Lengwe NP.
2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), a few at Lengwe NP.
20+ at Nyika NP.
2 at Lengwe NP.
Fairly common at Nyika NP.
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
50+ at South Luangwa NP (Z), small numbers at Liwonde NP.
Common at South Luangwa NP (Z), Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
Fairly common at Nyika NP.
This page served with permission of the author
by Urs Geiser; ugeiser@xnet.com;
February 6, 2000