Bird Watching Zimbabwe Safaris

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Zimbabwe is well known for its unparalleled species of birds. With little planning, visitors may see more than 250 species in a single day thus known as “bird’ watcher’s paradise” Birding Excursions & Ornithological Safaris Birding trips, Ornithological safaris in Zimbabwe range from a few hours, a full day, to several weeks.
Zimbabwe Birds
Famous for being one of the top birding destinations in Africa, Zimbabwe birds are extremely abundant and diverse, with a bird list of 660 varieties, of which some are endemic while others are rare or endangered. The diversity of habitats makes Zimbabwe and excellent birding paradise.
Bird life in Zimbabwe
Just some of the Zimbabwe birdlife to be seen include the Red-faced Crimsonwing, Spotted Creeper, Red-faced Crombec, Southern Hyliota, Blue Swallow, Eastern Saw-wing, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Western Olive Sunbird, Orange Ground-Thrush, Streaky-breasted Flufftail, White-breasted Cuckooshrike,  Miombo Blue-eared Starling, Whyte’s Barbet, Chirinda Apalis, Bronzy Sunbird, Black-fronted Bush-Shrike, Robert’s Warbler, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, etc.

ZIMBABWE BIRDING HOTSPOTS

Hwange National Park
Hwange boasts over four hundred species of bird – a concentration which makes this National Park one of the finest birding destinations in the country and in the world. Over 400 species of birds are found here making it a bird watchers paradise, particularly in the wet season. Orange Ground-Thrush, Streaky-breasted Flufftail, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Miombo Blue-eared Starling, Whyte’s Barbet, Chirinda Apalis, Bronzy Sunbird are some of the popular varieties spotted.
Eastern Highlands
The Eastern Highlands in Zimbabwe is a massive geographical mountain formation. This geographical splendour is always high up on the wish-lists of birders in Zimbabwe. There are varieties of different habitats as well as the cooler and wetter climate which have resulted into richness of bird life in the area. Some of the many birds spotted here include Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Gorgeous and Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Green-backed Woodpecker, White-tailed Crested, Blue-mantled Crested, African Paradise and Ashy Flycatcher, Red-throated and Green Twinspots, Scaly-throated Honey-guide, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Stripe-cheeked, Yellow-streaked and Sombre Greenbul, Livingstone’s Turaco, Chirinda and Bar-throated Apalis, African Emerald, Klaas’s Cuckoo and White-eared Barbet.

Honde Valley
Honde Valley extends from the eastern border of Zimbabwe into Mozambique. The valley is formed as part of the Eastern Highlands mountain range. This fertile valley lies 850m above sea level and is one of the major tea producing areas of Zimbabwe. There are four main birding zones in the valley; 1.Gleneagles Nature Reserve; 2.Eastern Highland Tea Plantation; 3.Katiyo Tea Plantation; and 4.the stretch around Aberfoyle Club. Hundreds of birds are spotted in these regions many of which include the Moustached Grass-Warbler, Red-winged Warbler, Black-winged Bishop, Olive Sunbird, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Lesser Seedcracker, Singing Cisticola, Twinspot Indigo bird which parasitizes the Red-throated Twinspot, Pale Batis, Black-throated Wattle-eye, White-eared Barbet, Green-backed Woodpecker, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Variable Sunbird, Bronzy Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Black-fronted Bush-Shrike and Blue-spotted Wood-Dove.

Chizarira National Park
Despite the fact that it is known by very few people, Chizarira National Park is a great place to appreciate birds. It is naturally a great habitat for avifauna in Zimbabwe. It hosts 70% of the country’s many bird species. It is situated in the beautiful wilderness of the Zambezi Valley escarpment. Chizarira offers an abundance of unique bird life and several hundreds of species have been sighted within the Park. The common birds in the park include African Broadbill, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Yellow spotted Nicator, Emerald Cuckoo and the rare and elusive Angola Pitta. Others are the Crowned Eagles, Dark-Capped Yellow Warbler, Singing Cisticola, Yellow-Bellied Waxbill, Black Eagles and Pel’s Fishing Owl. Serious birders visiting Chizarira Park should get chance to spot the rare Taita Falcon which makes its nests within more forested areas of the Park.
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba amazingly offers incredible birdlife, especially water birds. Hundreds of beautiful birds found on the Lake. Bumi Area in particular is a bird watching hotspot. It is a thrilling location for photography primarily due to it’s the majestic scenery and plentiful bird life. Commanding most attention always seems to be the African Fish Eagle with its evocative twitters. Other species for bird enthusiasts to spot are the Harrier-Hawk, Martial Eagle, Open-Billed Stork, Saddle-Billed Stork, Lilac Breasted Roller, Sacred Ibis, Bateleur Eagle, Grey Heron, Malachite Kingfisher and the Red-Billed Hornbill.
Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens
Located north-east of Harare City, Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens is a Bird Orphanage and Conservation Reserve. It is noted for its wide collection of indigenous and exotic plant and birds. Bird watching in the gardens is exceptional during winter when aloes and cycads act as magnet for amazing numbers of rare bird species. When in flourish, aloes and cycads become a special fascination for sunbirds, which at times concentrate in large numbers to obtain nectar.
Mana Pools National Park
The remote and beautiful Mana Pools National Park also offers a mosaic of amazing habitats with some rare bird species. Over 380 bird species have been recorded here including the gorgeous Nyasa Lovebird, Banded Snake Eagle, White-Collared Pratincole, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, and Yellow Spotted Nicator. This magnificent and extensive wildlife and wilderness complex is widely recognized as one of the finest birding spots in Zimbabwe. Mana Pools is also popular with Fish Eagles, several species of Stork, Heron and other Water-Based Fowls. Scarlet Carmine Bee-Eaters only visit during the dry months to nest in colonies in the river banks. The elusive Pels Fishing Owl and African Skimmer are common along mid-river sandbanks.
Other Birding hotspots are; Chipinge, Nyanga, Vumba, Gonarezhou National Park, Lake Kyle, Chimanimani National Park, Matobo National Park and McIlwaine Rec Park.
Also See:
Bird watching in Botswana | Bird watching in Malawi | Bird watching in Mozambique | Bird watching in Namibia | Bird watching in Rwanda | Bird watching in Seychelles | Bird watching in South Africa | Bird watching in Tanzania | Bird watching in Zambia | Bird watching in Madagascar