7-day African Pitta and Big Mammals of Zambia
The South Luangwa National Park is a spectacular birding location, situated in the Great Rift Valley system
running through eastern Zambia. Indulge yourself and visit us in the comfort of an award-winning lodge, and
revel in the splendor of this park, while you enjoy the fantastic birding and prolific wildlife in this remote
region. The park spans over 9050km² and is one of the world’s finest game parks with huge concentrations of
birds and wildlife. With over 458 bird species, and nearly 50 migrating species from the northern and southern
hemisphere, this is no doubt a birder’s “must visit” destination. Its main river, the Luangwa, a massive tributary
of the Zambezi, meanders over 900 kilometers, flowing through the floodplain of the park valley and creating
sandbars, cut-offs, and oxbow lakes. It is bordered by stunning groves of riparian woodland with ebony trees.
Away from the river, mopane woodland predominates, and on the escarpments Miombo is ever-present. The
migrant African Pitta arrives from mid to late November, which is the start of their breeding season, and the
male immediately begins to call. With the onset of breeding they become far more secretive, so timing is
paramount for this trip.
Itinerary:
Duration: 7 days
Group size: 6 – 8
Date: 27 November – 3
December 2013 and 2014
Price: US$4810 per person
sharing, assuming 6-8
participants (there is a
surcharge for smaller
groups). Single supplement
This is also the beginning of the rains, where the first green flush triggers the onset of breeding in the resident US$1080
birds, and migrants begin to flood in, mixing with the local avian population at this time of plenty as the insects This is an Upmarket tour
proliferate. Distinctive calls herald the beginning of each day from Southern Ground Hornbill, Grey
Crowned Crane, and Western Banded Snake Eagle. Typical intra-African migrants and Palearctic migrants Price includes:
include Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Crake, Allen’s Gallinule, Dwarf Bittern, and our African
Pitta, together with huge concentrations of Southern Carmine Bee-eater. In more recent years Greater
Airfare Lusaka – Mfuwe –
Spotted Eagle has been tracked to this area using satellite telemetry. Resident Yellow-billed and Red-billed
Lusaka ($785)
Oxpeckers are found de-ticking most of the larger animals, and large flocks of Lilian’s Lovebird explode into
the air and then seem to almost disappear in the foliage of the leadwood trees in an instant.
Private birding guide
Luangwa lagoons
Often the beginning of the rains are delayed, and the drying lagoons have a resurgence of activity as Yellowbilled Stork compete with both Great White and Pink-backed Pelican, Marabou, and African Fish
Eagle for the last remaining catfish in the mud in "large feeding frenzy bird parties". These are an incredible
sight to witness. Shallow waters and sand bars attract African Skimmer, a regular breeder here, and this area is
an important stronghold for this species. White-fronted Plover and White-crowned Lapwing jostle for space
on the sandbanks alongside the noisy Water Thick-knee. Waterbirds such as Saddle-billed Stork, Yellowbilled Stork, African Openbill, and Marabou concentrate in oxbow lakes alongside honking Egyptian Goose.
Numerous game birds such as Helmeted Guineafowl and Swainson’s and Red-necked Spurfowls forage
alongside Hadada and African Sacred Ibis. Great Egret breeds in the valley in large Winter Thorn trees, as
the oxbow lagoons swell with water. Here too the Dwarf Bittern arrives to breed, and isolated sightings of
Malagasy Pond Heron are on record.
Accommodation
All meals and beverages
Transfers in Mfuwe
Park fees
Airport taxes
Price excludes:
Along the numerous sandbanks
International flights
Giant and Pied Kingfishers compete with the jewel-like Malachite Kingfisher for small fish, and their forest
relatives jostle for insects alongside. Woodland and Pygmy Kingfishers are particularly beautiful as they flash Personal insurance
past in an iridescent blur. Horus Swift, White-fronted Bee-eater, and Southern Carmine Bee-eater coexist
and breed in the dry river banks, the latter in huge numbers.
Accommodation in Lusaka
before or after the tour
Riverside drives and thickets
Western Banded Snake Eagle, African Goshawk, Narina Trogon, African Broadbill, African Pitta,
Imported wines and spirits
Broad-billed Roller, Eastern Nicator, and Black-throated Wattle-eye are just a few of the birds that enjoy
the thick riparian vegetation along the riverside. Hawking insectivores launch themselves from the dangling
Gratuities and items of a
Combretum fronds, swooping low over the water when catching insects and then returning to their perches.
personal nature
Mopane woodlands and open plains
The Mopane woodlands are the home of Racket-tailed Roller, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Meves’s
Starling, Arnot’s Chat, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Red–headed Weaver, and electric green flocks
of Lilian’s Lovebird. Pearl-spotted Owlet calls incessantly and tests the birders’ eyesight, and with the rains
the strident call of Woodland Kingfisher rings out. Larger birds are well represented, which include Lappetfaced, Hooded, White-headed, and White-backed Vultures, as well as numerous large resident and migrant
eagles such as Bateleur, Martial, Steppe, and Lesser-spotted Eagles. Saddle-billed Stork, Southern
Crowned Crane, and Southern Ground Hornbill are frequently encountered in the temporarily flooded pans.
The smaller seedeaters are well represented at this time of plenty, and keep an eye open in particular for
Cardinal Quelea. Weavers, especially Village Weaver, breed in huge numbers, and Collared Palm Thrush
and Moustached Grass Warbler make for an exciting addition to a “must visit” destination. Böhm’s Spinetail
and Mottled Spinetail are just two of the nine species of swifts which have been recorded at the Mfuwe bridge,
the latter, along with Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, are particularly associated with the numerous baobab trees.
Late afternoon and night drives
This specialized activity allows you to view nocturnal creatures in safety. Alongside numerous species of
nightjar and other night birds, four-toed elephant shrew, bushy-tailed mongoose, various genets, and of course
leopard, for which South Luangwa is renowned, could be seen. One may get glimpses of thick- tailed galago,
lesser bushbaby, and serval. The crepuscular Bat Hawk can be seen hawking bats along the trees of the lagoons
in the late evenings, while African Skimmer feeds on into the moonlight. The highly sought-after Pel’s
Fishing Owl is here, with its eerie mysterious call, which helps in locating it on night drives along the lagoons,
alongside Verreaux’s and Spotted Eagle Owls. A night drive here is an absolute must.
Overview
This truly wonderfully wild national park is the home of many other exciting small and large inhabitants, too
numerous to mention all, but huge numbers of hippo and Nile crocodile, African buffalo, kudu, eland,
bushbuck, impala, plains zebra, Thornycroft’s giraffe, Cookson’s wildebeest, African elephant, lion, and
African wild dog are regularly spotted. All this is a photographer’s dream. This massive concentration of
wildlife has a huge impact on the ecology of the valley, particularly the birds. It is certainly the place for a true
adventure, led by an expert guide and scout.
Please note that the detailed itinerary below cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be
changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the
state of accommodation, roads or birding sites, and the discretion of the guides and other factors.
Itinerary (7 days/6 nights)
Day 1. Arrival in Lusaka, transfer to Mfuwe Lodge
Your international flight arrives at Lusaka International Airport, where you will be transferred to the domestic
departure lounge, from where you fly to Mfuwe airport. From here you will be transferred to Mfuwe Lodge – an
award winning lodge, located inside South Luangwa National Park. Here you commonly witness close
encounters with African elephants lured by a wild mango tree fruiting at this time of the year. You get
extremely close, in fact, when they walk through the reception area into camp to collect the delicacy.
Overnight: Mfuwe Lodge, South Luangwa National Park
Days 2 – 4. Bilimungwe Bushcamp
After breakfast, start your journey to Bilimungwe Bushcamp. This camp is small and exclusive and only
accommodates eight guests. En route you will have the ultimate enjoyment of birding and game viewing in
comfort from an open 4x4 vehicle. This stunning camp is set beneath a huge mahogany tree, which overlooks
three waterholes. This is truly a nature lover’s paradise with spectacular birds and animals. You will be birding
and game viewing around Bilimungwe for three full days, in particular for the amazing African Pitta!
Day 5 – 6. Mfuwe Lodge
Transfer back to Mfuwe Lodge, birding and game viewing en route. Then you have another full day here to
enjoy the amenities and service of this very special lodge.
DAY 7. Departure
After breakfast, you will start your return transfers to Mfuwe Airport for the flight to Lusaka International
Airport, from were you will fly home.