Our guide is tour operator Jonathan Retzlaff who grew up on a farm in Zimbabwe in the Mhangura area and educated at Falcon College in Matableleland. H has always had a keen interest in birds and had the exceptional good fortune of studying under Ron Hartley a legend in his own lifetime. Whilst still at school he worked with him on various research projects for the Natural History Museum in Bulawayo, including the breeding of Taita Falcons. After leaving College he underwent an apprenticeship as a Professional Guide working in the Zambezi Valley for five years.  He has been in Mozambique for the last four years and has been a freelance birding guide for the Gorongoza National Park and the Carr Foundation.

Overview: Our tour is concentrated on Gorongosa National Park in Central Mozambique, Bvumba in  Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands, Bazaruto Archipelgo in Inhambane and the Zambezi Delta in Zambezia province. The Gorongosa National park in the 60’s and 70’s was one of the most famous national parks in all of Africa, renowned for its dense population of birds, mammals and especially its lions. The park is making a dramatic recovery after being hidden for 25 years because of Mozambique’s civil war and has still got a good population of lion, game and birds. It has some of the best birding in Southern Africa with over 450 species of birds and has the diversity of no other park. It also has the Gorongosa Mountain rising about 1.5 km out of the surrounding plains and has a natural lake called the Urema and has to major rivers coming off the mountain.

The park offers the Black Coucal, Green Coucal, Vanga Flycatcher, Racket tailed Roller, Chestnut-fronted Helmet Shrike, Southern-banded Snake Eagle, Water birds, Ground Hornbills and many more rare birds and raptors.

The habitat is extremely diverse. There are flood plains, open plains, miombo, mapane, fever forest, montane evergreen forest , lowland forest, fynbos, grasslands, riverine forest and palm forest. It has a Jurassic Park appearance. The mountain hides the Green-headed Oriole, Gunning’s Robin, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Green and Red-throated Twinspots, Livingstone’s Turaco and many more rare and exciting birds.

The Bvumba in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe is an extremely good birding area. Seldomseen is in the upper bvumba; that’s where we will be staying for two days of the tour. You get a variety of Robins and sunbirds including the Swynnerton’s Robin, Violet-backed Sunbird. Marsh Tchagra, Blue-spotted Dove, Blue Swallow, Mottled Swift, Mottled Spinetail and Scarce Swift and many more rare and exciting birds.

Maunsa is a great birding destination that boasts White-chested Alethe, Blue-throated Sunbird and Gunning’s Robin.

Finally, Lake Chicamba in Manica has a variety of exciting birds like Miombo Rock Thrush and Fire-crowned Bishop. The birding on this tour is fantastic. The Bazaruto Archipelago in Inhabane consists of a string of islands lying roughly 15-25km from the mainland north of Vilanculos and south of Inhassoro. The archipelago designated a National Park in 1971, consists of five main Islands; we will be visiting two of them Bazaruto and Benguerra. The islands are of great interest to birdwatchers and there are roughly 150 species of birds on the island including a variety of waders, Petrels, Gulls, Herons, Lesser Flamingos, Eleonora’s Falcon, Crab Plover, Green Coucal, Pink-throated Twinspot etc. Catapu is on the Zambezi River; we will be in the area for two days. Catapu’s Habitat has lowland forest that holds the rare Gunning’s Robin, East Coast Akalat, White-breasted Alethe, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Chestnut-fronted Helmet Shrike and lots more - the birding is fantastic around the Zambezi.

Day 1: Arrival

We will pick you up and take you to Maunsa(Conduwi) Where you are going to spend your first night.

Overnight: Conduwi Lodge – this Lodge consists of Bungalow’s with twin beds in each & en suite shower, toilet. There is a veranda dining area where meals are served.

Day 2: Maunsa

Maunsa is a great birding destination it’s on the eastern side of the park Mausa’s habitat is low land forest and got a variety of exciting and rare birds.

Target species: Blue-throated Sunbird, Silvery cheeked Hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Singing Cisticola, Wattle-eyed Flycatcher, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Narina Trogon Angola Pitta (October-April), White-chested Alethe, Gunning’s Robin, Blue-throated Sunbird.

Overnight: Conduwi Lodge

Day 3: Maunsa - Catapu

We will spend the morning birding in Maunsa and then head off to Catapu which is on the Zambezi River just before it goes in to the Indian Ocean the birding is fantastic Catapu has a range of exciting and rare birds.

Target Species: Retz’ Helmet Shrike, White-crested Helmet Shrike, Orange-breasted Bush Shrike, Tropical Boubou, Swamp Boubou, Southern Boubou, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Woodward’s Batis, Mozambique Batis, Vanga Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Green Coucal, Black Coucal, Bohme’s Bee-eater, Southern Hyliota, Red-winged Warbler, Yellow-breasted Hyliota, Short-winged Cisticola, Chestnut-fronted Helmet Shrike, Livingstone’s Flycatcher.

Overnight: Catapu Lodge – This Lodge has Bungalows with twin beds in each & en suite shower, toilet.  They each have a veranda overlooking the Zambezi River, which includes a dining area where meals are served.

Day 4: Catapu

We will be birding in the lowland forest for the day.

Target species: Blue-throated Sunbird, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Orange-breasted Bush Shrike, Black-backed Cisticola, Miombo Wren-warbler, Red-faced Crombec, Black-headed Apalis, Broad-tailed Warbler, Ayres’ Hawk Eagle, Bateleur Eagle, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Crested Guinea Fowl, Red-necked Francolin, Crowned Crane, Long-toed Plover, Lesser Black-winged Plover, Lesser Jacana.

Overnight: Catapu Lodge.

Day 5: Catapu - Gorongosa National Park

Gorongosa National Park in central Mozambique is one of the best birding spots in Southern Africa having great diversity. It covers four thousand square km and encompasses Gorongosa Mountain and two major rivers; the Musakadzi and Urema, which come off the Mountain and flow into the Urema lake and then in to the Pungwe river. It is the most Southern point of the Great Rift Valley before going in to the Indian Ocean. The park contains 4km of caves with lime stone gorges full of low land forest. It is extremely good birding because of its diverse habitat with montane evergreen forest, riverine forest, lowland forest, flood plains, open plains, marsh, Miombo woodland, Mopane savanna, wetlands, montane grassland, fynbos, fevertree forest, palm forest all within the area. What is more it has a ‘Jurassic Park’ appearance. We will also be seeing some big game and plains game. We are going to be birding in the Gorongosa area for three days.

Target species: Racket-tailed Roller, Broad-billed Roller, Crested Guinea fowl, Crowned Cranes, Wattled Cranes, Cape Parrot, Brown-headed Parrots, Purple-crested Turaco, Red- throated Twinspot, East african Swee, Grey Waxbill, Fire-crownd Bishop, Yellow Bishop, Green Coucal, Ayres hawk Eagle, Black Coucal, Pels fishing Owl, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Mashona Hyliota, African Broadbill, Spotted Creeper, Vanga Flycatcher, Short- winged Cisticola, Southern-banded snake Eagle, Collard-palm Thrush, Woodwards Batis, Mozambique Batis, Madagascar squacco Heron, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Bohms bee-Eater, Livingstones Flycatcher, Wattle-eyed Flycatcher, Chestnut- fronted Helmet Shrike, Little spotted Woodpecker, Eastern Honeyguide, Yellow-bellied Hyliota.

Overnight: Chitengo Safari Lodge

Day 6: Gorongosa Mountain

We leave chitengo at 4am in the morning to start birding early. It is a 1 hour drive from Chitengo camp and we drive half way up the Mountain and start birding from there. The Mountain is 18 km long and 1,860m high rising about 1.5km from the surrounding plains, the mountain habitats range from Montane evergreen forest, Low level grassland and Fynbos at the top. We will be birding on the Mountain for the whole day. 

Target species: Green Twinspot, Red-throated Twinspot, Livingstone’s Turaco, Purple crested Turaco, Grey Waxbill, Gurneys Sugarbird, Violet-backed Sunbird, Zambezi Indigobird, Narina Trogon, East african Swee, Olive Thrush, Forest Weaver, Crested Flycatcher, Swynnerton’s Robin, Ayres Hawk Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Delegorgue’s Pigeon, Blue spotted Dove, Moustached Warbler, Green headed Oriole, Niassa seed Cracker, Red faced crimson Wing, Blue spotted Dove, Short-winged Cisticola, Eastern broze-naped Pigeon, Marsh Tchagra, Black-headed Apalis, Chirinda Apalis, Olive-headed Weaver, Lemon-breasted Canary, Gunnings Robin, Singing Cisticola, Blue-throated Sunbird, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill.

Overnight:  Chitengo Safari Lodge

Day 7: Urema Basin

During our third full day we are going to bird the eastern side of the park - the Urema Lake and river basin. Here we are going to see a lot of water birds. The Urema basin’s habitat has a lot of flood plain, grassland and palm forest and the Lion population is still very good here. Urema also has a breeding ground of Yellow-billed Storks in June-July. The birding is fantastic.

Target species: Sacred Ibis, Hadeda Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Breeding grounds of Yellow billed Storks, Saddle-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, Goliath Heron, White-backed night Heron, African marsh Harrier, African Spoonbill, Senegal Lapwing, Long-toed Lapwing, Open-Billed Stork, Bronze-Winged Courser, Temminick’s Courser, White-crowned Lapwing, Black-bellied Korhaan, Red-crested Korhaan, Crowned Crane, Wattled Crane, Red-necked Francolin, Secretarybird, White-headed Vulture, Palm-nut Vulture, Dark chanting Goshawk, Olive bee-Eater, Ground Hornbill, Crowned-Hornbill, Madagascar squacco Heron, Green Malkoha, Black Coucal, Eastern green Tinkerbird, Speckle-throated Woodpecker, Little-spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Bittern.

Overnight:  Chitengo Safari Lodge

Day 8: Gorongosa-Bvumba

The Bvumba Mountains are truly a magnificent birding destination with lots to offer. We are going to spend the morning birding at Gorongosa. We will leave after lunch for the two hour drive to the Bvumba which is going to take us up to about 3000m where we are spending the night. We will start birding early in the morning.

Target species: Blue spotted Dove, Copper Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Bronzy Sunbird, Miombo-double collared Sunbird, Swynnerton’s Robin, Variable Sunbird, Violet-backed Sunbird, Western-olive Sunbird, Blue-throated Sunbird, Marsh Tchagra, Black-fronted bush Shrike, Starred Robin, White-tailed crested Flycatcher, Black-winged Bishop, Gurneys Sugarbird, Broad-tailed Warbler, Red-winged Warbler, Mashona (southern) Hyliota, Yellow Warbler, Barrett’s Warbler, Orange Thrush, Tiny greenbul, Senegal Coucal, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Spotted Creeper, Swynnerton’s Robin, Bronzy Sunbird, Blue-spotted Dove, Woodward’s Batis, Marsh Tchagra, White tailed crested Flycatcher, Stripe-cheeked Bulbul, Western olive Sunbird, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Violet- backed Sunbird, Roberts Warbler.)

Overnight: Seldomseen lodge - This Lodge has chalets with double or twin beds in each & en suite bathroom, shower, toilet. Each has a veranda with views of the Bvumba mountains There is a Restaurant and bar.

Day 9: Bvumba Mountains

Birding in the Bvumba Mountains – We will be birding the Seldomseen area on day nine.

Target species: Orange-winged Pytilia, Violet-eared Waxbill, Orange-breasted Waxbill, Golden Weaver, (large Weaver), Chin-spot Batis, Pale Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis, Purple Roller, Broad-billed Roller, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Mottled Swift, Mottled Spinetail, Scarce Swift, Blue Swallow

Overnight:  Seldomseen lodge

Day 10: Bvumba Mountains - Lake Chikamba

It will be a one hour drive from the Bvumba to the lakeside Chikamba is thick with Brahestygia woodland and und undulating hills. We will spend the day birding looking for the Miombo rock Thrush at the lake. The lake has very good birding and has a lot of grassland birds such as Whydah’s, Widow Finches, Larks, Bishops as well as water birds.

Target species: Zambezi Indigo bird, Broad-tailed paradise Whydah, Fire crowned Bishop, Fan tailed Widow, Plain- backed Sunbird, Retz' Helmet Shrike, Orange-breasted Bush shrike, Gorgeous bush Shrike, Swamp Boubou, Woodward’s Batis, Pale Batis, Croaking Cisticola, Black- backed Cisticola, Short-winged Cisticola, Red-faced Crombec, Miombo rock Thrush, Miombo Tit, White-eared Barbet, Miombo Rock Thrush, Fire-crowned Bishop.

Overnight:  Cassa Misika Lodge - This Lodge has chalets with double or twin beds including en suite bathroom, shower & toilet. Each has a veranda overlooking Lake Chikamba. There is a bar, restaurant and swimming pool.

Day 11: Lake chikamba-Vilukulos

We will depart in the morning and start heading down to the Bazaruto Archipelago which is a National park consisting of five islands lying roughly 15-25km from Vilunkulos we are going to be visiting Bazaruto and Benguerra islands. Day eleven we will spend the evening birding in Vilunkulos.

Target species: Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Purple Heron, Hamerkop. Greater Flamingo, African Spoonbill, African Rail, African Snipe, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, Senegal Lapwing, Crab Plover, Pied Avocet, Brow-headed Parrot, Purple-crested Turaco, Burchell’s Coucal, Green Coucal, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Eastern Saw-Wing Swallow, Olive Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Carmine Bee-eater, Boehm’s Bee-eater, Mangrove Kingfisher, Racket-Tailed Roller.

Overnight: Vilanculos Beach Lodge

Day 12: Benguerra Island

Benguerra Island lies 14km from Vilankulos and is 11km long 5.5km wide which makes it the second-largest island in the archipelago. The island supports an impressive range of birdlife. The most popular time for birding on the island is October and November when the wading birds stop in on the island during there annual north-south migration.

Target species: Black-bellied Glossy Starling, Black Coucal, Purple-Crested Turaco, White-throated Robin, Black-headed Apalis, Rudd’s Apalis, Red-throated Twinspot, Livingstone’s Turaco, Red-headed Quelea, African Spoonbill, Crab Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Terek Sandpiper, Eleonora’s Falcon, Greater Sandplover, Greater Flamingo, Green Coucal, Crab plovers, Blue-throated Sunbird, Neergaard’s Sunbird, Mangrove Kingfisher.

Overnight: Vilunkulos Beach Lodge.

Day 13: Bazaruto Island

The 30km strip of land that forms Bazaruto Island lies about 25km from Vilankulos.Ecologically similar to Benguerra Island. The habitat is (coconut palms, milkwood trees, mlala palms, cashew trees and casaurina trees).That supports a range of bird life Including fresh water lakes with Crocodiles. There are about 150 Species of birds on the islands.

Target Species: African Broadbill, Little Spotted Woodpecker, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-collared Barbet, Golden-rumped Tinkerbird, Eastern Green Tinkerbird, White-eared Barbet, Trumpeter Hornbill, Red-winged Pratincole, Water Dikkop, Black-winged Stilt, Crab Plover, Eleonora’s Falcon.

Overnight: Vilunkulos Beach Lodge

Day 14: Dugong Bay

Dugong bay is in the Vilunkulos Marine Coastal Sanctuary 30,000 hectares of marine and wildlife territory. The birding is fantastic there.

Target species: Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Green-backed Camaroptera, Square-tailed Drongo, Green-capped Eremomela, African Penduline Tit, Rudd’s Apalis, Black-headed Apalis, White-throated Robin, Slender Bulbul, Yellow-spotted Nicator, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Mangrove Kingfisher, Pink-throated Twinspot, Pink-throated Longclaw.

Overnight: Vilunkulos Beach Lodge

Day 15: Day of Departure

You will be dropped off at the airport until your departure in Vilunkulos. There are at least 5 flights out of vilunkulos back to South Africa a day

Further Recommendations

See our Southern African itineraries for extensions to this tour...