Trip Report: Malawi and Zambia, July 10 - August 2, 1999

Jan Vermeulen, Bredaseweg 14, 4861 AH Chaam, The Netherlands; jem.vermeulen@wxs.nl

General Information

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.

Flight and Visa

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.

Money

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.

Accommodation

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 Resthouse1080 MKdouble room
Tiyeseho (Try) Hotel, Mchinji200 MKdouble room
Kasungu Inn, Kasungu1260 MKdouble room
Chalet, Nyika NP100 US$2 double rooms
Camping at Nyika NP5 US$per person
Chikale Beach Resort, Nkhata Bay850 MKdouble room
Camping at Liwonde NP8 US$per person
Chalet at Liwonde NP38 US$per person
Grace Bandawe Conference Centre, Blantyre500 MKdouble room
Chalet, Lengwe NP270 MKdouble room
Hotel Capital, Lilongwe (plush!)216 US$double room
Zambia
Wildlife Camp (chalet), South Luangwa NP60 US$2 double rooms

Food and Drink

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.

Entrance Fees at National Parks

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!

Health and Safety

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.

Language

English is the official language in Malawi and Zambia and is widely spoken nearly everywhere.

Weather

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.

Equipment

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.

Transport and Roads

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.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

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).

Common Bird Species

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.

References

Books

Nigel Wheatley's Where to watch birds in Africa is useful at the planning stage.

Reports And Articles

I found the detailed notes by Henk Hendriks most useful, with additional information from the report by Jon Hornbuckle.

Software

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.

Acknowledgements

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.

Itinerary

Malawi
July 10Chaam * Brussels * London
July 11Harare * Lilongwe * Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary * Dzalanyama Forest Reserve
July 12Dzalanyama Forest Reserve
July 13Dzalanyama Forest Reserve * Mchinji
Zambia
July 14Mchinji * Chipata * South Luangwa National Park
July 15South Luangwa National Park
July 16South Luangwa National Park
July 17South Luangwa National Park * Chipata * Mchinji* Kasungu
Malawi
July 18Kasungu * Mzuzu * Rumphi * Nyika National Park
July 19Nyika National Park
July 20Nyika National Park
July 21Nyika National Park * Rumphi * Mzuzu * Nkhata Bay
July 22Nkhata Bay - Kalwe Forest Reserve * Nkwadzi Forest Reserve * Nkhata Bay
July 23Nkhata Bay * Salima * Liwonde National Park
July 24Liwonde National Park
July 25Liwonde National Park
July 26Liwonde National Park * Zomba * Blantyre
July 27Blantyre * Thyolo Mountains * Blantyre
July 28Soche Mountain * Lengwe National Park
July 29Lengwe National Park
July 30Lengwe National Park * Blantyre
July 31Blantyre * Soche Mountain * Blantyre * Lilongwe
August 1/2Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary * Harare * London * Brussels * Chaam

The Sites

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.

MALAWI
Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary

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.

Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

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.

Nyika National Park

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.

Nkhata Bay Area

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.

Liwonde National Park

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.

Blantyre Area

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.

Soche Mountain

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,

Thyolo Mountains

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.

Lengwe National Park

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.

ZAMBIA
South Luangwa National Park

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 expensive lodges.

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.

Daily Log

Saturday/Sunday 10/11th July

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.

Monday 12th July

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.

Tuesday 13th July

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.

Wednesday 14th July

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.

Thursday 15th July

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.

Friday 16th July

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.

Saturday 17th July

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

Sunday 18th July

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.

Monday 19th July

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.

Tuesday 20th July

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.

Wednesday 21st July

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.

Thursday 22nd July

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.

Friday 23rd July

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.

Saturday 24th July

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.

Sunday 25th July

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.

Monday 26th July

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.

Tuesday 27th July

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?

Wednesday 28th July

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.

Thursday 29th July

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.

Friday 30th July

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.

Saturday 31st July

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.

Sunday/Monday 1st/2nd August

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.

Systematic List of Birds

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
FR = Forest Reserve
NP = National Park
NS = Nature Sanctuary
100+ = at least 100 birds

  1. LITTLE GREBE (DABCHICK), Tachybaptus ruficollis, Dodaars
    Only one bird seen at Nyika NP.
  2. LONG-TAILED (REED) CORMORANT, Phalacrocorax africanus, Afrikaanse Dwergaalscholver
    Commonly observed throughout Malawi and Zambia in suitable habitat.
  3. GREAT (WHITEBREASTED) CORMORANT, Phalacrocorax carbo, Aalscholver
    Very common in Liwonde NP along the Shire River.
  4. AFRICAN DARTER, Anhinga rufa, Afrikaanse Slangenhalsvogel
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 2 at Liwonde NP.
  5. WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK, Dendrocygna viduata, Witwangfluiteend
    60+ at Liwonde NP and 10+ along the Shire River.
  6. EGYPTIAN GOOSE, Alopochen aegyptiacus, Nijlgans
    Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  7. SPUR-WINGED GOOSE, Plectropterus gambensis, Spoorwiekgans
    A single one at Liwonde NP.
  8. COMB (KNOBBILLED) DUCK, Sarkidiornis melanotos, Knobbeleend
    5 at Liwonde NP.
  9. YELLOW-BILLED DUCK, Anas undulata, Geelsnaveleeend
    2 near Mchinji, small numbers near Kasungu, 20+ at Nyika NP, a few at Lilongwe NS.
  10. RED-BILLED DUCK (REDBILLED TEAL), Anas erythrorhyncha, Roodsnavelpijlstaart
    15+ near Kasungu.
  11. LITTLE EGRET, Egretta garzetta, Kleine Zilverreiger
    10+ near Kasungu, small numbers near Nkhata Bay.
  12. INTERMEDIATE (YELLOWBILLED) EGRET, Mesophoyx intermedia, Middelste Zilverreiger
    Single ones at South Luangwa NP (Z), near Nkhata Bay and Lengwe NP, 4 at Liwonde NP.
  13. GREY HERON, Ardea cinerea, Blauwe Reiger
    Widespread in small numbers.
  14. BLACK-HEADED HERON, Ardea melanocephala, Zwartkopreiger
    Fairly common and widespread. Up to 20+ a day.
  15. GOLIATH HERON, Ardea goliath, Reuzenreiger
    3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP.
  16. PURPLE HERON, Ardea purpurea, Purperreiger
    2 near Mchinji.
  17. GREAT EGRET, Ardea alba, Grote Zilverreiger
    Widespread in small numbers.
  18. CATTLE EGRET, Bubulcus ibis, Koereiger
    A common appearance in both countries.
  19. SQUACCO HERON, Ardeola ralloides, Ralreiger
    2 near Mchinji, 1 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 4 at Liwonde NP.
  20. STRIATED (GREENBACKED) HERON, Butorides striatus, Mangrovereiger
    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.
  21. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, Nycticorax nycticorax, Kwak
    12 along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  22. HAMERKOP, Scopus umbretta, Hamerkop
    A ratther common and widespread species.
  23. GLOSSY IBIS, Plegadis falcinellus, Zwarte Ibis
    A single observation at Liwonde NP.
  24. HADADA IBIS, Bostrychia hagedash, Hadada-ibis
    A rather common and widespread species.
  25. SACRED IBIS, Threskiornis aethiopicus, Heilige Ibis
    Fairly common at South Luangwa NP.
  26. AFRICAN SPOONBILL, Platalea alba, Afrikaanse Lepelaar
    Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z) and at Liwonde NP.
  27. YELLOW-BILLED STORK, Mycteria ibis, Afrikaanse Nimmerzat
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  28. AFRICAN OPENBILL (OPENBILLED STORK), Anastomus lamelligerus, Afrikaanse Gaper
    A common and widespread species.
  29. WOOLLY-NECKED STORK, Ciconia episcopus, Bisschopsooievaar
    A single one at Lengwe NP.
  30. SADDLE-BILLED STORK, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis, Zadelbekooievaar
    11 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  31. MARABOU STORK, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, Afrikaanse Maraboe
    3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP, 6 at Lengwe NP
  32. AFRICAN CUCKOO-FALCON (CUCKOO HAWK), Aviceda cuculoides, Afrikaanse Koekoekswouw
    A single observation at Liwonde NP.
  33. BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE, Elanus caeruleus, Grijze Wouw
    1 near Mchinji, 4 en route Kasungu — Mzuzu, 1 at Nyika NP, 5 at Lengwe NP.
  34. BLACK KITE, Milvus migrans, Zwarte Wouw
    Surprisingly scarce. Small numbers of this "Yellow-billed Kite" at Lilongwe NS and en route in Malawi.
  35. AFRICAN FISH-EAGLE, Haliaeetus vocifer, Afrikaanse Zeearend
    A rather common and widespread species.
  36. PALM-NUT VULTURE, Gyphohierax angoliensis, Palmgier
    A single bird in the Thyolo Mountains.
  37. HOODED VULTURE, Necrosyrtes monachus, Kapgier
    3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Lengwe NP.
  38. WHITE-BACKED VULTURE, Gyps africanus, Witruggier
    Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Nyika NP, 8 at Lengwe NP.
  39. LAPPET-FACED VULTURE, Torgos tracheliotus, Oorgier
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  40. WHITE-HEADED VULTURE, Trigonoceps occipitalis, Wikopgier
    6 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP.
  41. BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE, Circaetus cinereus, Bruine Slangenarend
    4 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Lengwe NP.
  42. (WESTERN) BANDED SNAKE-EAGLE, Circaetus cinerascens, Kleine Grijze Slangenarend
    2 at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at South Luangwa NP, up to 4 a day at Liwonde NP, 7 at Lengwe NP.
  43. BATELEUR, Terathopius ecaudatus, Bateleur
    Commonly observed throughout both countries.
  44. AFRICAN MARSH-HARRIER, Circus ranivorus, Afrikaanse Bruine Kiekendief
    2 near Mchinji, 1 at Liwonde NP.
  45. AFRICAN HARRIER-HAWK (GYMNOGENE), Polyboroides typus, Kaalkopkiekendief
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
  46. LIZARD BUZZARD, Kaupifalco monogrammicus, Hagedisbuizerd
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 5 at Lengwe NP.
  47. GABAR GOSHAWK, Melierax gabar, Gabarhavik
    2 at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at Liwonde NP (melanistic form).
  48. AFRICAN GOSHAWK, Accipiter tachiro, Afrikaanse Havik
    2 at Lengwe NP.
  49. SHIKRA (LITTLE BANDED GOSHAWK), Accipiter badius, Shikra
    Single observations at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Zomba.
  50. LITTLE SPARROWHAWK, Accipiter minullus, Oost-Afrikaanse Dwergsperwer
    A single sighting en route near Salima.
  51. OVAMPO SPARROWHAWK, Accipiter ovampensis, Ovambosperwer
    A single observation at the Thyolo Mountains.
  52. RUFOUS-CHESTED (REDBREASTED) SPARROWHAWK, Accipiter rufiventris, Afrikaanse Sperwer
    5 at Nyika NP.
  53. AUGUR BUZZARD, Buteo augur, Augurbuizerd
    1 near Mchinji and 6 at Nyika NP.
  54. TAWNY EAGLE, Aquila rapax, Taankleurige Arend
    8 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Lengwe NP.
  55. WAHLBERG'S EAGLE, Aquila wahlbergi, Wahlbergs Arend
    3 at Liwonde NP.
  56. VERREAUX'S (BLACK) EAGLE, Aquila verreauxii, Zwarte Arend
    3 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  57. AFRICAN HAWK-EAGLE, Hieraaetus spilogaster, Afrikaanse Havikarend
    A pair at Dzalanyama FR.
  58. AYRES' HAWK-EAGLE, Hieraaeus ayresii, Ayres' Havikarend
    A single bird at Liwonde NP.
  59. MARTIAL EAGLE, Polemaetus bellicosus, Vechtarend
    2 at South Luangwe NP (Z), 2 at Liwonde NP and also 2 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  60. LONG-CRESTED EAGLE, Lophaetus occipitalis, Langkuifarend
    1 at Lengwe NP.
  61. EURASIAN (ROCK) KESTREL, Falco tinnunculus, Torenvalk
    A single sighting at the Soche Mountain.
  62. DICKINSON'S KESTREL, Falco dickinsoni, Dickinsons Torenvalk
    Single sightings at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
  63. RED-NECKED FALCON, Falco chicquera, Roodkopsmelleken
    A single observation at Liwonde NP.
  64. LANNER FALCON, Falco biarmicus, Lannervalk
    1 near Mchinji, 2 at the Soche Mountain, 1 at Lengwe NP.
  65. PEREGRINE FALCON, Falco peregrinus, Slechtvalk
    A single bird at the airport in Lilongwe.
  66. HELMETED GUINEAFOWL, Numida meleagris, Helmparelhoen
    A very common and widespread species.
  67. COQUI FRANCOLIN, Francolinus coqui, Coquifrankolijn
    7 at Dzalanyama FR, 1 at South Luangwa NP.
  68. RED-WINGED FRANCOLIN, Francolinus levaillantii, Roodvleugelfrankolijn
    4 at Nyika NP.
  69. RED-NECKED SPURFOWL, Francolinus afer, Roodkeelfrankolijn
    Small numbers at South Luangwa NP and Liwonde NP.
  70. SWAINSON'S SPURFOWL (SWAINSON'S FRANCOLIN), Francolinus swainsonii, Swainsons Frankolijn
    Common in South Luangwa NP (Z).
  71. COMMON QUAIL, Coturnix coturnix, Kwartel
    Very common at Nyika NP.
  72. KNOBBED COOT, Fullica cristata, Knobbelmeerkoet
    3 at Nyika NP.
  73. GREY (SOUTHERN) CROWNED-CRANE, Balearica regulorum, Grijze Kroonkraan
    A pair at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  74. STANLEY BUSTARD, Neotis denhami, Denhams Trap
    25+ at Nyika NP.
  75. AFRICAN JACANA, Actophilornis africanus, Lelieloper
    Commonly observed in Malawi and Zambia in suitable habitat.
  76. LESSER JACANA, Microparra capensis, Dwergjacana
    Fairly common at a river east of Mchinji.
  77. COMMON SANDPIPER, Actitis hypoleucos, Oeverloper
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and single ones at Nyika NP, Liwonde NP and along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  78. WATER THICK-KNEE (WATER DIKKOP), Burhinus vermiculatus, Watergriel
    60+ at South Luangwa NP.
  79. BLACK-WINGED STILT, Himantopus himantopus, Steltkluut
    A few at South Luangwa NP (Z), 5 at Liwonde NP and a few along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  80. BRONZE-WINGED COURSER, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus, Bronsvleugelrenvogel
    1 at Liwonde NP (nightdrive) and 8 at Lengwe NP during a nightdrive.
  81. TEMMINCK'S COURSER, Cursorius temminckii, Temmincks Renvogel
    1 at Liwonde NP.
  82. KITTLITZ'S PLOVER, Charadrius pecuarius, Herdersplevier
    2 along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  83. THREE-BANDED PLOVER, Charadrius tricollaris, Driebandplevier
    A few at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  84. WHITE-FRONTED PLOVER, Charadrius marginatus, Vale Strandplevier
    A single bird along the Luangwa River at Wildlife Camp (Z).
  85. LONG-TOED LAPWING, Vanellus crassirostris, Langteenkievit
    A single observation at Liwonde NP.
  86. BLACKSMITH PLOVER, Vanellus armatus, Smidsplevier
    Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
  87. WHITE-HEADED LAPWING (WHITECROWNED PLOVER), Vanellus albiceps, Witkruinkievit
    Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z), 2 at Liwonde NP.
  88. WATTLED LAPWING, Vanellus senegallus, Lelkievit
    Up to 10 a day at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  89. SENEGAL LAPWING (LESSER BLACKWINGED PLOVER), Vanellus lugubris, Rouwkievit
    4 at Liwonde NP.
  90. CROWNED LAPWING, Vanellus coronatus, Diadeemkievit
    Small numbers at South Luangwa NP and Liwonde NP.
  91. GRAY-HEADED GULL, Larus cirrocephalus, Grijskopmeeuw
    Common along the Shire River at Liwonde NP.
  92. AFRICAN SKIMMER, Rhynchops flavirostris, Afrikaanse Schaarbek
    9 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  93. DOUBLE-BANDED SANDGROUSE, Pterocles bicinctus, Dubbelbandzandhoen
    A single bird at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  94. ROCK DOVE, Columba livia, Stadsduif
    Fairly common around villages and towns.
  95. AFRICAN (RAMERON) PIGEON, Columba arquatrix, Olijfduif
    15+ at Nyika NP.
  96. DUSKY (PINKBREASTED) TURTLE DOVE, Streptopelia lugens, Rouwtortel
    4 at Nyika NP.
  97. LAUGHING DOVE, Streptopelia senegalensis, Palmtortel
    Very common at South Luangwa NP (Z), a few at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  98. AFRICAN MOURNING DOVE, Streptopelia decipiens, Treurtortel
    3 along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  99. RING-NECKED DOVE (CAPE TURTLE DOVE), Streptopelia capicola, Kaapse Tortel
    Abundant in both countries.
  100. RED-EYED DOVE, Streptopelia semitorquata, Roodoogtortel
    A fairly common and widespread species.
  101. EMERALD-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE (GREENSPOTTED DOVE), Turtur chalcospilos, Smaragdvlekduif
    A common and widespread species.
  102. BLUE-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE, Turtur afer, Staalvlekduif
    A single bird at Nkhata Bay. Probably overlooked many times.
  103. TAMBOURINE DOVE, Turtur tympanistria, Tamboerijnduif
    Small numbers at Liwonde NP, Soche & Thyolo Mountains and Lengwe NP.
  104. NAMAQUA DOVE, Oena capensis, Maskerduif
    2 at Liwonde NP.
  105. BROWN-HEADED PARROT, Poicephalus cryptoxanthus, Bruinkoppapegaai
    8 at Liwonde NP.
  106. LILIAN'S LOVEBIRD, Agapornis lilianae, Nyasa-agapornis
    Very common at South Luangwa NP (Z), fairly common at Liwonde NP.
  107. SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD, Colius striatus, Bruine Muisvogel
    Seen in good numbers at most places visited.
  108. RED-FACED MOUSEBIRD, Urocolius indicus, Roodwangmuisvogel
    25+ at Liwonde NP.
  109. SCHALOW'S TURACO, Turaco schalowi, Schalows Toerako
    A few at Nyika NP and Dzalanyama FR.
  110. LIVINGSTONE'S TURACO (LIVINGSTONE'S LOURIE), Tauraco livingstonii, Livingstones Toerako
    A few at the Soche Mountain and the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at Lilongwe NS.
  111. PURPLE-CRESTED TURACO, Tauraco porphyreolophus, Purperkuiftoerako
    2 at Liwonde NP.
  112. GREY GO-AWAY-BIRD (GREY LOURIE), Corythaixoides concolor, Vale Toerako
    A fairly common and widespread species.
  113. BARRED LONG-TAILED CUCKOO, Cercococcyx montanus, Gestreepte Langstaartkoekoek
    A single observation at Lengwe NP.
  114. AFRICAN EMERALD CUCKOO, Chrysococcyx cupreus, Smaragdkoekoek
    A female at Liwonde NP.
  115. SENEGAL COUCAL, Centropus senegalensis, Senegalese Spoorkoekoek
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  116. BURCHELL'S COUCAL, Centropus burchelli, Burchells Spoorkoekoek
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 3 at Liwonde NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
  117. SPOTTED EAGLE-OWL, Bubo africanus, Afrikaanse Oehoe
    5 during a nightdrive at Nyika NP.
  118. VERREAUX'S (GIANT) EAGLE-OWL, Bubo lacteus, Verreaux' Oehoe
    2 during a nightdrive at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  119. PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET, Glaucidium perlatum, Geparelde Dwerguil
    1 at Dzalanyama FR.
  120. AFRICAN BARRED OWLET (BARRED OWL), Glaucidium capense, Kaapse Dwerguil
    A single observation at Liwonde NP.
  121. FIERY-NECKED NICHJAR, Caprimulgus pectoralis, Roesthalsnachtzwaluw
    Heard at Liwonde NP and 1 seen at Lengwe NP.
  122. RUWENZORI NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus ruwenzorii, Ruwenzorinachtzwaluw
    A pair at Nyika NP.
  123. FRECKLED NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus tristigma, Rotsnachtzwaluw
    A single one at Nyika NP.
  124. SQUARE-TAILED (MOZAMBIQUE) NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus fossii, Gabonnachtzwaluw
    Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 1 at Lengwe NP.
  125. AFRICAN PALM-SWIFT, Cypsiurus parvus, Afrikaanse Palmgierzwaluw
    A very common and widespread species.
  126. LITTLE SWIFT, Apus affinis, Huisgierzwaluw
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and at Chikwawa.
  127. BAR-TAILED TROGON, Apaloderma vittatum, Bandstaarttrogon
    A poor flight view of a bird at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
  128. HALF-COLLARED KINGFISHER, Alcedo semitorquata, Kobaltijsvogel
    A single observation at Lilongwe NS.
  129. MALACHITE KINGFISHER, Alcedo cristata, Malachietijsvogel
    Small numbers at suitable habitats.
  130. BROWN-HOODED KINGFISHER, Halcyon albiventris, Bruinkapijsvogel
    A few along Lake Malawi, at Liwonde NP, Lengwe NP and Lilongwe NS.
  131. STRIPED KINGFISHER, Halcyon chelicuti, Gestreepte Ijsvogel
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), a few along Lake Malawi, Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  132. GIANT KINGFISHER, Megaceryle maxima, Afrikaanse Reuzenijsvogel
    5 at South Luangwa NP (Z), several along Lake Malawi (Nkhata Bay).
  133. PIED KINGFISHER, Ceryle rudis, Bonte Ijsvogel
    A common and widespread species.
  134. WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER, Merops bullockoides, Witkapbijeneter
    Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  135. LITTLE BEE-EATER, Merops pusillus, Dwergbijeneter
    A common and widespread species.
  136. SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATER, Merops hirundineus, Zwaluwstaartbijeneter
    Small numbers at Dzalanyama FR and South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP.
  137. BOEHM'S BEE-EATER, Merops boehmi, Böhms Bijeneter
    Common at Liwonde NP, 15+ at Lengwe NP.
  138. SOUTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER, Merops nubicoides, Zuidelijke Karmijnrode Bijeneter
    Only one bird seen at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  139. LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER, Coracias caudata, Vorkstaartscharrelaar
    A very common and widespread species.
  140. RACKET-TAILED ROLLER, Coracias spatulata, Vlagstaartscharrelaar
    6 en route from South Luangwa NP (Z) to Chipata (Zambia/Malawi border).
  141. RUFOUS-CROWNED (PURPLE) ROLLER, Coracias noevia, Roodkruinscharrelaar
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  142. AFRICAN HOOPOE, Upupa africana, Afrikaanse Hop
    1 near Chipata (Z), several at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  143. GREEN (REDBILLED) WOODHOOPOE, Phoeniculus purpureus, Groene Kakelaar
    A rather common and widespread species.
  144. COMMON (GREATER) SCIMITAR-BILL, Rhinopomastus cyanomelas, Zuid-Afrikaanse Boomhop
    10+ at South Luangwa NP (Z), 3 at the entrance of Nyika NP, 1 at Liwonde NP and a few at Lengwe NP.
  145. RED-BILLED HORNBILL, Tockus erythrorhynchus, Roodsnaveltok
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
  146. SOUTHERN YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL, Tockus leucomelas, Geelsnaveltok
    Only one observation at Lengwe NP.
  147. CROWNED HORNBILL, Tockus alboterminatus, Kuiftok
    A rather common and widespread species.
  148. AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL, Tockus nasutus, Grijze Tok
    A fairly common and widespread species.
  149. PALE-BILLED HORNBILL, Tockus pallidirostris, Diksnaveltok
    10+ at Dzalanyama FR.
  150. TRUMPETER HORNBILL, Ceratogymna bucinator, Trompetneushoornvogel
    4 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 4 at Lengwe NP.
  151. SOUTHERN GROUND-HORNBILL, Bucorvus leadbeateri, Zuidelijke Hoornraaf
    17 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 4 at Liwonde NP and 1 at Lengwe NP.
  152. WHITE-EARED BARBET, Stactolaema leucotis, Witoorbaardvogel
    7 at the Soche Mountain and 8 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  153. WHYTE'S BARBET, Stactolaema whytii, Whytes Baardvogel
    6 at Dzalanyama FR.
  154. GREEN BARBET, Stactolaema olivacea, Olijfkleurige Ketellapper
    4 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  155. MOUSTACHED GREEN-TINKERBIRD, Pogoniulus leucomystax, Witsnorketellapper
    6 at Nyika NP.
  156. (GOLDEN-) YELLOW-RUMPED TINKERBIRD, Pogoniulus bilineatus, Geelstuitketellapper
    2 at the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at the Soche Mountain.
  157. YELLOW-FRONTED TINKERBIRD, Pogoniulus chrysoconus, Geelvoorhoofdketellapper
    4 at Lilongwe NS.
  158. MIOMBO BARBET, Tricholaema frontata, Miombobaardvogel
    2 at Dzalanyama FR.
  159. BLACK-COLLARED BARBET, Lybius torquatus, Zwarthalsbaardvogel
    1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 1 in the garden of Hotel Capital in Lilongwe.
  160. BROWN-BREASTED BARBET, Lybius melanopterus, Bruinborstbaardvogel
    A splendid observation of a pair at Liwonde National Park.
  161. CRESTED BARBET, Trachyphonus vaillantii, Kuifbaardvogel
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 1 at Lengwe NP.
  162. GREATER HONEYGUIDE, Indicator indicator, Grote Honingspeurder
    A single one at Liwonde NP.
  163. LESSER HONEYGUIDE, Indicator minor, Kleine Honingspeurder
    Singles at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
  164. PALLID (EASTERN) HONEYGUIDE, Indicator meliphilus, Bleke Honingspeurder
    A single one at the Soche Mountain.
  165. GREEN-BACKED (SLENDERBILLED) HONEYGUIDE, Prodotiscus zambesiae, Grijze Honingspeurder
    A single observation at Liwonde NP and 1 at the Soche Mountain.
  166. BENNETT'S WOODPECKER, Campethera bennettii, Bennetts Specht
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  167. GOLDEN-TAILED WOODPECKER, Campethera abingoni, Goudstaartspecht
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Lengwe NP.
  168. GREEN-BACKED (LITTLE SPOTTED) WOODPECKER, Campethera cailliautii, Groenrugspecht
    Single ones at Nkwadzi Forest near Nkhata Bay and Lengwe NP.
  169. CARDINAL WOODPECKER, Dendropicos fuscescens, Kardinaalspecht
    1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP, 2 at Liwonde NP and 4 at Lengwe NP.
  170. STIERLING'S WOODPECKER, Dendropicos stierlingi, Stierlings Specht
    3 at Dzalanyama FR.
  171. BEARDED WOODPECKER, Dendropicos namaquus, Baardspecht
    1 at Lilongwe NS and 2 at Lengwe NP.
  172. OLIVE WOODPECKER, Dendropicos griseocephalus, Olijfspecht
    A single one at Nyika NP.
  173. LIVINGSTONE'S FLYCATCHER, Erythrocercus livingstonei, Grijskopelfmonarch
    Small numbers at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  174. WHITE-TAILED BLUE-FLYCATCHER, Elminia albicauda, Witstaartmonarch
    A single one at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  175. WHITE-TAILED CRESTED-FLYCATCHER, Trochocercus albonatus, Bergkuifmonarch
    6 at Chowo Forest & Zovo Chipolo Forest in Nyika NP.
  176. AFRICAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER, Terpsiphone viridis, Afrikaanse Paradijsmonarch
    A few at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  177. SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO, Dicrurus ludwigii, Rechtstaartdrongo
    Fairly common at the Thyolo Mountains and a few at Lengwe NP.
  178. FORK-TAILED DRONGO, Dicrurus adsimilis, Fluweeldrongo
    A common and widespread species.
  179. PIED CROW, Corvus albus, Schildraaf
    A common and widespread species, especially near towns and villages.
  180. WHITE-NECKED RAVEN, Corvus albicollis, Witnekraaf
    Common at Nyika NP.
  181. AFRICAN GOLDEN-ORIOLE, Oriolus auratus, Afrikaanse Wielewaal
    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.
  182. AFRICAN BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE, Oriolus larvatus, Maskerwielewaal
    Single ones at Dzalanyama FR, at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and at the Soche Mountain.
  183. WHITE-BREASTED CUCKOO-SHRIKE, Coracina pectoralis, Witborstrupsvogel
    A few at Dzalanyama FR, 3 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 1 at Lengwe NP.
  184. GREY CUCKOO-SHRIKE, Coracina caesia, Bostrupsvogel
    2 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  185. BLACK CUCKOO-SHRIKE, Campephaga flava, Kaapse Rupsvogel
    1 at Nkwadzi Forest near Nkhata Bay, a few at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  186. SOUZA'S SHRIKE, Lanius souzae, Souza&'s Klauwier
    4 at Dzalanyama FR.
  187. COMMON FISCAL (FISCAL SHRIKE), Lanius collaris, Gekraagde Klauwier
    Small numbers throughout.
  188. BRUBRU, Nilaus afer, Broebroe
    Up to 4 a day, seen most days.
  189. BLACK-BACKED PUFFBACK, Dryoscopus cubla, Poederdonsklauwier
    Commonly observed throughout Malawi, 3 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  190. BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA, Tchagra senegala, Zwartkruintsjagra
    2 at Dzalanyama FR, 3 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  191. BROWN-CROWNED (THREESTREAKED) TCHAGRA, Tchagra australis, Bruinkoptsjagra
    1 at South Luangwa NP (Z), up to 4 a day at Liwonde NP.
  192. TROPICAL BOUBOU, Laniarius aethiopicus, Ethiopische Fiskaal
    Commonly observed throughout Malawi and Zambia in suitable habitat.
  193. FUELLEBORN'S (BLACK) BOUBOU, Laniarius fuelleborni, Fülleborns Fiskaal
    2 at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
  194. (ORANGE-) SULPHUR-BREASTED BUSHSHRIKE, Telophorus sulfureopectus, Oranje Bosklauwier
    Singles at South Luangwa NP (Z) and at Liwonde NP, 2 at Lengwe NP, 2 at Lilongwe NS.
  195. BLACK-FRONTED BUSHSHRIKE, Telophorus nigrifrons, Reichenows Bosklauwier
    4 at the Thyolo Mountains and 1 at the Soche Mountain.
  196. GREY-HEADED BUSHSHRIKE, Malaconotus blanchoti, Spookklauwier
    1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 4 at Liwonde NP.
  197. WHITE HELMETSHRIKE, Prionops plumatus, Helmklauwier
    Up to 15 a day at Dzalanyama FR and Lengwe NP.
  198. RETZ'S (REDBILLED) HELMETSHRIKE, Prionops retzii, Retz' Klauwier
    Up to 10 a day at Dzalanyama FR, 10+ at Lengwe NP.
  199. MALAWI BATIS, Batis dimorpha, Malawivliegenvanger
    A few at Nyika NP, 2 at the Soche Mountain.
  200. CHINSPOT BATIS, Batis molitor, Witflankvliegenvanger
    A rather common appearance.
  201. PALE (MOZAMBIQUE) BATIS, Batis soror, Acaciavliegenvanger
    2 at the Soche Mountain.
  202. BLACK-THROATED WATTLE-EYE, Platysteira peltata, Zwartkeellelvliegenvanger
    A few at Lilongwe NS, small numbers at Liwonde NP and the Soche Mountain.
  203. MIOMBO ROCK-THRUSH, Monticola angolensis, Miomborotslijster
    6 at Dzalanyama FR and 2 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  204. OLIVE THRUSH, Turdus olivaceus, Kaapse Lijster
    2 at Nyika NP and singles at the Soche Mountain and Thyolo Mountains.
  205. KURRICHANE THRUSH, Turdus libonyanus, Kurrichanelijster
    4 at Dzalanyama FR and 4 at Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  206. WHITE-CHESTED ALETHE, Alethe fuelleborni, Witborstalethe
    A single one at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
  207. CHOLO ALETHE, Alethe choloensis, Cholobergalethe
    Heard at the Thyolo Mountains and a brief view of one bird at the Soche Mountain.
  208. WALLER'S (REDWINGED) STARLING, Onychognathus walleri, Wallers Spreeuw
    Fairly common at Nyika NP.
  209. GREATER BLUE-EARED GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis chalybaeus, Groenstaartglansspreeuw
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
  210. SOUTHERN BLUE-EARED GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis elisabeth, Zuidelijke Blauwoorglansspreeuw
    Seen, but not every day.
  211. (LONGTAILED) MEVE'S GLOSSY-STARLING, Lamprotornis mevesii, Meves' Langstaartglansspreeuw
    Commonly observed in South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
  212. WATTLED STARLING, Creatophora cinerea, Lelspreeuw
    10+ at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  213. YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER, Buphagus africanus, Geelsnavelossenpikker
    15+ at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  214. RED-BILLED OXPECKER, Buphagus erythrorhynchus, Roodsnavelossenpikker
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
  215. PALE (MOUSECOLOURED) FLYCATCHER, Bradornis pallidus, Vale Vliegenvanger
    A few at Dzalanyama FR.
  216. WHITE-EYED SLATY-FLYCATCHER, Dioptrornus fischeri, Bergdrongovliegenvanger
    3 at Nyika NP.
  217. SOUTHERN BLACK-FLYCATCHER, Melaenornis pammelaina, Kaapse Drongovliegenvanger
    6 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
  218. BOEHM'S FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa boehmi, Böhms Vliegenvanger
    4 at Dzalanyama FR.
  219. AFRICAN DUSKY FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa adusta, Kaapse Vliegenvanger
    Small numbers seen at most sites visited.
  220. ASHY (BLUEGREY) FLYCATCHER, Muscicapa caerulescens, Blauwgrijze Vliegenvanger
    2 at Dzalanyama FR, 4 at the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at the Soche Mountains and 1 at Lilongwe NS.
  221. WHITE-STARRED ROBIN, Pogonocichla stellata, Sterrepaapje
    2 at Nyika NP, 2 at the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at the Soche Mountain.
  222. SHARPE'S AKALAT, Sheppardia sharpei, Sharpes Akalat
    Heard at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
  223. EAST COAST AKALAT (GUNNING'S ROBIN), Sheppardia gunningi, Blauwvleugelakalat
    1 at Kalwe Forest and 3 at Nkwadzi Forest near Nkhata Bay
  224. OLIVE-FLANKED ROBIN-CHAT, Cossypha anomala, Bruinflankjanfrederik
    2 at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
  225. CAPE ROBIN-CHAT, Cossypha caffra, Kaapse Lawaaimaker
    1 at Nyika NP and 1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  226. WHITE-BROWED ROBIN-CHAT (HEUGLIN'S ROBIN), Cossypha heuglini, Witbrauwlawaaimaker
    1 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP, 3 at Blantyre and 3 in the garden of Hotel Capital in Lilongwe.
  227. RED-CAPPED ROBIN-CHAT (NATAL ROBIN), Cossypha natalensis, Roodkaplawaaimaker
    2 at Liwonde NP and 1 at Lengwe NP.
  228. COLLARED PALM-THRUSH, Cichladusa arquata, Zambesipalmlijster
    Fairly common at Liwonde NP.
  229. (EASTERN) BEARDED SCRUB-ROBIN, Cercotrichas quadrivirgata, Streepkopwaaierstaart
    2 at the Soche Mountain.
  230. MIOMBO (CENTRAL BEARDED) SCRUB-ROBIN, Cercotrichas barbata, Baardwaaierstaart
    5 at Dzalanyama FR.
  231. COMMON STONECHAT, Saxicola torquata, Roodborsttapuit
    2 at Dzalanyama FR, up to 10 a day at Nyika NP, 3 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  232. CAPPED WHEATEAR, Oenanthe pileata, Aardtapuit
    6 in the vicinity of Kasungu.
  233. FAMILIAR CHAT, Cercomela familiaris, Roodstaartspekvreter
    4 at Dzalanyama FR and 2 at the Soche Mountain.
  234. WHITE-HEADED BLACK-CHAT (ARNOT'S CHAT), Myrmecocichla arnotti, Arnotts Miertapuit
    5 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and 4 at Liwonde NP.
  235. SPOTTED CREEPER, Salpornis spilonotus, Gevlekte Boomkruiper
    A single one at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  236. PLAIN (BROWNTHROATED) MARTIN, Riparia paludicola, Vale Oeverzwaluw
    A few at South Luangwa NP (Z), abundant along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  237. GREY-RUMPED SWALLOW, Hirundo griseopyga, Grijsstuitzwaluw
    A few near Mchinji, 20+ at Kasungu, 20+ at Liwonde NP.
  238. WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW, Hirundo smithii, Roodkruinzwaluw
    Commonly observed throughout Malawi and Zambia in suitable habitat.
  239. PEARL-BREASTED SWALLOW, Hirundo dimidiata, Parelborstzwaluw
    Small numbers in the Kasungu area.
  240. LESSER STRIPED-SWALLOW, Hirundo abyssinica, Savannezwaluw
    A few near Mchinji, common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and abundant along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  241. RED-RUMPED SWALLOW, Hirundo daurica, Roodstuitzwaluw
    A few near Mchinji.
  242. EASTERN SAWWING, Psalidoprocne orientalis, Oostelijke Kamzwaluw
    2 at Dzalanyama FR, small numbers along Lake Malawi (Nkhata Bay) and at the Thyolo Mountains.
  243. COMMON (BLACKEYED) BULBUL, Pycnonotus barbatus, Grauwe Buulbuul
    A very common and widespread species, seen every day of the trip.
  244. LITTLE GREENBUL, Andropadus virens, Groene Buulbuul
    2 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  245. SOMBRE GREENBUL, Andropadus importunus, Vale Buulbuul
    2 at Liwonde NP.
  246. (OLIVEBREASTED) MOUNTAIN GREENBUL, Andropadus tephrolaemus, Grijskeelbuulbuul
    Up to 10 a day in the forests at Nyika NP.
  247. STRIPE-CHEEKED BULBUL, Andropadus milanjensis, Streepwangbuulbuul
    3 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  248. YELLOW-BELLIED GREENBUL, Chlorocichla flaviventris, Geelborstbuulbuul
    Common at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  249. PLACID GREENBUL, Phyllastrephus placidus, Keniaanse Loofbuulbuul
    4 at the Thyolo Mountains, 3 at Lengwe NP and 2 at the Soche Mountain.
  250. TERRESTRIAL BROWNBUL, Phyllastrephus terrestris, Kaapse Loofbuulbuul
    4 at Liwonde NP and a few at Lilongwe NS.
  251. GREY-OLIVE GREENBUL, Phyllastrephus cerviniventris, Grijze Loofbuulbuul
    2 at the Thyolo Mountains and 5 at Lengwe NP.
  252. YELLOW-STREAKED GREENBUL, Phyllastrephus flavostriatus, Gestreepte Loofbuulbuul
    A few at the Thyolo Mountains.
  253. SHARPÉ'S GREENBUL, Phyllastrephus alfredi, Sharpes Loofbuulbuul
    A single observation at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
  254. EASTERN (YELLOWSPOTTED) NICATOR, Nicator gularis, Bruinkopnicator
    3 at Lengwe NP.
  255. AFRICAN YELLOW WHITE-EYE, Zosterops senegalensis, Afrikaanse Brilvogel
    A fairly common and widespread species.
  256. TRILLING CISTICOLA, Cisticola woosnami, Miombograszanger
    3 at Nyika NP.
  257. BLACK-LORED (MOUNTAIN) CISTICOLA, Cisticola nigriloris, Zwartteugelgraszanger
    Small numbers at Nyika NP.
  258. LAZY CISTICOLA, Cisticola aberrans, Langstaartgraszanger
    A single one at Nyika NP.
  259. RATTLING CISTICOLA, Cisticola chinianus, Ratelgraszanger
    A few at South Luangwa NP and Lengwe NP.
  260. CHURRING CISTICOLA, Cisticola njombe, Snorgraszanger
    Common at Nyika NP.
  261. TINKLING (LEVAILLANT'S) CISTICOLA, Cisticola tinniens, Valleigraszanger
    3 along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  262. PIPING CISTICOLA (NEDDICKY), Cisticola fulvicapillus, Bruinkopgraszanger
    A single one at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  263. WING-SNAPPING (AYRES') CISTICOLA, Cisticola ayresii, Dwerggraszanger
    2 at Nyika NP.
  264. TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA, Prinia subflava, Roestflankprinia
    Commonly observed throughout the places visited.
  265. BAR-THROATED APALIS, Apalis thoracica, Halsbandapalis
    3 at Nyika NP.
  266. WHITE-WINGED APALIS, Apalis chariessa, Witvleugelapalis
    Heard at Zomba, 6 seen at the Thyolo Mountains and 4 at the Soche Mountains.
  267. YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS, Apalis flavida, Geelborstapalis
    Several at Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  268. BLACK-HEADED APALIS, Apalis melanocephala, Tanzania-apalis
    Small numbers at the Thyolo Mountains and the Soche Mountain.
  269. BROWN-HEADED APALIS, Apalis alticola, Bruinkopapalis
    A single one at Zovo Chipolo Forest in Nyika NP.
  270. GREY-BACKED CAMAROPTERA (BLEATING WARBLER), Camaroptera brevicaudata, Blaatcamaroptera
    Localised in Malawi, seen only at Lilongwe NS and at Lengwe NP.
  271. GREEN-BACKED CAMAROPTERA (BLEATING WARBLER), Camaroptera bachyura, Mekkercamaroptera
    Commonly observed throughout Malawi in suitable habitat.
  272. EVERGREEN FOREST WARBLER, Bradypterus mariae, Madaràsz' Struikzanger
    2 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  273. AFRICAN (MARSH-) REED-WARBLER, Acrocephalus baeticatus, Kortvleugelkarekiet
    1 near Mchinji, 2 along the Shire River near Chikwawa and 1 at Lilongwe NS.
  274. MOUNTAIN WARBLER, Chloropeta similis, Bamboerietzanger
    Up to 4 a day at Nyika NP.
  275. YELLOW-BELLIED EREMOMELA, Eremomela icteropygialis, Geelbuikeremomela
    2 at Dzalanyama FR.
  276. GREENCAP EREMOMELA, Eremomela scotops, Groenkaperemomela
    Fairly common at Dzalanyama FR, 6 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP, a few at the Soche Mountain, 2 at Lilongwe NS.
  277. CAPE (LONGBILLED) CROMBEC, Sylvietta rufescens, Kaapse Krombek
    A single one at Liwonde NP.
  278. YELLOW-THROATED WOODLAND-WARBLER, Phylloscopus ruficapilla, Roodkapboszanger
    7 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  279. YELLOW-BELLIED HYLIOTA, Hyliota flavigaster, Geelbuikhyliota
    1 at Dzalanyama FR and 3 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  280. SOUTHERN (MASHONA) HYLIOTA, Hyliota australis, Mashonahyliota
    A few at Dzalanyama FR and 4 at the Soche Mountain.
  281. BROWN WARBLER (PARISOMA), Sylvia lugens, Bruine Meeszanger
    2 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  282. MOUNTAIN ILLADOPSIS, Illadopsis pyrrhoptera, Berglijstertimalia
    2 at Zovo Chipolo Forest and 1 at Chowo Forest in Nyika NP.
  283. ABYSSINIAN HILL-BABBLER (MOUNTAIN BABBLER), Illadopsis abyssinica, Ethiopische Monnikstimalia
    A single one at Nyika NP.
  284. ARROW-MARKED BABBLER, Turdoides jardineii, Pijlpuntbabbelaar
    Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP.
  285. SOUTHERN BLACK-TIT, Parus niger, Roetmees
    A few at Liwonde NP and at Lengwe NP.
  286. RUFOUS-BELLIED TIT, Parus rufiventris, Roestbuikmees
    A single sighting at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  287. CINNAMON-BREASTED TIT, Parus pallidiventris, Kaneelborstmees
    A single one at Liwonde NP.
  288. MIOMBO (NORTHERN GREY) TIT, Parus griseiventris, Miombomees
    10+ at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  289. AFRICAN (GREY) PENDULINE-TIT, Anthoscopus caroli, Acaciakapokmees
    A single bird at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  290. RUFOUS-NAPED LARK, Mirafra africana, Roodnekleeuwerik
    Small numbers at Nyika NP.
  291. FLAPPET LARK, Mirafra rufocinnamomea, Ratelleeuwerik
    1 at Liwonde NP.
  292. RED-CAPPED LARK, Calandrella cinerea, Roodkapleeuwerik
    4 en route Dzalanyama FR to Mchinji and 2 near Kasungu.
  293. HOUSE SPARROW, Passer domesticus, Huismus
    Commonly observed near settlements.
  294. GREY-HEADED SPARROW, Passer griseus, Grijskopmus
    A fairly common and widespread species.
  295. YELLOW-THROATED PETRONIA, Petronia superciliaris, Kaapse Rotsmus
    A rather common apperance in Malawi and Zambia.
  296. ORANGE-WINGED (GOLDENBACKED) PYTILIA, Pytilia afra, Wenerastrild
    2 at Dzalanyama FR.
  297. GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA (MELBA FINCH), Pytilia melba, Melba-astrild
    3 at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), a few at Liwonde NP and 1 at Lengwe NP.
  298. GREEN-BACKED TWINSPOT, Mandingoa nitidula, Groene Druppelastrild
    A splendid observation at the Thyolo Mountains.
  299. PETERS' (REDTHROATED) TWINSPOT, Hypargos niveoguttatus, Rode Druppelastrild
    5 at Lilongwe NS, 1 at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at the Soche Mountain.
  300. RED-BILLED FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta senegala, Vuurvinkje
    Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z), Liwonde NP and Lilongwe NS.
  301. AFRICAN (BLUEBILLED) FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta rubricata, Donkerrode Amarant
    A few at South Luangwa NP.
  302. JAMESON'S FIREFINCH, Lagonosticta rhodopareia, Roze Amarant
    6 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 4 at Liwonde NP.
  303. BLUE-BREASTED CORDONBLUE (BLUE WAXBILL), Uraeginthus angolensis, Angolees Blauwfazantje
    A very common and widespread species.
  304. BLACK-TAILED (GREY) WAXBILL, Estrilda perreini, Zwartstaartastrild
    Up to 6 a day at Nyika NP.
  305. YELLOW-BELLIED WAXBILL (EAST AFRICAN SWEE), Estrilda quartinia, Geelbuikastrild
    Small numbers at Nyika NP.
  306. COMMON WAXBILL, Estrilda astrild, Sint-Helenafazantje
    20+ at Nyika NP, a few in the Nkhata Bay area.
  307. BRONZE MANNIKIN, Lonchura cucullata, Gewoon Ekstertje
    A fairly common appearance in both countries.
  308. BLACK-AND-WHITE (REDBACKED) MANNIKIN, Lonchura bicolor, Glansekstertje
    10+ at the Soche Mountain.
  309. MAGPIE (PIED) MANNIKIN, Lonchura fringilloides, Reuzenekstertje
    A group of 15+ at Lilongwe NS.
  310. CUT-THROAT, Amadina fasciata, Bandvink
    A single one at Liwonde NP.
  311. VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD (STEELBLUE WIDOWFINCH), Vidua chalybeata, Staalvink
    1 near Mchinji, 4 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 5 at Liwonde NP.
  312. VARIABLE INDIGOBIRD (BLACK WIDOWFINCH), Vidua funerea, Groene Atlasvink
    A single one at Nyika NP.
  313. PURPLE INDIGOBIRD (PURPLE WIDOWFINCH), Vidua purpurascens, Purperstaalvink
    A single one at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  314. PIN-TAILED WHYDAH, Vidua macroura, Dominikanerwida
    Small numbers at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  315. EASTERN PARADISE-WHYDAH, Vidua paradisaea, Smalstaartparadijswida
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 4 at Liwonde NP.
  316. BROAD-TAILED PARADISE-WHYDAH, Vidua obtusa, Breedstaartparadijswida
    5 at Dzalanyama FR.
  317. AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL, Motacilla aguimp, Afrikaanse Bonte Kwikstaart
    A fairly common and widespread species.
  318. MOUNTAIN (LONGTAILED) WAGTAIL, Motacilla clara, Bergkwikstaart
    2 at Dzalanyama FR, 3 at the Thyolo Mountains, 1 at Lilongwe NS.
  319. YELLOW-THROATED LONGCLAW, Macronyx croceus, Geelkeellangklauw
    1 at Dzalanyama FR and 2 at Liwonde NP.
  320. STRIPED PIPIT, Anthus lineiventris, Gestreepte Pieper
    A splendid observation at the Soche Mountain.
  321. AFRICAN (GRASSVELD) PIPIT, Anthus cinnamomeus, Kaneelpieper
    1 near Mchinji, 3 near Kasungu.
  322. BUFFY PIPIT, Anthus vaalensis, Vaalrivierpieper
    A single one at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  323. LONG-BILLED PIPIT, Anthus similis, Langsnavelpieper
    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!
  324. JACKSON'S PIPIT, Anthus latistriatus, Jacksons Pieper
    2 at Nyika NP. This species is not on the Clements Checklist!
  325. RED-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER, Bubalornis niger, Roodsnavelbufferwever
    1 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  326. WHITE-BROWED SPARROW-WEAVER, Plocepasser mahali, Mahaliwever
    A very common and widespread species.
  327. BERTRAND'S WEAVER, Ploceus bertrandi, Bertrands Wever
    6 at the Thyolo Mountains.
  328. LESSER MASKED WEAVER, Ploceus intermedius, Kleine Textorwever
    A few at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Lengwe NP.
  329. SPECTACLED WEAVER, Ploceus ocularis, Brilwever
    A few at Lilongwe NS, 1 at Nyika NP and a few at Liwonde NP.
  330. AFRICAN GOLDEN-WEAVER, Ploceus subaureus, Gouden Wever
    Small numbers at Liwonde NP and Lilongwe NS.
  331. SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVER, Ploceus xanthoptherus, Bruinkeelwever
    A few near Mchinji, common at Liwonde NP and along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  332. SOUTHERN MASKED-WEAVER, Ploceus velatus, Maskerwever
    Small numbers in the Blantyre area.
  333. VILLAGE (SPOTTEDBACKED) WEAVER, Ploceus cucullatus, Grote Textorwever
    25+ at Lilongwe NS and a few near Chikwawa.
  334. FOREST WEAVER, Ploceus bicolor, Woudwever
    Small numbers at the Thyolo Mountains, the Soche Mountain and Lengwe NP.
  335. OLIVE-HEADED WEAVER, Ploceus olivaceiceps, Olijfkopwever
    3 at Dzalanyama FR.
  336. RED-HEADED WEAVER, Anaplectes rubriceps, Roodkopwevervogel
    A female at Lengwe NP.
  337. RED-BILLED QUELEA, Quelea quelea, Roodbekwever
    A very common and widespread species.
  338. YELLOW BISHOP (YELLOWRUMPED WIDOW), Euplectes capensis, Fluweelwidavink
    A few at the Soche Mountain.
  339. FAN-TAILED (REDSHOULDERED) WIDOWBIRD, Euplectes axillaris, Roodschouderwidavink
    A few along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  340. WHITE-WINGED WIDOWBIRD, Euplectes albonotatus, Spiegelwidavink
    A few in the Nkhata Bay area.
  341. BUFF-SHOULDERED WIDOBIRD (MOUNTAIN MARSH WIDOW), Euplectes psammocromius, Reichenows Widavink
    Fairly common at Nyika NP in suitable habitat.
  342. ANCHIETA'S (RED AND BLUE) SUNBIRD, Anthreptes anchietae, Anchieta's Honingzuiger
    Single ones at Dzalanyama FR and the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  343. COLLARED SUNBIRD, Anthreptes collaris, Halsbandhoningzuiger
    2 at Lilongwe NS, 3 at Liwonde NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
  344. OLIVE SUNBIRD, Nectarinia olivacea, Olijfgroene Honingzuiger
    1 at the Thyolo Mountains and 3 at the Soche Mountain.
  345. GREEN-HEADED SUNBIRD, Nectarina verticalis, Groenkophoningzuiger
    A single observation at Nyika NP.
  346. AMETHYST (BLACK) SUNBIRD, Nectarinia amethystina, Amethisthoningzuiger
    7 at Dzalanyama FR, a few at Nyika NP, the Soche Mountain and Lengwe NP.
  347. SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD, Nectarinia senegalensis, Roodborsthoningzuiger
    Singles at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP and near Lake Malawi, a few at Liwonde NP.
  348. VARIABLE (YELLOWBELLIED) SUNBIRD, Nectarinia venusta, Ornaathoningzuiger
    A common appearance.
  349. WHITE-BREASTED SUNBIRD, Nectarinia talatala, Witbuikhoningzuiger
    1 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 2 at Lengwe NP.
  350. MIOMBO (DOUBLECOLLARED) SUNBIRD, Nectarinia manoensis, Miombohoningzuiger
    Several at Dzalanyama FR, 2 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  351. EASTERN DOUBLE-COLLARED SUNBIRD, Nectarinia mediocris, Fülleborns Honingzuiger
    10 at Nyika NP, 1 at Liwonde NP.
  352. MALACHITE SUNBIRD, Nectarinia famosa, Emeraldhoningzuiger
    3 at Nyika NP.
  353. RED-TUFTED (MALACHITE) SUNBIRD, Nectarinia johnstoni, Lobeliahoningzuiger
    A single bird at Nyika NP.
  354. SHELLEY'S SUNBIRD, Nectarina shelleyi, Shelley's Honingzuiger
    A single one at Dzalanyama FR.
  355. PURPLE-BANDED SUNBIRD, Nectarinia bifasciata, Purperbandhoningzuiger
    A single one at Nkhata Bay.
  356. CAPE CANARY, Serinus canicollis, Geelkruinkanarie
    A few at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  357. AFRICAN CITRIL, Serinus citrinelloides, Dunbekkanarie
    Small numbers at Nyika NP, the Thyolo Mountains and Soche Mountain.
  358. SOUTHERN YELLOW-RUMPED SEEDEATER (BLACKTHROATED CANARY), Serinus atrogularis, Zwartkeelkanarie
    A few at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  359. LEMON-BREASTED SEEDEATER, Serinus citrinipectus, Geelborstkanarie
    Several at Nkhata Bay.
  360. YELLOW-FRONTED (YELLOWEYED) CANARY, Serinus mozambicus, Mozambiquesijs
    Fairly common in Malawi.
  361. BRIMSTONE (BULLY) CANARY, Serinus sulphuratus, Zwavelkanarie
    A few at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  362. REICHARD'S SEEDEATER (STRIPEBREASTED CANARY), Serinus reichardi, Miombokanarie
    A single one at Nyika NP.
  363. BLACK-EARED SEEDEATER (BLACKEARED CANARY), Serinus mennelli, Zwartwangkanarie
    Fairly common at Dzalanyama FR.
  364. YELLOW-BROWED SEEDEATER, Serinus whytii, Geelbrauwkanarie
    Common at Nyika NP
  365. CINNAMON-BREASTED (ROCK) BUNTING, Emberiza tahapisi, Zevenstrepengors
    A few at Dzalanyama FR and South Luangwa NP (Z), 2 at Liwonde NP.
  366. GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTING, Emberiza flaviventris, Acaciagors
    1 at Dzalanyama FR.
  367. CABANIS' BUNTING, Emberiza cabanisi, Cabanis' Gors
    2 at Dzalanyama FR, 1 at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP, 4 at Lengwe NP.

Systematic List of Mammals

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.

  1. YELLOW BABOON, Papio cynocephalus, Gele Baviaan
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  2. CHACMA BABOON, Papio ursinus, Chacma Baviaan
    A few at the Thazima gate of Nyika NP.
  3. VERVET MONKEY, Cercopithecus pygerythrus, Groene Meerkat
    A common and widespread species.
  4. GENTLE MONKEY, Cercopithecus mitis, Grijze Meerkat
    A few at Nyika NP and at the Soche Mountain.
  5. FOUR-TOED ELEPHANT SHREW, Rhynchocyon tetradactylus, Olifantspitsmuis
    Several at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP, 2 at Lengwe NP.
  6. SCRUB HARE, Lepus saxatilis, Struikhaas
    4 at South Luangwa NP (Z), very common at Nyika NP, 1 at Liwonde NP and 2 at Lengwe NP.
  7. SMITH'S RED ROCK HARE, Pronolagus rupestris, Smiths Rotshaas
    A single one at Nyika NP.
  8. TANGANYIKA MOUNTAIN SQUIRREL, Paraxerus lucifer, Zwartrode Eekhoorn
    Small numbers at Nyika NP.
  9. SMITH'S BUSH SQUIRREL, Paraxerus cepapi, Geelpooteekhoorn
    A common and widespread species.
  10. MUTABLE SUN SQUIRREL, Heliosciurus mutabilis, Zonne-eekhoorn
    A few at the Soche Mountain and at the Thyolo Mountains.
  11. SIDE-STRIPED JACKAL, Canis adustus, Gestreepte Jakhals
    4 at Nyika NP.
  12. HONEY BADGER, Mellivora capensis, Honingdas
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  13. SLENDER MONGOOSE, Herpestes sanguinea, Slanke Mangoeste
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 1 near Nkhata Bay.
  14. DWARF MONGOOSE, Helogale parvula, Dwergmangoeste
    1 at Dzalanyama FR.
  15. BANDED MONGOOSE, Mungos mungo, Zebramangoeste
    10+ at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  16. WHITE-TAILED MONGOOSE, Ichneumia albicauda, Witstaartmangoeste
    5 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 1 at Liwonde NP.
  17. SPOTTED HYENA, Crocuta crocuta, Gevlekte Hyena
    6 at South Luangwa NP (Z), heard at Nyika NP.
  18. COMMON GENET, Genetta genetta, Gewone Genet
    6 during the nightdrives at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  19. AFRICAN CIVET, Civettictis civetta, Afrikaanse Civet
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  20. LEOPARD, Panthera pardus, Luipaard
    A splendid observation during a nightdrive at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  21. LION, Panthera leo, Leeuw
    6 at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  22. ROCK HYRAX, Procavia capensis, Klipdas
    A single one at the Soche Mountain.
  23. AFRICAN ELEPHANT, Loxodonta africana, Olifant
    Fairly common at South Luangwa NP (Z), 50+ at Liwonde NP.
  24. COMMON ZEBRA, Equus quagga, Zebra
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z), small numbers at Nyika NP and Liwonde NP.
  25. HIPPOPOTAMUS, Hippopotamus amphibius, Nijlpaard
    Commonly observed at South Luangwa NP (Z) and Liwonde NP, a few along the Shire River near Chikwawa.
  26. COMMON WARTHOG, Phacochoerus africanus, Wrattenzwijn
    A few at South Luangwa NP (Z), Nyika NP, Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  27. (THORNICROFT'S) GIRAFFE, Giraffa camelopardalis, Giraffe
    25+ at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  28. AFRICAN BUFFALO, Syncerus caffer, Kaapse Buffel
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z) and 50+ at Lengwe NP.
  29. BUSHBUCK, Tragelaphus scriptus, Bosbok
    5 at South Luangwa NP (Z), 6 at Nyika NP, 5 at Liwonde NP.
  30. NYALA, Tragelaphus angasii, Nyala
    Small numbers at Lengwe NP.
  31. GREATER KUDU, Tragelaphus strepsiceros, Grote Koedoe
    2 at South Luangwa NP (Z), a few at Lengwe NP.
  32. ELAND, Taurotragus oryx, Elandantilope
    20+ at Nyika NP.
  33. SUNI, Neotragus moschatus, Soeni
    2 at Lengwe NP.
  34. SOUTHERN REEDBUCK, Redunca arundinum, Rietbok
    Fairly common at Nyika NP.
  35. PUKU, Kobus vardoni, Poekoe
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z).
  36. WATERBUCK, Kobus ellipsiprymnus, Waterbok
    50+ at South Luangwa NP (Z), small numbers at Liwonde NP.
  37. IMPALA, Aepyceros melampus, Impala
    Common at South Luangwa NP (Z), Liwonde NP and Lengwe NP.
  38. ROAN ANTELOPE, Hippotragus equinus, Paardantilope
    Fairly common at Nyika NP.

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