The information below is intended as an appetite-whetter, and is not conclusive or
comprehensive. It is designed to prepare you for what you might be seeing, or expect to
see on our safaris in the wilderness.
We hope you have the time to read through this before your trip to gain insight into the
amazing animals that will be all around you, some seen, but mostly not!
LEOPARD
The most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, the leopard is
also the shrewdest. Pound for pound, it is the strongest climber of
the large cats and capable of killing prey larger than itself.
The leopard is a solitary animal, hunting usually at night, and
spending much of the day hiding in thickets or in the fork of a tree.
They prey on small antelope, rodents, baboons, monkeys and birds,
being quick and efficient hunters.
The power of their claws, leg
muscles and neck muscles is
astonishing. They will usually haul their kill, often weighing more than
themselves, up into a tree to keep it from scavengers. It then rests from its
exertion and at its leisure, begins to tear out tufts of fur. Having cleared a patch
of flesh it starts its meal, saving the remains for later, safe from vultures and
hyaenas. Leopards, like other cats, spend about two thirds of their lives sprawled
out in relaxed slumber.
Leopards continually move about their home ranges, seldom staying in an
area for more than two or three days at a time. With marking and calling, they
usually know one another's whereabouts. A male will accompany a female in
estrus for a week or so before they part and return to solitude.
Dense bush in rocky surroundings and riverine forest are their favorite
habitats, but leopards adapt to many places in both warm and cold climates.
Their adaptability, in fact, has helped them survive the loss of habitat to
increasing human settlement. Leopards are primarily nocturnal, usually resting
during the daytime in trees or thick bush. The spotted coat provides almost
perfect camouflage.
Leopards have long been preyed upon by man. Their soft, dense, beautiful fur has been used for ceremonial robes
and coats. Different parts of the leopard the tail, claws and whiskers are popular as fetishes. These cats have a
reputation as wanton killers, but research does not support the claim. In some areas farmers try to exterminate
them, while in others leopards are considered symbols of wisdom. Leopards do well in captivity, and some have
lived as long as 21 years
Both lions and hyenas will take away a leopard's kill if they can. To prevent this leopards store their larger kills in
trees where they can feed on them in relative safety
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ELEPHANT
An elephant’s social life is organised around a family unit, which consists of an adult
female and her offspring and two or more closely related females and their offspring.
Bulls leave the family unit at puberty when they are about 16 years old and join
bachelor groups or move about alone.
The best guide for determining sex is to look at their head profiles; males have a
rounded head and females a squarer head.
At birth, an elephant calf weighs 118kg (260 pounds) and is able to walk under its
mothers belly for the first year. Elephants spend 16-18 hours a day grazing and
browsing, from ground level to 18 feet or more into trees, when standing on their
hind legs and stretching out their long trunks. They also use their trunks to squirt
water into their mouths at seven litres a sip! In a full drinking session elephants take
up to 50 litres of water.
The flapping action of their ears when charging is thought to be merely a cooling
action as the stress of the moment causes them to become overheated. The
advantage of this is that it helps them to look even more fearsome to their enemies.
Elephants are unfortunately very destructive feeders and often large trees are
pushed over and only a few leaves eaten from the top. If too many are confined to a
small area, massive damage and deforestation can and does indeed occur.
Of all its specialized features, the muscular trunk is the most remarkable it serves
as a nose, a hand, an extra foot, a signaling device and a tool for gathering food,
siphoning water, dusting, digging and a variety of other functions. Not only does the
long trunk permit the elephant to reach as high as 23 feet, but it can also perform movements as delicate as picking
berries or caressing a companion. It is capable, too, of powerful twisting and coiling movements used for tearing
down trees or fighting.
The tusks, another remarkable feature, are greatly
elongated incisors (elephants have no canine teeth); about
one-third of their total length lies hidden inside the skull.
The largest tusk ever recorded weighed 214 pounds and
was 138 inches long. Tusks of this size are not found on
elephants in Africa today, as over the years hunters and
poachers have taken animals with the largest tusks.
Because tusk size is an inherited characteristic, it is rare to
find one now that would weigh more than 100 pounds.
Elephants are generally gregarious and form small family
groups consisting of an older matriarch and three or four
offspring, along with their young. It was once thought that
family groups were led by old bull elephants, but these
males are most often solitary. The female family groups are
often visited by mature males checking for females in estrus. Several interrelated family groups may inhabit an area
and know each other well. When they meet at watering holes and feeding places, they greet each other
affectionately.
Smell is the most highly developed sense, but sound deep growling or rumbling noises is the principle means of
communication. Some researchers think that each individual has its signature growl by which it can be
distinguished. Sometimes elephants communicate with an ear-splitting blast when in danger or alarmed, causing
others to form a protective circle around the younger members of the family group. Elephants make low-frequency
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calls, many of which, though loud, are too low for humans to hear. These sounds allow elephants to communicate
with one another at distances of five or six miles
LION
Most cat species live a fundamentally solitary existence, but the lion is an
exception. It has developed a social system based on teamwork and a division
of labor within the pride, and an extended but closed family unit centered
around a group of related females. The average pride consists of about 15
individuals, including five to 10 females with their young and two or three
territorial males that are usually brothers or pride mates.
Lion are plentiful in the bigger national parks but will often tend to stay in the
remote parts for long periods at a time. They are the only cats moving in family
groups and normally occupy a well defined territory.
In some areas the territories are quite small and the numbers in the groups
quite large, some over twenty. Typically, two or more dominant males protect the territory against intruders. Several
lionesses may produce cubs at one time and share the feeding. Eighty percent of the
cubs will not survive to maturity.
Within the pride, the territorial males are the fathers of all the cubs. When a lioness is
in heat, a male will join her, staying with her constantly. The pair usually mates for
less than a minute, but it does so about every 15 to 30 minutes over a period of four
to five days.
Before maturity at four years, young males are evicted from the group to live a
nomadic existence unwanted in any other lion territory. Many don’t survive as they
are not yet efficient hunters, and if one cannot fend for itself, it starves. The lion is an
ambush rather than a chase killer. With its heavy body it can only reach speeds of about (35 miles) an hour, often
much slower than the animals it pursues, so it requires much stealth and surprise to catch them. As a group, they
will circle the animal, one will attack and knock it to the ground with a heavy blow, seize it by the throat or mouth
and suffocate it.. Although not as efficient at hunting as leopard or wild dog, their communal hunting methods
ensure the survival of the group.
After some years the dominant males of the group are replaced by more powerful contenders, thus ensuring the
introduction of new genetic material into the pride gene pool. The new leaders may kill and eat the cubs of other
males. The impact of this seems to bring the females into heat again and soon produce cubs from the new
dominant males.
The mating behaviour of lions is a painful process for the female. The penis is barbed and its withdrawal hurts the
female who may twist around and attack the dismounting male. The pain
is necessary for feline mating as it is the shock to her system that induces
ovulation and permits fertilisation. Lionesses have a gestation period of
three and a half months. Lions live up to about 18 years in the wild.
Lions have long been killed in rituals of bravery, as hunting trophies and
for their medicinal and magical powers. Although lions are now protected
in many parts of Africa, they were once considered to be stock-raiding
vermin and were killed on sight. In some areas, livestock predation
remains a severe problem.
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CHEETAH
Cheetah are present in the larger national parks
but very scarce and not often seen. They usually
move in small family groups and occasionally
alone, They favour open country and light
woodland. They prey on small or medium
antelope such as oribi, puku and impala.
The cheetah is built for speed. It has long, slim,
muscular legs, a small, rounded head set on a
long neck, a flexible spine, a deep chest,
nonretractable claws, special pads on its feet for traction and a long, tail for balance. Although fast, the cheetah
cannot run at full speed for long distances (100 yards is about the limit) because it may overheat.
The cheetah is the fastest animal on four legs, capable of reaching speeds of over 97 kms/ hour (60 miles). To cope
with the physical demands of sprinting, the cheetah has longer back legs to give greater stride and weight has been
lost at the expense of muscular strength. Small cheetah cubs can fall prey to hunting lions and mothers often have
difficulty defending their slow moving offspring.
Although known as an animal of the open plains that relies on speed to catch its prey, research has shown that the
cheetah depends on cover to stalk prey. The cheetah gets as close to the prey as possible, then in a burst of speed
tries to outrun its quarry. Once the cheetah closes in, it knocks the prey to the ground
with its paw and suffocates the animal with a bite to the neck.
A shy creature that roams widely, the cheetah is not seen as easily as some other cats.
Never numerous, cheetahs have become extinct in many areas, principally due to
shrinking habitat, loss of species to prey upon, disease and a high rate of cub mortality.
In some areas 50 to 75 percent of all cheetah cubs die before 3 months.
SPOTTED HYENA
The hyena is common the less arid areas. They feed on carrion but are also
hunters in their own right.
Bones left over at a kill are cracked open with their powerful jaws and
consumed. Because of the high calcium content in these bones, hyena
droppings are white, like chalk.
Spotted hyenas are organized into territorial clans of
related individuals that defend their home ranges against intruding clans. The center of
clan activity is the den, where the cubs are raised and individuals meet. The den is
usually situated on high ground in the central part of the territory. Its above-ground
entrances are connected to a series of underground tunnels.
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They live in holes in the ground where they breed, having one or two in a litter, the young looking like cute little
brown puppies.
Their gestation period is three and half months and they can live up to forty years. Their drawn out laugh-like call
can often be heard from the camps at night. They usually move at night but can be seen in the day.
When a hyena's tail is carried straight, for example, it signals attack. When it is held up and forward over the back,
the hyena is extremely excited. In contrast, it hangs down when the hyena is standing or walking leisurely. If
frightened, the hyena tucks its tail between the legs and flat against the belly and usually skulks away.
The powerful jaws and digestive tract of the hyena allow it to process and obtain nutrients from skin and bones. The
only parts of prey not fully digested are hair, horns and hooves; these are regurgitated in the form of pellets.
Lions (who will attack them at every opportunity), hunting dogs and strange hyenas are among the species that prey
on hyenas.
WILD DOG
This species is considered endangered in Africa, despite having large
litters of up to a dozen. They are probably killed as they move into
inhabited areas, but anthrax has also been responsible for their decline in
numbers. Packs of wild dogs wander continuously never staying long in
one place.
The Wild Dog has undergone a dramatic recent decline in population to
the stage that few countries now support viable populations. Wild Dogs
are still moderately abundant in southern and eastern Africa.
Living in groups of 10 - 20 they are very efficient hunters using the open
plains or savannahs and depend on their excellent eyesight and stamina
to run down their prey. They usually take the smaller antelope but packs
have been known to take animals as large as the kudu or waterbuck.
The pack has a communal breeding burrow and the whole pack co-operate
in bringing food which they regurgitate for the young who first go through a
begging ritual. There is often a preponderance of male pups in a litter. They
live for 10 - 12 years in the wild. Wild Dogs live in socially complex packs
composed of several related adult males and one or more related adult
females originating from another pack. Often only the dominant bitch will
rear pups successfully.
Directed hunting is the leading cause of decline. Wild Dogs are
undeservedly perceived as voracious killers of game and livestock. Disease
including canine distemper, rabies and anthrax have decimated many
populations.
.
African wild dogs use their sense of sight, not smell, to find their prey. They pay no attention to wind direction and
they do not use cover when approaching their prey. They can run up to 55 km/h for several kilometres. In eastern
Africa, they mostly hunt Thomson’s gazelles, but they will also attack calves, warthogs, zebras, impalas, and the
young of large antelopes such as the gnu.
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BUFFALO
These cattle-like ungulates have massive low sweeping horns and
move in small to very large herds, often over 400 strong. There
smaller bachelor herds of four to five. Occasionally solitary ones
known as ‘Dagga Boys’ live alone and do not associate with the
larger breeding herds. During the dry season they are the preferred
prey of lion. They can sometimes be seen wallowing in mud pools
which is essentially a cleansing technique that rids them of skin
parasites and provides them with a caked mud barrier against further
insect attacks.
If attacked, the adults in the herd form a circle around the young and face outward. By lowering their heads and
presenting a solid barrier of sharp horns, it is difficult for predators to seize a calf. This effective group defense even
allows blind and crippled members of the herd to survive. Thus predators do not have a major impact on buffalo
herds; it is the old, solitary-living males that are most likely to be taken by lions.
Outside the national parks in East Africa, buffaloes frequently come into conflict
with human interests. They break fences and raid cultivated crops and may
spread bovine diseases to domestic stock. They are still numerous in many
parts of East Africa, even though they have been periodically devastated by the
rinderpest virus. In other areas of Africa, buffaloes have been eliminated or
their numbers greatly reduced.
Sight and hearing are both rather poor, but scent is well developed in buffaloes.
Although quiet for the most part, the animals do communicate. In mating
seasons they grunt and emit hoarse bellows. A calf in danger will bellow
mournfully, bringing herd members running at a gallop to defend it.
HIPPOPOTAMUS
Hippos are plentiful in Africa’s many waterways and often groups
of over 60 can be seen in one spot, especially along the larger
rivers.
They are vegetarian animals, feeding mainly at night and
returning to lounge in the water before sunrise. They pluck grass
with their wide lips but are also known to eat the fruit and flowers
of the sausage tree. They consume up to 60kg of grass every
night.
A calf is suckled on land and
then in the water and begins to graze at four to six months. It reaches maturity at
four years and has a life span of about forty
years.
In areas where overcrowding is intense,
aggression increases. They have a strict
territorial system within which bulls are
continually fighting for dominance. Their large
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tusks are used as weapons of attack or defence.
The back is a purplish grey-brown, with the undersides pinkish. There are patches of pink on the face, especially
around the eyes, ears, and cheeks. The hide is virtually hairless, and is moistened by mucous glands which
secrete a reddish liquid. The body is bulky and barrel-like, and is supported by stubby legs.
The large, wide head has the eyes, nostrils and ears set on the top, allowing
them to remain above water while the hippo is submerged. The mouth is
widely split and can be opened extremely wide, exposing the canines, which
are large and curved.
The river hippopotamus spends most of the day wallowing, resting, and
swimming in or near water. At night, they emerge from the water to graze.
Hippos will graze about 3 kilometers / 1.8 miles from water, although some
individuals move farther inland. An individual may walk 10 kilometers / 6
miles to seek food on land, spending an average of 5-6 hours on land per
night.
Despite their bulk, they can run extremely fast. The river hippo's daily consumption is 1-1.5 percent of its body
weight, compared to an average of 2.5 percent for most other ungulates. Hippos swim and dive well, and their
specific gravity allows them to walk along the bottom. When submerged, they can seal off their slit-like nostrils and
ears. The shape of their head is muck like that of a frog, and allows them to keep their eyes and nostrils above the
surface, while keeping the rest of their body submerged. Hippopotamuses usually remain submerged for 3-5
minutes, though they can stay below for up to 30 minutes.
Population densities vary, and can be as great as 31 animals per square kilometer. Adult males defend narrow
territories which consist of water and the adjacent land. Both sexes are very aggressive - males defending their
territory may kill another hippo nearby when courting females, and females join together to protect their offspring.
The hippos major weapon is the set of large, sharp lower canines which, in males, may grow to 0.5 m / 1.5 feet
long. The main vocalizations are a "wheeze-honk" and a roar.
GIRAFFE
The tallest animal in the world with long neck, long legs and long sloping
back. They are gregarious mammals and move in herds of up to 20.
Ancient cultures in Africa
revered the giraffe, as some
modern cultures do today, and
commonly depicted it in
prehistoric rock and cave
paintings. Unknown outside of
Africa, this animal so excited
man's curiosity that it was
sometimes sent as a diplomatic
gift to other countries; one of
the earliest records tells of a
giraffe going from "Melinda"
(presumably Malindi) in Kenya
to China in 1415.
The giraffe (as well as its short-necked relative the okapi from Central
African forests) has a distinctive walking gait, moving both legs on one
side forward at the same time. At a gallop, however, the gait changes,
and the giraffe simultaneously swings the hind legs ahead of and outside
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the front legs, reaching speeds of 35 miles an hour. Its heavy head moves forward with each powerful stride, then
swings back to stay balanced.
They browse on a great variety of trees using their prehensile upper lip and long tongue to grasp the vegetation.
Their average height is over four and a half meters and they often weigh over 1200kg.
They breed at any time but usually at the end of the rains having a gestation period of 15 months and only one
offspring per birth.
Giraffes have a highly efficient blood circulation system. Their heart beat is 150 times/min as compared to an
elephant at 25 times. This prevents dizziness when they move their heads up and down on average through 18 feet
when drinking water.
Bulls fight one another by necking, testing their strength by pushing like human arm wrestlers..
Giraffe tails were highly prized by the ancient Egyptians, and still are in many African cultures. The desire for goodluck bracelets, fly whisks and thread for sewing or stringing beads have led people to kill the giraffe for its tail alone.
Giraffes are easily killed and poaching (now more often for their meat and hide) continues today.
ZEBRA
A relative of the horse family (Equidae) the zebra is a gregarious animal
moving in herds of 20 to 100 or more. They often move with wildebeest and
occasionally hartebeest or roan. This rather casual symbiosis with other
species allows them to pool their defensive alertness and they usually have
differing food preferences so grazing is not too competitive. Their gestation
period is 12 months and in the wild have a lifespan of about 20 years.
Interestingly, the stripes of a zebra are unique on each animal, like
fingerprints. Burchell’s zebra, the subspecies found in most of Southern Africa
has evenly spaced dark and light stripes as compared to those found in the
south and east of Africa having broad light stripes with faint shadow stripes
between the thin dark lines.
Zebras have shiny coats that dissipate over 70 percent of incoming heat, and
some scientists believe the stripes help the animals withstand intense solar
radiation. The black and white stripes are a form of camouflage called
disruptive coloration that breaks up the outline of the body. Although the pattern is visible during daytime, at dawn
or in the evening when their predators are most active,
zebras look indistinct and may confuse predators by
distorting true distance.
It has always been assumed that the zebra’s stripes
are for camouflage but even in woodland cover, this is
not convincing, besides which, they often spend their
time on open grasslands where they are very
conspicuous because of their stripes. One theory is
that it serves to create an optical illusion of them being
larger than they are or to confuse predators of their
exact position when striking, or to dazzle their enemies
but there is little evidence for this. Their real purpose
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can only be speculation at this stage of our understanding of animals.
Family groups are stable members maintaining strong bonds over many years. Mutual grooming, where zebras
stand together and nibble the hair on each other's neck and back, helps develop and preserve these bonds. Family
members look out for one another if one becomes separated from the rest, the others search for it. The group
adjusts its traveling pace to accommodate the old and the weak.
Zebras are important prey for lions and hyenas, and to a lesser extent for hunting dogs, leopards and cheetahs.
When a family group is attacked, the members form a semicircle, face the predator and watch it, ready to bite or
strike should the attack continue. If one of the family is injured the rest will often encircle it to protect it from further
attack.
PRIMATES
NIGHT APE
Similar to the bush baby but smaller in body size, more triangular face
with huge big eyes, and a long thin tail with a fluffy end. They are
arboreal and strictly nocturnal occurring in a variety of woodland
types, especially Acacia, eating mainly insects and fruit.
MONKEY
Three types of monkey occur in Zambia. The Vervet Monkey is very
common throughout a variety of woodland types. Moving in troops of
about 20, they feed on young shoots, seeds and fruit but occasionally
will eat insects and birds eggs. The Blue monkey and Maloney’s
monkey have occasionally been sighted in Luangwa (Zambia), but
their numbers are small.
BUSH BABY
Called so because of its loud wailing scream, the bushbaby is an
elusive tree creature, usually only spotted on night drives and then
only its red eyes can be seen high up in the trees. They spend their
days in hollow trees and forage among the treetops at night for
insects and fruit. Very agile in trees but awkward on the ground,
hopping in a frog like fashion. They are usually solitary, but may group
together to form small and temporary communities
The lesser galago, also called bush baby, is one of the smallest
primates, about the size of a squirrel. Despite its size, it is
exceptionally vocal, producing loud, shrill cries surprisingly like those
of a human baby. The plaintive cries and "cute" appearance may
account for the name "bush baby." It and its larger cousin, the greater
galago
Bush babies have large, round eyes for good night vision and batlike
ears that enable them to track insect prey in the dark. Fast, agile and
accurate, they catch some insects on the ground and snatch others
from the air. As they jump through thorn bush or thick growth, they
fold their delicate ears flat against their heads to protect them. They
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fold them during rest, too.
Bush babies hide during the day in order to avoid contact with
predators such as eagles and large snakes. Since they are easily
captured on ground they mostly stay in trees and rely on their
extraordinary jumping capabilities
BABOON
The Chacma baboon are gregarious animals, occurring in troops of
about 50 or more, feeding on the ground and in trees on fruit, seeds,
rhizomes and insects. The basic unit is a harem - one dominant male
surrounding himself with a number of breeding females. Their mating
is frequent but for very short bursts at a time, usually only about 15 20 seconds. They breed at any time of the year and their gestation
period is about 6 months. They have a strictly disciplined society,
each member of the troop knowing his own status and ruled over by
an elite group of elders. Any member of the clan who tries to usurp
another’s position is taken to task by the dominant males who gang
up against the offender resulting in an explosion of screaming and
squawking. The degree of dominance among ruling members of the
clan is shown by the angle at which they hold their tails: the higher the
angle, the more dominant the male.
Baboons sleep, travel, feed and socialize together in groups of about
50 individuals, consisting of seven to eight males and approximately
twice as many females plus their young. These family units of
females, juveniles and infants form the stable core of a troop, with a
ranking system that elevates certain females as leaders. A troop's
home range is well-defined but does not appear to have territorial
borders. It often overlaps with the range of other baboons, but the
troops seem to avoid meeting one another.
The baboon's major predators are humans. Knowing that humans can
easily kill or injure them when they are in trees, baboons usually
escape through undergrowth. Males may confront other predators like
leopards or cheetahs by forming a line and strutting in a threatening
manner while baring their large canines and screaming. Baboons are
fierce fighters, but a demonstration such as this can put the predator
on the run.
ANTELOPE
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BUSHBUCK
The elusive bushbuck with its striped back and spotted flanks are one of the prettier
antelope, but being solitary and preferring to inhabit areas of dense cover, they are
not seen very often and if one does, they scurry away quickly. They browse on
foliage and fruit and sometimes remain for hours beneath certain flowering trees,
especially the sausage tree (Kigelia africana).
Small, delicate, spiral-horned antelope, Tragelaphus scriptus, of tropical Africa.
Bushbucks live in pairs in thick forest, browsing on leaves and shrubs by night and
resting during the day. Their chief predator is the leopard. Adult males stand less
than 3 ft (90 cm) high at the shoulder and weigh about 100 lb (45 kg). The horns,
borne only by the male, are about 16 in. (40 cm) long. The coat is reddish brown
with scattered white markings, with males darker than females and young. Other
species of the genus Tragelaphus are known as nyalas and sitatungas, although
animals of this genus are sometimes referred to collectively as bushbucks. All are
retiring, largely nocturnal antelopes; the female is hornless. The nyala, T. angasi, is
a medium-sized antelope that inhabits the bush country and thickets of central
Africa. The mountain nyala, T. buxtoni, is a very large antelope of the highlands of
Ethiopia; the male may stand 4 1/2 ft (135 cm) high. The sitatunga, or marsh buck,
T. spekei, is a large antelope found in swampy forests in central Africa; it is a good
swimmer, but it is awkward on land.
DUIKER
Three kinds of duiker occur in Zambia. The Yellow backed Duiker is the largest of
the three with backward directed horns in line with their nose profile. A dark brown
coat with a conspicuous yellow patch on the lower back and rump, the hairs upon
which rise when alarmed. The move alone in dense thickets and forests. This
antelope is very rarely seen as it is mainly nocturnal. The Blue Duiker also has
backward pointing horns but is much smaller and greyish brown in colour. They
browse on leaves and small fruit and are also rarely seen. The Common Duiker is
usually seen on the move in the early morning or evening in scrub country or in
woodland. It hides during the heat of the day in patches of thick vegetation. It has a
very characteristic way of running in a zig zag fashion interspersed by plunging
leaps.
ELAND
Eland are graceful animals, with their large pendulous dewlap and pale fawn colour.
The largest of the antelope found in Zambia, the eland can weigh up to 680 kg.
Their weight however, does not hamper them from jumping, virtually from a
standing position to a height of more than two meters (7 ft). Both sexes have horns
in a short outward an upward twist, which are important for feeding. To collect twigs
they grasp them between the stalks, breaking them loose with a shake of their head
and powerful neck. A shy animal that runs at the slightest disturbance. This is
perhaps because they have always been hunted in Africa, especially by the San
tribe, who worshipped them, eating them as catholics do communion. They move in
medium sized herds and old bulls tend to be solitary.
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IMPALA
The most numerous animal in the bigger National Parks, impalas are gregarious
moving in large herds. They are mixed feeders and eat mainly grass in the wet
season and leaves as the dry season progresses. They can also be found eating
the fallen red fleshly flowers of the sausage tree. During the rutting period the males
are very noisy emitting loud grunting sounds whilst they fight and display, in the
process of sorting out their hierarchy, terminating in the dominant male taking over
a harem of twenty or more ewes. They have a well defined lambing season starting
at the end of October and in the following weeks, nearly every ewe is seen with a
baby. Impala have an unusual tuft of black hair covering a scent gland on the hind
legs, above the hooves. To escape their pursuers they employ a confusing, zig zag
escape route, with sudden directional changes and exceptionally high leaps making
it difficult for the pursuing attacker to strike.
KLIPSPRINGER
Living on rocky outcrops and on mountan sides, these small antelope with short
pointy horns occur sparsely in the Muchinga escarpment of the Luangwa Valley and
occasionally in the north of the country. It bounces on the tips of its rubbery hooves
as it walks, making it’s very long legs look even longer. Unlike the coat of other
African antelope, their olive-yellow coat speckled with grey is stiff and brittle serving
as a cushion to ward off the shocks of hitting rock walls as they jump. They browse
on herbs and shrubs and drink water when it is available but can draw enough
water from their food.
KUDU
A very beautiful antelope with long twisting spiralled horns displayed by the males.
They are usually seen in small groups and occasionally males can be solitary or in
bachelor parties. They are purely browsers and not known to eat grass, being very
fond of the evergreen Trichelia emetica and where these trees occur, there is a very
distinct ‘browse line’ as if they’ve been pruned by clippers. Despite their impressive
weight they can easily clear 2 meters (7ft) when jumping. Their acute hearing is
accentuated by an ability to turn their large rounded ears in almost any direction.
LICHTENSTEIN'S HARTEBEEST
Found in the northern parts of the country in small numbers, this light fawn coloured
antelope prefers miombo woodland habitats and feeds exclusively on grass. It can
sometimes be seen on the floodplains towards the end of the dry season seeking
new pastures
LECHWE
A semi-aquatic antelope often moving in very large herds of several hundred. They
graze knee deep on the flood plain grasses. They have long thin horns going
backwards and upwards. There are three kinds of lechwe are found in Zambia. The
Black Lechwe is the darkest of the three, with a rich blackish brown coat and is
found only in the Okavango Delta and Bangwelu swamps. The Kafue Lechwe has
larger and longer horns than the other two species with dark shoulder patches and
a light brown coat. The Red Lechwe is yellowish red in colour and dark brown
markings on the legs.
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ORIBI
They are distinguished by the bare black glandular patches below their large oval
shaped ears. They like to graze on open plains and dambos and have a
characteristic ‘stotting’ action when alarmed, jumping into the air with all four legs
held stiff and straight. Some experts believe this may be done to give them a better
view of approaching predators but it is more likely they are trying to entice the
predator to chase and so divert attention from the herd.
PUKU
These furry orange antelope with thick, heavily ringed V shaped horns, are
gregarious and graze along the floodplains near permanent water.
They have limited distribution in Africa, confined to the area drained by the Zambezi
and its tributaries and a few isolated pockets in Tanzania.
They move in herds of up to thirty or so.
REEDBUCK
The reedbuck is a gregarious animal moving in family groups of three to five. They
are found in dambos and other open grassy areas. They have a characteristic
‘rocking horse’ action ; the tail is turned up to expose the white ventral surface, and
they whistle at each jump forward.
ROAN
Roan are a large light brown antelope with ringed horns, rising upwards and
backwards in a small arch. They move in herds but bulls may be solitary, staying
near dambos, light woodland and open plains.
SABLE
The most handsome of the antelopes, with a deep brown coat and long backward
arching horns. Adult males have a deep glossy black coat and with the pronounced
curve of their long horns are very striking animals.
SHARPE'S GRYSBOK
A tiny solitary antelope with short pointy horns only 3-5cm long. It favours thickets
and feeds on the leaves of low growing shrubs. Not often seen due to its shy and
nocturnal habits. Distinguished from the duiker of the same size in that it runs
smoothly not in zig zag, with body and head held low.
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STEENBUCK
This small antelope with straight upward pointing horns and a lush rufous coat can
be seen in light woodland where it browses and grazes. It often eludes it’s
predators by darting down old burrows.
SITATUNGA
A beautiful reddish brown animal with twisted backward pointing horns, faint white
strips on the back and white spots on the flanks and cheeks.
A true aquatic antelope found only in swamp grasses having specially adapted long
pointy hooves to support them on marshy soil.
TSESSEBE
The fastest of the antelope, they have a smooth reddish brown coat with a light
fawn belly and a tasselled tail. They graze on open plains.
WATERBUCK
The waterbuck has a long-haired, often shaggy brown-gray coat that emits a
smelly, greasy secretion thought to be for waterproofing. In East Africa two types
occur, the common waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck, distinguished only by the
white pattern on the rump. The common waterbuck has a conspicuous white ring
encircling a dark rump, while the defassa has wide white patches on either side of
the rump.
They have pronounced U shape horns. They move in fairly big herds near dambos
and on aquatic grassland but always close to woodland or thicket.
Hyenas, lions, and leopards are the major predators, but crocodiles, hunting dogs
and cheetahs also take waterbuck.
WILDEBEEST
Cookson’s Wildebeest occurs in the northern part of Zambia’s Luangwa Valley and
the Blue Wildebeest in most of the other southen African regions. In November
every year, enormous herds migrate across the plains. Their young are born a
reddish-brown and can stand within minutes of birth. They take on their mature
colour after two months. They move in large herds headed by one to three bulls that
trot around the group in their peculiar, head high, rocking gait, forcing the herd into
a tight mass.
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THE SMALLER CARNIVORES
AARDWOLF
Similar to the hyena in appearance but bushier. They are nocturnal but
can be seen during the day. They favour open dry plains or light
woodland where they feed on insects. Some experts suggest the
Aardwolf is related to the hyaena but through a changing diet over the
centuries, it has evolved into a family by itself. They move about at
night, hiding during the daytime in old aardvark burrows in which they
raise their young, usually three to a litter, often in small communities of
nursing females.
AFRICAN WILD CAT
Similar in appearance to a large tabby cat, they occur throughout
Zambia but are not often seen. They hunt at night, preying on small
mammals, birds, frogs and insects. Their young are born in a hollow
tree or burrow.
AFRICAN STRIPED WEASEL
Similar in marking to the zorilla, with the same white stripes down its
back and a thick white bushy tail but smaller, more slender and
sleeker,. They move in family groups or in pairs, feeding on rodents and
small birds.
CARACUL
Present throughout the region but very rarely seen the caracal is a
beautiful cinnamon coloured member of the cat family. They prey on
small mammals, and birds, have a gestation of 10 weeks and live for as
long as 17 years. Few cats can imitate the caracals sudden spring to
pull down a bird in mid flight, sometimes as high as three meters (10
feet), a remarkable feat for such a small animal. The soft thick coat has
no distinct stripes but is clearly spotted on the underside and has a
shorter tail than any other African cat.
CIVET
A long legged half dog-, half cat-like creature with long course body hair
and a vivid pattern of black spots. Fairly common in all the wilderness
areas, often seen on night drives in the national parks. During the day,
they hide in thickets or holes and by night are omnivorous feeders.
They return to the same place to defecate where they deposit large
piles of dung, showing the remains of beetles, fruit and a wide range of
other food. They are in fact very important disperses of fruit seeds.
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Their scent glands secrete a nauseating smell used to mark their
territory. They gestate for 6-9 weeks and live up to 14 years.
GENET
A small cat with short legs, pointed snout and ringed tail. Genets are
often seen at night in the wilds. They live in trees where they breed,
having 2-3 kittens per litter after a gestation period of 2 months and eat
birds, mice, snakes and fruit. Genets return to the same place day after
day, hunting mostly on the ground. They spit and growl like cats when
they are angry or threatened. Their normal call is a clear metallic note
Genets vary in color from brownish-gray to pale yellow or buff with dark
brown or black spots that tend to be large, elongated and arranged in
rows along the soft-furred body. They have a long tail ringed in black
and white and a boldly patterned face. Like many other animals, the
habitat determines the variations in color, with species in arid areas
having lighter-colored coats than those in forested areas
HONEY BADGER
Very distinctive marking with a thick greyish white band from its head to
its tail, the tail often held in an upright position. They are often in pairs
and sometimes alone, living partly in trees and found in most habitat
types. It preys on rodents and insects, but also eats fruits and roots.
The name ‘honey badger’ is derived from its supposed habit of
following the Honeyguide bird to a bees nest where it will feed on the
honeycomb and grubs after the hive has been opened up. Legend or
not, they are very fond of honey.
Related to the wolverine and martens, as shown by the resemblance in
teeth, the honey badger resembles in fossorial form and perhaps in its
fierce disposition the true badgers. The honey badger has short legs
and stout claws and is a strong burrower and a good climber. About 2 ft
(61 cm) long excluding the tail, it has a coat that is black on the lower
half of the body and pale gray above. The honey badger resembles its
distant relative the skunk in coloration and in the possession of an anal
scent gland. It is nocturnal, feeds on rodents, reptiles, and insects, and
has a thick loose coat that protects it against snake bites and insect
stings. The honey badger collaborates with the honeyguide, or indicator
bird, in obtaining honey, a favorite food. The bird searches for a bee
colony, and when one is found, the honey badger rips it open. The bird
and the honey badger then share the honey. Honey badgers travel
singly or in pairs. The young, usually two, are born in burrows. Honey
badgers are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata,
class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Mustelidae.
MONGOOSE
The Banded mongoose is the most conspicuous of 9 species and is
frequently seen actively foraging around in parties of a dozen or more
and when disturbed scurry into termite mounds or other ground refuge.
The Slender mongoose on the other hand is solitary and unmistakable
with its upturned tufted tail. Found in various woodland types, it preys
on small vertebrates and insects. The White tailed mongoose is a large
nocturnal animal often picked up with a spot light. The Dwarf mongoose
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is the smallest in the mongoose family and runs in troops of up to 15.
They are found in woodland near hollow trees, anthills or rocky
outcrops.
A day in the life of a mongoose begins about sunrise. The adults come
out of the den and sun and groom themselves and each other, while
the young wrestle and play around them. If the young are small, they
stay at the nest site with a babysitter, but if large enough to keep up
with the pack, they all move off with the adults to forage for food. During
the heat of the day the pack often returns to the den to rest. They
forage again in the afternoon, and sun and groom themselves before
returning to the den for the night.
Mongooses have keen eyesight and keep watch for potential predators
and rival packs from the tops of termite mounds. They attack those that
get too close or take the young mongooses to safety inside a termite
mound. Even with such care the mortality rate is high for juveniles, but
considering their small size and the large number of potential predators,
dwarf mongooses have a remarkably long life span.
SERVAL
Although fairly common in the bigger parks, they are rarely seen.
Looking like a large domestic cat with a spotted coat and a banded tail,
the serval is a solitary animal breeding in the winter months. Their
gestation period is 2 months , their young being born and reared in old
anthill or porcupine burrows. They prey on small mammals, fish, roots,
fruit, lizards and birds.
The serval is much larger than the domestic cat. It is long-legged, the
hind legs longer than the front legs. Its neck is long and its head small,
with large, erect ears.
The serval is mainly nocturnal, but even in the daytime it can be difficult
to see in tall grass. It hunts by sight and sound more than scent. With
its acute hearing, a serval can locate prey that is moving underground.
If hunting prey above ground, the serval raises its head above the grass
and listens for movement. Once a sound is located, the serval stealthily
approaches, then leaps and pounces. It often plays with its catch before
eating it.
Servals are prey of hyenas, hunting dogs and leopards.
SPOTTED -NECKED OTTER
The Spotted Necked Otter is moderate to small in size. Its head to body
is 575 The tail is 330 to 445mm long. The whole length of the Spotted
Necked Otter is 950 to 1170mm.
The feet of the Spotted-necked Otter are webbed, with the webbing
ending close to the end of the toes, and strong claws.
Seen occasionally along the Kafue river, this small chestnut brown
creature moves in small family groups, occasionally alone and usually
at night. It preys on fish, crabs and frogs. The Clawless Otter is found in
the larger streams and rivers of Kafue and Lochinvar and occasionally
along the Zambezi. It is larger than the spotted necked otter and, as its
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name implies, it has no claws and its front feet are not webbed.
JACKAL
The jackal, a medium-sized carnivore with doglike features and a bushy
tail, is widely distributed in Africa, the Middle East and India. This
animal has long been the subject of superstition about death and evil
spirits. The ancient Egyptians believed a jackal-headed god, Anubis,
guided the dead to those who judged their souls. Such beliefs were
probably encouraged by the jackal's cleverness, nocturnal habits, eerie
howling and scavenging.
Jackals live singly or in pairs, and are sometimes found in small packs.
They are among the few mammalian species in which the male and
female mate for life. Mated pairs are territorial, and both the female and
male mark and defend the boundaries of their territory
Jackals can best be described as opportunistic omnivores. They
cooperatively hunt small or young antelopes such as dikdiks or
Thomson's gazelles or even domestic sheep. They also eat snakes and
other reptiles, insects, ground-dwelling birds, fruits, berries and grass. A
pair of jackals will move through their territory at a fast trot, stopping
frequently to examine something, sniff the air or listen-ready for any
opportunity that might provide a meal.
Leopards, hyenas and eagles are jackals' most feared predators.
Eagles are small pups biggest threat.
ZORILLA
The stripy zorilla has only been recorded in the Kafue National Park
and is a rare sighting, favouring dry open country and light woodland,
where it feeds on rodents, insects and small birds. The zorilla looks like
a skunk, but it is actually an African polecat, which is a different animal
altogether. It produces a foul-smelling substance in its anal glands,
which it can squirt out if it is threatened by predators or other dangers.
Obviously it is a nocturnal animal, and it feeds on rodents, eggs,
reptiles and insects. It spends the day resting in its burrow, which would
be found in the open country or savannah.
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BIRDLIFE
Birding is such a specific and exclusive subject, that it is impossible in this synopsis to
do justice to each region, as it is an intense subject in its own right. Below is some
information relative to Zambia, of which much is also relative to the rest of Southern
Africa. Further reading is highly recommended for the avid ornithologist.
By African standards, Zambia is well known ornithologically. So far 740 species have been recorded here.
Avifaunal Areas of Zambia
To a large extent Zambia’s avifauna is that of the Central African Plateau. The vegetation is principally miombo
woodland, bisected by grassy dambos along drainage lines. In some areas the miombo woodland is replaced by
other woodland types, dry forest or thicket. Along watercourses there may be riparian
forest, or in wetter areas in the north, wet evergreen forest. Most of these habitats have
a distinctive set of birds.
Zambia also has low-lying valleys. These include the
Luangwa and Middle Zambezi Valleys and the country
between Lakes Tanganyika and Mweru. A number of birds
found in these areas are different from those occurring at
higher altitudes.
A very small part of Zambia has montane altitudes. The
avifauna here is quite different from that of the rest of the
country and includes several species with very limited
ranges.
Codes used are: (E)Endemic (found only in) to this habitat.
(m) Established migrant, (n) (s) (e) (w) Found only in northern/southern/eastern/ western Zambia.
Habitats
WOODLAND
Of Zambia’s woodland birds, a few are found only in particular kinds of woodland - miombo or mopane, for example
or in association with fig or palm trees. Most, however, occur in a range of woodland types, and often also the edge
of forest. This is true of many of the forty-four species of diurnal raptor of the family Accipitridae - the vultures,
hawks, eagles, etc. Thus the Bateleur, Shikra and Lizard Buzzard can be found almost anywhere. Among the less
common members of this family, the African Cuckoo Hawk, Bat Hawk, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Ayres Hawk
Eagle and Crowned Eagle are more common in Zambia than in many other countries where they occur.
Some of the birds inhabiting woodlands are the doves, pigeons, parrots, cuckoos. owls, nightjars, kingfishers,
hornbills and the Broad-billed Roller. Barbets, honeyguides, woodpeckers, Swallows, the Fork-tailed Drongo and
flycatchers. See the bird checklist for a full list of species found in Zambia.
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MIOMBO WOODLAND
Lying at the centre of the miombo zone of south-central Africa, Zambia has a greater variety of miombo birds than
any of its neighbours. Miombo is the commonest woodland type in Zambia and such areas have an undisturbed
avifauna.
Many of the birds of the miombo woodland join mixed-species bird parties. A typical bird party may contain
members of ten or twenty species, mainly of territorial insectivorous birds. The party travels slowly through the
woodland and membership changes as the route leaves and enters individual territories. A party is often first
noticed where one of its more conspicuous members is seen or heard - a Fork-tailed Drongo or Arnot’s Chat, for
example. The following are some of the birds that, where they occur, usually join mixed-species bird parties in
miombo woodland. Scimitarbill, Hoopoe, barbets, honeyguides, woodpeckers, pipits, cuckoo shrikes,
eremomelas, Miombo Barred Warbler (E), hyliotas, flycatchers, Chinspot Batis, tits, Spotted Creeper (E),
orioles, Brubru, Southern Puffback, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Fork-tailed Drongo, Violet backed Starling,
Yellow-throated Petronia, Chestnut-mantled Sparrow-weaver (E) (n), Weavers, Seed-eaters, Cabanis’s
Bunting (E)
More independent birds found here are the Pale-billed Hornbill, Central Bearded Scrub Robin, Trilling Cisticola
(n) and many of the sunbirds.
MOPANE WOODLAND
In addition to those birds found in any woodland type, mopane has
several species, listed below, that in Zambia are largely or entirely
confined to this habitat. All are easily noticed because they are vocal,
numerous and/or conspicuous, while in the case of the sparrow-weaver
the nests cannot be missed. The Black-cheecked Lovebird is of
particular interest because it has a very small range and is considered
endangered. Among the threats to its continued existence in the wild
are drought and the possibility that illegal capture for the cage-bird
trade might resume. Others are the Three-banded Courser, Redbilled Hornbill, Southern Long-tailed Starling, Southern Greyheaded Sparrow and the White-browed Sparrow-weaver
LIGHT WOODLAND
In places, the natural woodland is open, such as on the edges of plains and dambos. Elsewhere light woodland has
been created by human activity. Among the characteristic birds of such areas are the Black Shouldered Kite,
Black-bellied Bustard, Namaqua Dove (m), Grey Lourie (s), Bare-faced Go-away Bird (n), Little Bee-eater,
Lilac-breasted Roller, Flappet and Fawn-coloured (w) Larks, Red-backed Cisticola (m), Fiscal Shrikes and
the Yellow-fronted Canary
PARTICULAR TREES
Trees and bushes of one species or another in the Acacia group occur in much of Zambia, particularly south-west.
Among birds associated with these are the African Mourning Dove, Acacia Pied Barbet, the migrant Tit Babbler,
Burnt-necked Eremomela, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Cape Glossy Starling, Burchell’s Starling, Scalyfeathered Finch, Black-faced Waxbill, Shaft-tailed Widow and in sub-montane areas, Brown Parisoma.
In baobabs, the Red-billed Buffalo Weaver often builds nests. Hollows in the same tree may be used for breeding
by the Mottled Spinetail.
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Several birds are associated with one or more species of Palm. Thus the Palm-nut Vulture normally occurs in the
vicinity of raphia or elaeis palms. Dickinson’s Kestrel, Red-necked Falcon, African Palm Swift and Collared
Palm Thrush often nest in palms such as borassus.
Large spreading sycamore fig trees in otherwise rather open country are a conspicuous feature of parts of southern
Zambia. Numerous species eat the fruit or make hole nests in dead branches. One bird that does both is Chaplin’s
Barbet. It occurs in a limited part of Zambia centred on the Kafue flats and is Zambia’s only endemic bird. This
striking white and black species is considered near-threatened.
BAMBOO
Extensive bamboo thickets occur in scattered parts of Zambia, notably on the Copperbelt and along the edges of
the Luangwa Valley. At rare times when bamboo seeds are available, the Pied Mannikin can be extraordinarily
common in such areas, but at other times it is scarce, local and partially nomadic.
USNEA
Or ‘old man’s beard’, Usnea is an essential component of the habitat of two uncommon and poorly known
insectivorous weavers of miombo woodland - Bar-winged west of the Luangwa Valley and olive-headed to the East.
The usnea lichen is used in nest construction.
SCRUB
Scrub consisting of low bushes, small thickets or regrowth separated by stands of grass occur both naturally and on
land formally cleared. Several of the species of this habitat are very common and include: Laughing Dove, Redfaced Mousebird, Common Bulbul, Thrush Nightingale, White-browed Scrub Robin, Marsh Warbler (m),
Common Whitethroat, Rattling Cisticola, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Arrow-marked Babbler, White-bellied
Sunbird (s), Brown headed and Black-crowned Tchagras, Tropical Boubou, Red-billed Quelea, Yellow
Bishop, Red-collared Whydah, Red-billed and Jameson’s Firefinches, Blue (s) and Violet eared (w) Waxbills
and the Village and Dusky Indigo-birds.
THICKET
Extensive areas of deciduous thicket occur in the low-lying area between Lakes Mweru and Tanganyika. Typical
birds include the migrant African Pitta and the resident White-throated Nicator. The same species occur in similar
habitats in the middle Zambezi and Luangwa Valleys, alongside the Natal Francolin, Barred long-tailed Cuckoo,
Sombre bulbul, Eastern Bearded Scrub Robin and Livingstone’s Flycatcher.
Generally smaller areas of thicket occur over much, but not all of the plateau. These thickets as well as those at
lower altitudes are the habitat of migrant Red-capped Robin and River Warblers, and such residents as Crested
Guineafowl, African Broadbill, Yellow-bellied and Terrestrial Bulbul, Bleating Bush Warbler and the Melba
Finch.
FOREST
Forest Habitats cover a small part of the surface of Zambia. However, they have a diverse avifauna that is largely
different from that of the neighbouring woodlands. In forest, as in miombo woodland, many of the smaller birds
gather into mixed-species foraging bird parties.
Some birds occur regularly at forest edge or in such near forest habitats as dense woodland, well developed
thickets or rich vegetation on termite mounds. These include Blue spotted Wood Dove (n), Schalow’s Turaco,
Lady Ross’s Turaco (n), Emerald Cuckoo, Speckled Mousebird (n), Narina Trogon, Brown-headed
Kingfisher, Black-backed Barbet (n), Yellow breasted Apalis, Dusky Flycatcher (n), Collared Sunbird, Brown
and Blue-billed Firefinches, Black-tailed Grey Waxbill (n) and Black-faced Canary (n).
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Riverbanks often support a growth of riparian forest. Even if only a few meters wide
or discontinuous, this habitat and the water it overhangs may be occupied by Whitebacked Night Heron, Green-backed Heron, Hadeda, African Black Duck,
African finfoot, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Half-collared and Giant Kingfishers, Bohms
Bee-eater (n) Olive woodpecker (n) Grey-olive Bulbul (n), Cassin’s Grey
Flycatcher (n), Black throated Wattle-eye and Spectacled Weaver.
North of about 14 degrees, patches of wet evergreen forest, often called mushitu,
grow on moist ground along rivers or at their headwaters. This rich habitat is more
widespread at plateau levels than in low lying country between lakes Mweru and
Tanganyika and it does not occur in the northern Luangwa Valley. Mushitu birds that
are relatively widespread in northern Zambia include Woolly-necked Stork,
Golden-rumped Tinkerbird, Purple-throated Cuckoo Shrike, Little and
Cabanis’s Greenbuls, Yellow-throated Leaflove, West African Thrush,
Bocage’s Robin, Evergreen Forest and Laura’s Warblers, Grey Apalis, Bluemantled Flycatcher, Olive Sunbird, Many-coloured Bush Shrike, Square-tailed
Drongo, Splendid Glossy Starling (m), Dark-backed Weaver and Black-bellied Seed-cracker. Less
widespread mushitu species include Cinnamon Dove, Margaret’s Batis (w) and Green Twinspot.
Dry evergreen forest in northern Zambia is generally less well developed than mushitu but, where rich enough,
supports many of the same birds. The dry Cryptosepalum forests of the north-west support an additional species,
the Gorgeous Bushshrike.
The Marsh Tchagra is one of a number of birds that occupy the dense, tangled bracken-briar at the outer edge of
forest in northern Zambia.
Despite the few montane forests in Zambia, a large number of montane forest birds occur here. They include the
Red-breasted Sparrowhawk, Rameron Pigeon, Pink-breasted Turtle Dove, Mountain Nightjar, Scarce Swift
(m), Bar-tailed Trogon, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Moustached Green Tinkerbird, Eastern Mountain
Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Bulbul, Olive and Orange Thrushes, White-chested Alethe, Starred and Olive
Flanked Robins, Sharpe’s Akalat, Yellow throated Warbler (Mafinga only), Chestnut-headed Apalis, Slaty
Flycatcher, Cape Batis, African Hill Babbler, Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Fulleborn’s Black Boubou,
Waller’s Red-winged and Slender-billed Chestnut-winged Starlings and the Red-faced Crimsonwing.
Several further birds occurring only at montane altitudes like in the dense bracken briar at the edge of montane
forest: Red-tailed Flufftail, Cape Robin, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Churring and
Black-lored Cisticolas, Baglafecht and Bertram’s Weavers, Swee Waxbill, African Citril and Streaky Seedeater.
WETLANDS: DAMBOS GRASSLANDS
On the generally flat plateau, rivers are fed principally by dambos, where water seeps out into grassland and drains
into the watercourse running through the centre of the dambo. On the upper parts of the dambo, close to the
woodland edge, scattered trees are occupied by the White-winged Black Tit. The driest areas of sometimes
extensive short grassland are inhabited by Temminck’s Courser (m), Red-capped Lark (m) and the Dessert
Cisticola. The dry montane grasslands of the Nyika Plateau have populations of Red-winged Francolin and
Common Quail.
The intermediate levels in typical dambos are permanently spongy and have short grass. This habitat is common
enough in northern Zambia but does not occur in many other parts of Africa. Consequently many of the birds found
here are uncommon elsewhere or have a localised distribution. They include Blue Quail (m), Long-toed (n) and
Streaky-breasted (m) Flufftails, Black and Rufous Swallow (m) (n), Yellow-throated (e), Fulleborn’s (w) and
Grimwood’s (nw) Longclaws, Pectoral-patch, Black-tailed (nw) and stout (n) Cisticolas, Yellow-mantled and
Marsh (n) Whydahs, Fawn-breasted waxbill (n), Locust Finch and Black-chinned Quailfinch (n), Croaking
Cisticola and red-billed Quelea (m).
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The centre of a dambo consist of a series of different wetland habitats. In reedbeds there
may be little Bitterns, Red-chested Flufftail, African Water Rail, Little Rush and Lesser
Swamp Warblers and Chirping Cisticola. Where sedges are common, there may be
Lesser Black-backed Cisticola (n) or in a few areas, Great-crested Grebe. Where reeds
overhang water, weavers such as Bocage’s (nw), Large Golden or Yellow-backed
(ne)occur. In water-lily covered pools African Pygmy goose, White-backed and
Yellow-billed Duck and African and Lesser Jacana. On bare ground or mud,
Hamerkop, Senegal Wattled Plover and Cape Wagtail occur.
MAJOR WETLANDS
Zambia has a number of major wetlands. On the plateau, there are huge
wetland areas along the Chambeshi River, at Bangweulu, in eastern
Kawambwa District, on the upper Kafue and Jiwundu Rivers, at Lukanga
and Busanga Swamps, on the Kafue Flats and Barotse Floodplain and on
the Zambezi along the Namibian border. At lower levels, major wetlands
exist on the lower Luapula Rivers, at Lake Mweru Wantipa, on the
Luangwa River, at Lake Kariba and on the Zambezi below Kariba Gorge.
Those that have been declared Ramsar sites - internationally important
wetlands - are Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon on the Kafue Flats and Chikuni
in the Bangweulu area.
On the periphery of many of these wetlands are floodplains, which may be
occupied by Abdim’s (m) and White (m) (e) Storks, Montagu’s Harrier
(m), Secretary Bird, Red-billed Francolin (sw), Wattled Crane,
Denham’s Bustard, Common Pratincole, Caspian (m) and crowned
(m) Plovers, Ruff (m), Marsh Owl, Natal Nightjar, White-cheeked (n)
and Blue-cheeked (m) Bee-eaters, Rufous-naped Lark, White-throated Swallow, Richard’s Pipit, Whiterumped Babbler and Quail Finch.
Shallowly inundated vegetation is usually rich in both the number of birds and the variety of species, which include
Common Squacco and Rufous-bellied Herons, Yellow-billed Egret, Saddle-billed Stork, Sacred and Glossy
Ibises, Fulvous and White-faced Whistling Ducks, Spur-winged Goose, Knob-billed and Yellow-billed
Ducks, Red-billed and Hottentot Teals, Southern Crowned Crane, Painted and Ethiopian Snipes, Blackwinged Stilt, Long-toed Plover, Malachite Kingfisher and Sedge Warbler.
Another important wetland habitat is bare or poorly vegetated mud, often at the water’s edge. This habitat is most
extensive when water levels are falling towards the end of the dry season. Among birds occurring here are Little
Egret, Grey Heron, Ringed (m), Three-banded and Blacksmith Plovers, Marsh (m), Wood (m) and Common
(m) Sandpipers, Greenshank (m) and Little Stint (m).
Shallow open water is used by a number of larger waterbirds, including White-breasted and Reed Cormorants,
White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Goliath Heron, Yellow-billed and Open-billed Storks, African Spoonbill,
Whiskered and White-winged Black (m) Terns and Pied Kingfisher.
Deep open water is usually lacking in birds, though on Lake Tanganyika the occasional group of Lesser Blackbacked Gulls can be seen.
A large number of waterbirds use tall swamp for breeding or roosting. Other occupying this habitat more
permanently include Purple Heron, Shoebill (n), African Marsh Harrier, Purple Gallinule, Common Moorhen,
Coppery-tailed Coucal, Swamp Boubou (w), Southern Brown-throated Weaver (w), African Masked Weaver
(race katangae) (n) and Red-shouldered Whydah.
Large stands of papyrus swamp occur in northern Zambia and are the habitat of the Greater Swamp Warbler,
Swamp Flycatcher and Papyrus Yellow Warbler. Conservationists consider the last of these to be vulnerable.
The Zambian race is found in papyrus only at the mouth of the Luapula River, where it enters Lake Mweru.
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RIVERS
Slow-moving sections of major rivers such as the Luangwa and Zambezi provide two further ornithologically
important habitats: horizontal sand bars and vertical sand cliffs. Among the birds associated with sand bars are the
Egyptian Goose, Water Dikkop, White-crowned and White-fronted Sand Plovers and the African Skimmer.
Those making extensive use of sand cliffs for breeding include Horus Swift, White-fronted and Southern
Carmine Bee-eaters and the African Sand Martin.
Rocks exposed in rivers are the habitat of the migrant Rock Pratincole and, in some areas, of the Mountain
Wagtail. Forbe’s Plover may breed where exposed
rocks are adjacent to a river, as at the Zambezi Rapids.
ROCKY HABITATS
Miombo woodland on rocky ground occurs patchily over
much of Zambia, though not in areas of Kalahari Sand. It
is typical of escarpments, such as those flanking the
Luangwa and Middle Zambezi Valleys. This is the habitat
of a number of somewhat localised birds such as
Shelley’s Francolin, Freckled Rock nightjar, Striped
Pipit, Familiar Chat and Rock-loving Cisticola. In
south-eastern Zambia the Boulder Chat and Cape
Bunting occur in similar places where there are also
large boulders.
Extensive rock exposures, including precipices, are of limited occurrence and often difficult of access. Their
specialised avifauna includes the Black Stork, Augur Buzzard, Black Eagle, Taita and Peregrine Falcons,
Mottled, African Black and Little Swifts, African Rock Martin, Mocking Chat, White-necked Raven and Redwinged Starling.
MAMMALS
The yellow-billed and Red-billed Oxpeckers are dependent on large game animals, where they occur, or, in
western Zambia, on cattle and even donkeys. Hooded, White-backed, Lappet-faced and White-headed Vultures
feed at the carcasses of dead animals, including domestic cattle. They are joined by the Marabou Stork, which may
also be present at abattoirs. The Cattle Egret (m) and Wattled Starling (m) frequently feed around cattle or game
animals. Ground trampled by cattle or other animals may attract the Yellow Wagtail (m) or Groundscraper
Thrush.
TERMITES
When winged termite alates emerge after rain, many birds congregate to eat them, even such primarily vegetarian
species as whydahs and waxbills. Among species that are particularly likely to appear at such emergences are
certain migrants - European Hobby, European Swift and European Swallow.
SKY
In Zambia the European Swift (m) occurs only in the sky, often near rain. The same is usually true of the House
Martin (m), though at times it perches on trees or wires. Both species apparently sleep in flight. The same is
doubtless true of the Alpine Swift, a dry season visitor to the skies of eastern Zambia.
Among other species that feed principally in the sky irrespective of the habitat below are European Bee-eater (m)
and European Swallow (m).
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Many of the larger diurnal raptors are most frequently seen overhead. Some, such as
Vultures, Black-breasted Snake Eagle and Bateleur, spend much of the day soaring.
Others, such as the Yellow-billed Kite, common Buzzard and Lesser spotted Eagle,
pass over on migration.
FIRES
Many species of birds are attracted to bush fires by the fleeing or roasted insects and other animals. Almost always
present are the Fork-tailed Drongos, often in large numbers. Others often present include Marabou Stork,
Yellow-billed Kite (m), Dickinson’s Kestrel, Rollers, Hornbills and Swallows.
BURNT GROUND
The Dusky Lark (m) is attracted to fiercely burning bush fires. It may begin singing before smouldering has stopped
and it breeds in the ashes. Likewise, the Bronze-winged Courser (m) often appears shortly after the ground has
been burnt. Among other partial dry-season visitors requiring bare open ground that may become available only
after the passage of fire are Crowned Plover, Temmink’s Courser, Hoopoe, Red-capped Lark, Grey-rumped
Swallow, Buffy Pipit and Capped Wheatear.
MAN-MADE HABITATS
During the twentieth century human activity has created many new habitats now utilised by birds. The House
Sparrow is entirely dependent on man-made structures and is new to the Zambian avifauna. Several species,
particularly of Swallow, are now much more common than previously.
Buildings made of permanent materials are used for nesting by the Grey-headed Sparrow. The same species and
the Mosque Swallow regularly nest in electrical installations. The House Sparrow, which first appeared in Zambia
in 1965, is more strictly confined to towns than the Grey-headed Sparrow and is particularly common at grain
milling factories. Several other birds originally associated with rocky habitats have occupied towns. Thus the little
Swift nests under overhangs at the top of tall structures such as silos. Less frequently, the Peregrine Falcon and
African Rock Martin occur at modern buildings. The barn and spotted Eagle Owls often nest in roofs and on the
Nyika Plateau the red-rumped and Blue (m) Swallows nest under eaves.
Concrete bridges are regularly used for nesting by the Little African Whiterumped Swifts (m) and Lesser Striped and Wire-tailed Swallows. In northern
Zambia the red-throated Cliff Swallow (m) nests mainly under bridges and is
currently expanding its range. In the Mbala areas, the red rumped Swallow also
nests under bridges. Culverts under roads are the main nesting site of the red
breasted Swallow.
A number of nocturnal birds perch on roads at night and may be killed by
traffic. These include the Three-banded and Bronze-winged coursers, Spotted
Eagle Owl and nightjars. During the day doves, particularly the Cape Turtle
Dove, come to untarred roads to ingest grit. At times, European Swallows (m)
perch in flocks on tarred roads.
In some areas Pied Crows regularly nest in Pylons. Raptors that frequently
perch on pylons include the Brown Snake Eagle and Dark Chanting Goshawk.
Electricity and telephone wires are used as perches by many species including
Black-shouldered Kite, Namaqua Dove (m) European (m) and Lilac-breasted
Rollers, European Swallow (m), Sooty Chat, Red-backed (m), Lesser Grey (m)
and Fiscal Shrikes, Fork-tailed Drongo and the various species of Indigobird.
Suburban gardens may have a relatively rich avifauna. The presence of water attracts such seed-eating species as
weavers, Bishops, whydahs, firefinches, waxbills, mannikins, indigobirds, widows and canaries. Nectar-
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bearing flowers attract sunbirds. Dense shrubbery provides suitable habitat for Heuglin’s Robin and Tropical
Boubou. Fruit trees may attract the Red-faced Mousebird.
In Eastern Zambia the African Pied Wagtail often occurs in villages. Within its range, the Red-billed Firefinch
may nest in thatched roofs. Where eucalyptus trees have been planted in rural settlements, they are often used for
nesting by the Pied Crow and Village Weaver.
Farm dams are common in commercial farming areas and
usually attract many species of waterbird. The standing dead
trees in new dams may be used as nesting sites by the scarce
White-breasted Cormorant.
On commercial farms, extensive cleared areas may attract
migrant raptors such as Lesser spotted and Steppe Eagles,
Lesser kestrel and Eastern Red-footed Falcon. Bare fields
may be used by Abdim’s stork (m), Crowned Plover (m),
Red-capped Lark (m), Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark,
Richard’s and Buffy (m) Pipits and Capped Wheatear (m).
Wheat crops may be attacked by flocks of Red-billed Quelea.
Land cleared for more traditional agriculture is often used by
such species as Kurrichane Buttonquail, Laughing and Cape Turtle Doves, Black-winged Red Bishop, Yellow
Bishop, White-winged and Red-collared Whydahs and Common Waxbill
Conservation
According to critics established by Birdlife International, the following
birds recorded in Zambia are threatened:
Extinct: none
Threatened: critical: none
Threatened: endangered : White-winged Flufftail (no certain
records), Black-cheeked Lovebird
Threatened: vulnerable: Slaty Egret, Cape Vulture (only a vagrant
to Zambia), Lesser Kestrel, Taita Falcon Corn Crake, Wattled Crane,
White-chested Tinkerbird (may be aberrant Golden-rumped
Tinkerbird), Blue Swallow, Papyrus Yellow Warbler
Near-threatened: Madagascar Squacco Heron, Shoebill, Lesser
Flamingo, Pallid Harrier, Black-winged Pratincole, Great snipe,
Chaplin’s Barbet, Grimwood’s Longclaw, Churring Cisticola.
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REPTILES
CROCODILE
Very prolific along most of Zambia’s rivers, lakes and dams. It is
the only reptile that shows any maternal instinct. In September,
when the water is low, the female will dig a hole and deposit
between 45 and ninety eggs, perfectly timed to hatch before the
river rises and floods the nest site 3 months later. She will guard
the nest site against predators (monitor, honey badger and even
hyaena). After three months the young emit a small squeaking
sound from the eggs. She then removes the topsoil which they
would be unable to penetrate without her help.
The unborn young have a bony tip on their snouts to help them
cut through the tough shell which soon after birth is absorbed
and disappears. As they break through the shell she collects
them in her mouth and carries them to water. Even though she
continues to care for them for several weeks after hatching, only
one percent are likely to reach maturity. Small crocs feed on
insects and other invertebrates, medium crocs on fish, mostly
barbel (catfish) and only the larger ones take mammals coming
down to the rivers to drink, often as big as a buffalo. They will
readily attack a person in the water and many local fishermen
have fallen prey to their jaws. The slender snouted crocodile
Crocodilus cataphractus, occurs sparsely in the Luapula /
Bangweulu area.
MONITOR LIZARD
Common around rivers and lagoons, these enormous lizards can
grow up to a length of almost two meters. They are sometimes
spotted on overhanging or partly submerged trees along
riverbanks. They live in holes in the ground and forage on crabs
and insects, but often raid birds nests and crocodile nests.
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