On our popular "17-day Malawi Birding Tour" you get to visit all birding spots of interest in the country. If you wish we can add an additional three exciting days to your tour by making a safari excursion to magnificent South Luangwa National Park; just over the border into Zambia.

Lilongwe
Dzalanyama FR, 2 nights
Luwawa
Vwaza Marsh GR
Nyika NP, 3 nights
Nkhata Bay
Liwonde NP, 3 nights
Zomba Plateau
Thyolo Mountain
Lengwe NP
Lilongwe
Transfer to the airport

Day 1
We welcome you at the airport and take you to our comfortable lodge in Malawi's capitol Lilongwe. There are several good birding sites within the city with the Nature Sanctuary being the most popular. White-backed Night Heron, Magpie Mannikin and African Broadbill are not uncommon here. Dambos may produce Rosy-breasted Longclaw and Locustfinch. Dinner is served at the lodge's excellent restaurant where your guide will happily provide you with all relevant information regarding your tour.

Days 2 and 3
The Dzalanyama Forest Reserve is situated roughly 50 km south-west of Lilongwe. Your accommodation is in the simple but spotless Forest Lodge, which contains just four bedrooms, a dining room and a sitting room. This reserve is Malawi`s premier site for miombo birding and the most sought after birds here include Stierling`s Woodpecker, Souza´s Shrike, Shelley`s Sunbird, Olive-headed Weaver, Spotted Creeper and Boulder Chat. Most of the miombo species that have been recorded in Malawi can be seen in this excellent reserve.

Day 4
We spend a night at the Luwawa Forest Lodge located in the rugged Vyphia Mountains. Situated at an altitude of 1,600 meters the area is home to various habitats such as: miombo, bracken and briar and evergreen forest as well as a nature re-claimed dam. Birding is surprisingly good here with Anchieta´s Tchagra, Bertrand´s Weaver, African Broadbill, Whyte´s Barbet and Blue Swallow all having been recorded on our safaris. After a hot shower to remove the African dust from your skin come join us in the lodge's spacious dining room for an excellent dinner in front of a crackling log fire.

Day 5
Today we make our way northwards via the highland grasslands of the Viphya Mountains. Chances here are good for spotting an endemic subspecies of Scaly Francolin, which is frequently seen on the tracks of dirt roads. Wattled Crane and Denham´s Bustard have also been recorded here. By the afternoon we reach Lake Kazuni Camp in the picturesque Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve. We spend the afternoon on a game drive along the pristine shore of Lake Kazuni. Waterbirds, needless to say along the lakeshore are plentiful; specials here include Black Stork, Black-bellied Korhan, Lesser black-winged Plover and the commonly seen Yellow-billed Oxpecker. Raptors are numerous. Lying at 1100 meters above sea level the nights are never hot and rarely that cold.

Day 6
In the morning you could go on a walking safari escorted by an armed ranger, or you may decide instead to make an early start in order to reach Thazima Gate, the entrance to Nyika National Park. A meer two kilometres or so from the park entrance is the best place in Malawi to see the Black-backed Barbet. From the gate we pass through 20 kilometres of rich miombo woodland where your driver always keeps a ready eye open for any passing birds. Reaching the beautiful plateau we soon arrive at a small patch of acacia abyssinica forest where Brown Parisoma and White-headed Saw-wing can often be spotted. You will surely also enjoy the remaining 40 kilometres to the lodge with many grassland and bracken and briar species crossing the road frequently. Scarlet-tafted Malachite Sunbird might be seen perched among the Protea bushes. A short stop at the Zambian Resthouse will reveal Angola Swallows nesting under its roof. After lunch at the camp you spend the afternoon on a game-drive in the unique montane grasslands with its stunning viewpoints. Denham`s Bustard and Wattled Cranes are frequently seen. Secretarybirds have even been spotted in recent years, Pallid Harrier and Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk are also common. Interesting mammals include leopard and serval cat (best seen on night game drives, which should also produce Rwenzori Nightjar). After the night game drive you will enjoy spending the evening in the dining room of the lodge in front of an open fire with an excellent dinner. Depending on the season the nights can sometimes be quite cold here at times. From June to August temperatures of less than 5°C are not uncommon.

Days 7 and 8
After an early breakfast we take you to another highlight of Nyika National Park: its montane evergreen forests. Bar-tailed Trogon are particularly common here. Other specials include White-chested Alethe, African Hill Babbler, Chapin`s Apalis, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Fülleborn´s Boubou, Green Moustached Tinkerbird and Olive-flanked Robin. Interesting mammals inside the forests include Tanganyika Mountain Squirrel, Blue Monkey, Red and Blue Duiker and the rare Chequered Elephant Shrew. After lunch we take you on another game drive taking one of the various tracks winding through the rolling grasslands.

Day 9
We leave the lodge early in the morning for warm and friendly Nkhata Bay where your stay will be in our comfortable Safari Cottage. If time allows we can make a trip into the lowland evergreen forest already in the afternoon. Near the actual town Bat Hawk, Red-headed Quelea and Green Twinspot have been seen.

Day 10
East Coast Akalat is the speciality of the lake shore. Even though we are in a lowland rainforest it's not too difficult to find the bird. Other birds of interest include Green Coucal, the very common African Broadbill and Narina Trogon. If there is still time we take you to a place where we see Lesser Seedcracker frequently, as well as African Finfoot, Palm-nut Vulture and other riverine specials. From the lake shore forest we continue on to delightful Liwonde National Park On our way to the cozy lodge there we pass through mopane woodland where Racket-tailed Roller, Lillian´s Lovebird and Southern Ground Hornbill might be seen. When you arrive at the camp you will be welcomed by abundant Böhm´s Bee-eater and perhaps even Livingstone´s Flycatcher.

Days 11 and 12
Our early morning walk is undertaken especially in search of either Pel's Fishing Owl or Brown-breasted Barbet. After a hearty breakfast we take a drive along the Shire River, where many water species can be found. African Skimmer roosts on the sand banks from August. Both thicket and shorebirds are well-represented here. Raptors are numerous and include Red-necked Falcon and Western-banded Snake Eagle. After lunch, there is time to relax at the pool before afternoon tea is served followed by a combined afternoon and night game drive.

Day 13
After a morning's guided walk and a good hearty breakfast we take another meandering boat safari on the Shire River. Thereafter we leave the camp for the Zomba Plateau. At an altitude of up to 2,000 meters the plateau is dominated by grasslands, indigenous evergreen forest and exotic pine plantations.There are a good number of montane forest species available including Thyolo Alethe, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Yellow-throated Apalis and Black-fronted Bush-shrike. White-winged Apalis is one of the most sought after birds in Malawi and should be serched in the vicinity of the Botanical Garden in Zomba town.

Day 14
Our journey to the Thyolo Mountain does not take us far. Accommodation is in a colonial style bungalow on a tea plantation. Even when sitting on the veranda with a cup of tea or coffee birding within the beautiful garden is impressive. The main habitat here is mid altitude rain forest where Green-headed Oriole, Thyolo Alethe, Green Barbet, Bar-tailed Trogon and Black-fronted Bush Shrike have all been recorded.

Day 15
We bypass Blantyre and descend to the lowland area at Lengwe National Park. This park holds a number of thicket specials, such as the Crested Guineafowl and Thick-billed Cuckoo as well as Böhms and Mottled Spinetails, Black-and-white-Flycatcher and Thrush Nightingale. The meals from the Italian run lodge are excellent as are the en suite chalets.

Day 16
A special feature of Lengwe National Park are the hides next to the waterholes where you sit and watch the animals come to the waterhole to drink, which is best done in morning hours. If you want to see the Rock Pratincole we can make a detour via the Majete Game Reserve where this bird is frequently seen on rocks at a dam near the entrance gate of the reserve. We then make our way back to Lilongwe where if time permits we pay a visit to one of the various birding spots around the city that hold a surprising number of interesting species.

Day 17
After making a last visit to the Nature Sanctuary or one of the dambos in the morning we take you to the airport where the journey ends.

 

Prices Include :
Transport in 4x4 vehicles (Mitsubishi Pajero or Toyota Hilux).
Accommodation (according to the booking).
Three meals per day.
Park Entry Fees.
Day Game Drives as described.
2 activities per day in Liwonde.
Birding Guide.

Not Inclusive
Flights.
Visa.
Drinks.
Activities that are not mentioned.

 

 

	4+	3		2
Lodge	2,450$	2,990$		3,580$