Comprehensive Birding Tour 21st August to 5th September 2018 (16 days)

Fülleborn's Longclaw by Lars Petersson

This exciting tour concentrates on the highlights of one of Africa’s most remarkable countries, offering vast areas of pristine wilderness and a great diversity of habitat. The tour visits a number of incredible sites within the country, from the breath-taking Victoria Falls, aptly named by the locals as “the smoke that thunders”, to the rich miombo woodlands, mushitus (riverine ) and dambos (seasonally inundated wetlands) around Mwinilunga, Mutinondo and various areas in- between. Key sites include the fabulous Choma region where we can expect to enjoy a wonderful RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 2 selection of such as the endemic Chaplin’s Barbet together with Racket-tailed Roller, Red- capped Crombec and Fülleborn's Longclaw. The Kafue area features the country’s second endemic , the delightful Black-cheeked Lovebird, and we stand excellent chances at finding this gorgeous species. Further north towards Mutanda and beyond the extensive miombo woodlands and bridge crossings give us ample opportunity to find Sharp-tailed Starling, Miombo Pied Barbet, Red-throated Cliff Swallow and the rare Bamboo Warbler. One of the ultimate sites on the route is sure to be the remote north-west of the country which holds an incredible variety of localised specialities. Grimwood’s Longclaw, Bocage’s Weaver, Black-collared Bulbul, Lark, Forbes’s Plover, Bannerman’s Sunbird, Black-and-rufous Swallow, Black-necked Eremomela, Laura’s Woodland Warbler and Margaret’s Batis will all feature prominently. Our final site on this fabulous tour will be the vast Mutinondo Wilderness where we stand excellent chances of finding Bar-winged Weaver, Anchieta’s Barbet, Anchieta’s Sunbird, Bocage’s Akalat, Böhm's Flycatcher and Souza’s Shrike. We invite you to join us on this incredible adventure through one of Africa’s most beautiful countries!

THE TOUR AT A GLANCE…

THE ITINERARY Day 1 Arrival in Livingstone and Victoria Falls Day 2 Livingstone to Choma Day 3 Choma area Day 4 Choma to Kafue National Park (South) Days 5 & 6 Kafue National Park (South, Central & Northern Zones) Day 7 Kafue (North) to Mutanda Day 8 Mutanda to Hillwood Days 9 to 11 Hillwood & Mwinilunga area Day 12 Mwinilunga to Chingola Day 13 Chingola to Forest Inn Day 14 Forest Inn to Mutinondo Wilderness Day 15 Mutinondo Wilderness Day 16 Mutinondo Wilderness to Chisamba and depart

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 3

TOUR MAP

THE TOUR IN DETAIL…

Day 1: Arrival in Livingstone and Victoria Falls. On arrival you will be met by your Rockjumper leader. After settling in at our localhotel, we will take a short drive to the view site for Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls have rightly been considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and we will spend some time appreciating the immense spectacle of the Zambezi River plunging 300ft into the gorge below. The spray from the falls has created a verdant rainforest and we will undoubtedly find some interesting birds including Natal Spurfowl, Trumpeter Hornbill, Schalow’s Turaco, the attractive African Emerald Cuckoo, Tropical Boubou, Bearded Scrub Robin and Red-winged Starling. We will also visit a site further upstream of the falls where we will search for Half- collared Kingfisher, Red-faced and Collared Palm Thrush. Above the falls we will scan rocky areas and sandbanks for Rock Pratincole, White- crowned Lapwing, lazing Nile Crocodile Victoria Falls by Glen Valentine and pods of noisy Hippopotamus.

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 4

In the afternoon if time allows we will visit the nearby waste treatment ponds where a variety of waterbirds are regularly on show. The marshy areas are often a good place to locate African Rail while Marsh Owl can occasionally be seen in the late evening as it leaves its roost area to begin hunting. Black Crake, Common Moorhen and Glossy Ibis are commonly seen and we may be lucky and pick up a Lesser Jacana or Lesser Moorhen if conditions are favourable. Livingstone is also one of the mecca’s for purchasing traditional African art and crafts and we will have time to browse through the markets, which offer a wide range Bearded Scrub Robin by Keith Valentine of carvings and basket ware.

Day 2: Livingstone to Choma. After breakfast this morning we will we make our way north to the town of Choma for a two night stay. The Choma region is famous in birding circles for two prime reasons, firstly because it is the most accessible place to search for the exceptionally localized Chaplin’s Barbet and secondly for once being the holder of the 24 hour world record for the most species seen. There is superb birding to be had here and the reason for the large birdlist is directly linked to the habitat being extremely varied. We should have some time to do a little exploring this afternoon and with luck we may well find a few of the areas specials.

Day 3: Choma area. This morning we will be out early in order to make the most of our time in this exciting area. Top of the list will be finding the endemic Chaplin’s Barbet, one of only two endemic bird species to Zambia. Chaplin’s Barbet favours a unique habitat of fairly open grassland and low bush, dotted with large fig trees. Other specials of the grasslands include Sooty Chat, Rufous-naped and Flappet Larks and Croaking Cisticola while the wetter grassy areas are home to Fülleborn's Longclaw. Nearby dense thickets and riverine vegetation are where we will search for the beautiful Red-throated Twinspot, Bearded Scrub Robin, Jameson’s and Brown Firefinches and Green-winged Pytilia. A good deal of our time will also be spent birding the miombo woodlands, which Zambia is so famous for. These beautiful broad-leaved hold an exceptional number of unique and highly desirable species, although bird densities are usually extremely low and much patience and persistence is required to locate the targets. Highlights of the miombo woodland in this area include the difficult Miombo Pied Barbet, Racket-tailed Roller, Bennett's Woodpecker, Southern Hyliota, Grey Penduline Tit, White-winged Black and Miombo Tit, Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, Orange-winged Pytilia, Black- eared Seedeater and Cabanis’s Bunting. Our birding will also take us to various wetlands which can be rather productive depending on water levels. Species on show can often include the likes of Saddle-billed Stork, Glossy Ibis, Little Bittern, White-backed, Knob-billed and African Black Duck, African Pygmy Goose, Collared Pratincole, Lesser Racket-tailed Roller by Rainer Summers Moorhen, African Wattled Lapwing,

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 5

African Snipe and Malachite Kingfisher. If we are very fortunate we may even find the scarce Lesser Jacana. We will also embark on a night excursion in the area in the hope of tracking down the remarkable Pennant-winged Nightjar, African Scops Owl and if we are fortunate Bronze- winged Courser.

Days 4: Choma to Kafue National Park (South). The birding in the morning around our lodge can often be excellent and a short spell before breakfast could easily produce Narina Trogon, Diederik Cuckoo, Coucal, Trumpeter Hornbill, Red-breasted Swallow, Arnott's Chat, Miombo Blue-eared Starling and Yellow-mantled Widowbird. We will then depart the fabulous Choma area for Kafue National Park. Kafue is Zambia’s oldest and largest National Park, covering an incredible 14000 sq miles (22500 sq kms). The gently undulating terrain here is dominated by a miombo-dambo mosaic, while in the south there are patches of mopane and mutemwa (notably the Ngoma forest). The Busanga Plains are located in the north- west corner of the park and consist primarily of swamps and their surrounding flood-plains, with riparian forest growing along the major rivers.

Days 5 & 6: Kafue National Park. We have two full days to explore Kafue National Park and its diverse habitats for a African Spotted Creeper wide variety of exciting species. Top of the list will be the by Matthew Matthiessen gorgeous Black-cheeked Lovebird, an endemic to Zambia, which is almost exclusively associated with large stands of mopane woodland. Here we are also likely to encounter species such as Meves’s Starling, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Arnott’s Chat and if we are fortunate Three-banded Courser. The large stands of miombo throughout the park will give us our first significant chance at finding uncommon species from Böhm’s Flycatcher, Miombo Rock Thrush and Yellow-bellied Hyliota to Pale-billed Hornbill, Souza’s Shrike and the inexplicably scarce Shelley’s Sunbird.

Fabulous belts of riverine forest can also be found along the various watercourses that punctuate the landscape. These areas are often frequented by a wide variety of species including many frugivores and insectivores and during the winter months can be particularly productive. We will keep a lookout for the gaudy Ross’s Turaco that often gives its presence away through its loud call while other species like Grey-olive Greenbul and Black-throated Wattle-eye tend to be a little more skulking. These riverine areas are also home to the incredible Pel’s Fishing Owl, Bradfield’s Hornbill, Black-backed Barbet, Böhm’s Bee-eater, White-browed Robin-Chat, Olive and Green-backed Woodpecker, scarce White-backed Night Heron and shy African Finfoot. Raptors are also fairly frequently seen in the reserve and we will keep a special lookout in particular for Dickinson’s Kestrel. Miombo Rock Thrush by Keith Valentine Kafue also harbours a great diversity of wildlife

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 6 with over 55 mammal species having been recorded. These include African Elephant, Lion, African Wild Dog, Leopard (Kafue is known as one of the best places in Africa to see these elusive felines), Cheetah, Red Lechwe, Liechtenstein’s Hartebeest, Sable, Roan, Puku, Sitatunga, Defassa Waterbuck and the majestic Eland.

Day 7: Kafue (North) to Mutanda, This morning we will depart Kafue National Park and make our way to Mutanda. On the drive we will pass through some very impressive zones of miombo woodland, which regularly turn up some of the country’s most highly prized species from Bar-winged Weaver and Chestnut- backed Sparrow-Weaver to the stunning Black- necked Eremomela. This will be our first opportunity to find some of these difficult species. It is worth noting that we will have numerous chances to locate the full suite of miombo woodland birds during the course of the tour. To maximize success it really comes Bohm's Flycatcher by Keith Valentine down to time in the field and birding as many flocks as we can at the sites visited. The roads in this part of Zambia are unfortunately often in poor repair and this drive will take most of the day to complete. We will overnight at a comfortable guest house in Mutanda.

Day 8: Mutanda to Hillwood. This morning we depart early as we strike out for Mwinilunga in far north-western Zambia. This remote area is bordered by Angola to the west and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north and supports many species that are extremely challenging to see elsewhere. This is undoubtedly one of the most exciting locations on this trip and we have a number of days to explore the varied habitat for the long list of associated specials. On our drive west we will make frequent stops, in good looking habitat, which often produces some interesting species. Bridge crossings can be especially productive and often hold breeding colonies of Red-throated Cliff Swallow at this time of the year. Other quality species such as the little known Bamboo Warbler, Bocage’s Akalat, White-chinned Prinia, stunning Böhm’s Bee-eater and the vocal Yellow- throated Leaflove are all among the list of possibilities.

Later on this afternoon we will arrive in the Mwinilunga area and check into our accommodations where we will be spending the next few nights. Our camp makes an excellent base from where to explore the various habitat zones and we are certainly in for an exciting few days as we target the full range of first class species found in this remote region.

Days 9 to 11: Hillwood & Mwinilunga area. The next three days will be spent exploring this rarely visited area. Here, several exciting species reach their southern distributional limits and African Broadbill by Hugh Chittenden together with the numerous key specials form the core of our birding. The bizarre and highly sought-after Black-collared Bulbul will certainly feature prominently on most people’s target list

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 7 while the little known Grimwood’s Longclaw, gorgeous Black-and-rufous Swallow, Angola Lark, Bannerman’s Sunbird, Dambo Cisticola and the rare Bocage’s Weaver also rank highly.

During our time in the area we will be able to bird a large variety of habitats with ample time spent scouring the extensive riverine forest (mushitu), grassland, miombo woodland and seasonal wetlands (dambos) that are found throughout the area. This region is also home to a fairly wide variety of mammals including the impressive Roan and magnificent Sable Antelope. The Sable Antelope found in this area are thought to be of the subspecies that traditionally occurs in miombo woodland in Angola, known as the Giant Sable. This subspecies is now rather rare in the wild and populations in this area are of global significance. Gorgeous Bushshrike by Markus Lilje

In the early morning we will listen for Grey-winged Robin-Chat and Fraser’s Rufous Thrush, which can regularly be heard giving their distinctive and beautiful calls from dense cover. We will also keep an eye on any exposed perches in the forest canopy for Western Bronze-naped and Afep Pigeon, which can occasionally be seen sunning themselves in the early morning. Other good birds that we will keep watching for include Western Banded Snake Eagle, Narina Trogon, Honeyguide and Little Greenbul, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Thrush of the unique stormsii race, Evergreen Forest Warbler, fabulous African Broadbill, Buff-throated Apalis, Bates’s and Bannerman’s Sunbird and Splendid Starling. The thick tangles and rank grasses at the forest edge also hold Whistling Cisticola, charming White-chinned Prinia, Moustached Grass Warbler, Marsh Tchagra and if we are extremely fortunate we may even find the scarce Black-bellied Seedcracker. The striking Black-backed Barbet is another special to this area and can often be seen sitting on the tops of the trees at the forest edge. The grassland areas and plains are where we may find Black- rumped Buttonquail, Denham’s Bustard, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Fülleborn's Longclaw and Marsh Widowbird.

On one of the days we will go slightly further afield and visit the source of the mighty Zambezi River, the Zambezi Rapids and the Chitunta plain. The source of the Zambezi really is something to behold, nothing more than a dark, tiny pool in the middle of a damp forest. At the source, there is however some superb gallery forest and it is here that we hope to find the beautiful Laura’s Woodland Warbler, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher and if we are fortunate the shy Red-tailed Bristlebill and Blue Malkoha. At the Zambezi Rapids we will scan the river fringes for one of Africa’s river specialists, Grey-winged Robin-Chat by Cuan Rush Cassin’s Flycatcher, as it hawks insects from dead snags at the water’s edge. The uncommon Forbes’s Plover is a breeding visitor to this area,

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 8 from August/September till the end of the year and we will take time to search for this species in amongst the large granite boulders, adjacent to the river and at the rapids themselves.

The Chitunta plain is a stunning area of open grassland dotted with termitaria. The center of the plain is often wet and this habitat holds some very special birds. The rare Black-and- rufous Swallow can usually be seen gliding gracefully over the grassland while wetter parts are home to Rosy-throated and the localized Grimwood’s Longclaw. The slightly drier margins hold Black-bellied Bustard, Sooty Chat, Angola Lark, Stout and Dambo Cisticola, Short-tailed Pipit, Locust Finch and Quailfinch while the scarce Bocage’s Weaver can sometimes be found breeding in overhanging trees along the dambo edge. The scrubby bush surrounding the Chitunta Plain is Anchieta’s Barbet by Markus Lilje another area where Black-collared Bulbul can occasionally be sighted.

On one of the days we will also spend some time in the ‘mavunda’ forest area to the south of Hillwood. This is superb dry, evergreen forest and holds a fascinating combination of miombo and mushitu species. The two prized specialties in this area are the stunning viridis race of Gorgeous Bushshrike, which is often split as a separate species, Perrin’s Bushshrike and Margaret’s Batis. Both of these birds are regularly associated with mixed feeding flocks that include many of the special miombo species of the area. There is some beautiful stands of miombo woodland, which can be found in the general Mwinilunga area as well, and we will certainly spend time birding this habitat, which can be good for Coqui Francolin, Anchieta’s Barbet, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Black-necked Eremomela, Red-capped Crombec, Souza’s Shrike, Bar-winged Weaver and Black- eared and Reichard’s Seedeaters. Night walks in the area will provide the opportunity to see some nocturnal birds, which include Spotted Eagle-Owl and African Wood Owl as well as Square-tailed, Swamp and Fiery-necked Nightjars.

Day 12: Mwinilunga to Chingola. This morning we will spend some time birding in the area around Mwinilunga before departing for Chingola. If time allows we may visit the Chimfunshi area or we will bird some other interesting habitat nearby. Chimfunshi itself is best known as a sanctuary where orphaned Chimpanzees are kept, however the area also offers up some exceptional habitat and is a fantastic backup site for many miombo and general wetland species. A number of low density species can sometimes be best located here such as Miombo Pied and Whyte’s Barbets, Sharp-tailed Starling, Trilling Cisticola, Brown-headed Apalis, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher and Purple-throated Cuckooshrike.

Day 13: Chingola to Forest Inn. Depending on what we may still be looking for, we will either spend a little more time birding around Chingola or else carry on towards Böhm's Bee-eater by Keith Valentine Forest Inn where we expect to arrive in the late afternoon.

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 9

This property is conveniently situated near the Great North Road (which was originally intended to run from Cape Town through to Cairo), and protects around 160 ha of healthy woodland brimming with miombo species.

The tall, closed canopy woodland (which is characterised by trees belonging to the Brachystegia genus) is a great place to see Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver and Böhm’s Flycatcher. Both Yellow-bellied and Southern Hyliotas occur making this a great location to compare these similar species side by side. A number of other excellent species that can be seen here include the enigmatic African Spotted Creeper, Rufous-bellied Tit and Red-capped Crombec. Time spent here may also yield Miombo Scrub Robin, which can often be seen hopping about on the lawns, while Black-necked Eremomela and Stierling’s Wren-Warbler are regularly sighted in the surrounding woodland.

Day 14: Forest Inn to Mutinondo Wilderness. After a morning birding around Forest Inn we then embark on the fairly short drive to Mutinondo Wilderness. This spectacular private reserve, perched above the Muchinga escarpment, is set in verdant woodland punctuated by monstrous whaleback granite domes. Our beautiful private camp is perched atop one of these lovely inselbergs affording breath-taking views. This reserve is covered with dambos (the local term for a seasonally inundated marsh or temporary wetland) and the now well-known miombo woodland. The remainder of the day will be spent birding this wonderful area before we Anchieta's Sunbird by Jonathan Rossouw retire to our comfortable accommodation.

Day 15: Mutinondo Wilderness: We have the entire day to explore this superb area and will begin by birding the lovely woodland that surrounds our accommodation. Striped Pipit, a rock loving species, is often found around the lodge buildings greeting the dawn with its’ beautiful call. This is also one of the best areas to find the elusive Bar-winged Weaver, one of Mutinondo’s undoubted specialities, while the unbelievable Anchieta’s Sunbird is also best searched for near the lodgings.

As with previous miombo birding, we will be looking to locate mixed feeding flocks in the woodland and then keep tracking the flock for a while, searching for the various hidden gems. These could include species like the uncommon Thick-billed Cuckoo, Green- capped Eremomela, Cabanis's Bunting, Green-backed Woodpecker, Anchieta's Barbet, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Green- backed Honeybird, Long-tailed Cisticola, scarce Souza's Shrike, Wood and Bushveld Pipits, Western Violet-backed and Miombo Double-collared Sunbirds, Reichard’s Seed- eater and Orange-winged Pytilia together with Pale-billed Hornbill by Lars Petersson many species that we may have already

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 10 encountered.

There is also an easily accessible patch of mushitu (gallery forest) on the property, which will also be one of our target localities as it holds the secretive Bocage’s Akalat as well as Grey-olive and Cabanis’s Greenbuls, Laura’s Woodland Warbler, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher and Ross’s Turaco.

We will also spend time in the waterlogged grasslands in part of the reserve. Here our quarry is the extremely secretive and little known Chestnut-headed Flufftail, which is known to occur in the dambos found on the property. This species is however notoriously difficult to pin down and we will have to be lucky to obtain a sighting. A host of other specials are also possible and we have decent chances of finding sought-after species such as Blue Quail, Fan-tailed Grassbird, Stout Orange-winged Pytila by Markus Lilje Cisticola, Marsh Widowbird, Fawn-breasted Waxbill and the tricky Locust Finch. A good deal of walking, effort and perseverance will be required to get views of these marsh species however if the conditions are good then so are our chances of success.

Day 16: Mutinondo Wilderness to Chisamba and depart. We may have some time for a little birding this morning before we bid farewell to this beautiful part of the world. Our drive today will take us back to Lusaka and our connecting flights home.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Tour dates, prices, single supplement rates, approximate flight costs and spaces available for this tour are displayed on our website. Please see under IMPORTANT NOTES below.

This includes:  All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 16;  All lodgings;  Ground transportation;  Reserve entrance fees;  Bottled drinking water;  All activities as mentioned in the itinerary; and  All guiding services (including tips for local guides and services).

The tour fee does not include:  ANY international flights;  Visa fees;  Any drinks;  Special gratuities; and  Telephone calls, laundry and items of a personal nature.

Single Supplement: The single supplement cost for this tour will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. If RBT cannot provide you with a rooming partner for these nights although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 11 rooming partner is found if you do wish to share.

IMPORTANT NOTES: a) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we now quote our tours in 4 currencies (see website for all 4 currencies). The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other currencies listed (see website) will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 3 months before the tour.) b) Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement will have to be charged. c) Furthermore, these costs are subject to major foreign exchange fluctuations and unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result. d) Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and/or the designated Rockjumper leader/s at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible.

Tipping: As noted above, gratuities (drivers, hotel staff, porters, restaurants etc.) are included on this tour. However, this does NOT include your Rockjumper leader. If, therefore, you feel that he has given you excellent service, it is entirely appropriate to tip him.

Special Notes  We have a number of lengthy drives as we do need to cover some long distances in order to get to the best areas for the special birds. We recommend that you do not over-pack for the comfort of your fellow travellers and yourself. Kindly stick to 20kgs for check in luggage and 8kg’s for hand luggage.  It is also important to note that some of the roads can vary considerably from season to season. We expect several roads to be potholed, which can lengthen our overall travel time between destinations. Some of the gravel roads can also deteriorate quite rapidly and can be in poor condition if they haven’t been recently graded. The road from North Kafue to Mutanda can often be in poor condition, however we will be in a 4x4 vehicle throughout the tour.  Fitness: This Zambia tour does not require a high level of fitness, but participants should be in good general health as most of the birding will be done on foot, and may require walking for several hours at a time. Some off trail birding especially in the miombo woodlands may be required, however clients will be notified prior to such a walk. Should you have any physical limitations, please notify us in advance of departure.  Accommodation throughout the trip is of a generally comfortable standard. There is no camping on this trip.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DETAILS: This tour does not include any international airfares. The tour will depart from Livingstone on day 1 no later than 14:00, kindly arrive in advance of this time on this day or arrive the day before. The tour will conclude after lunch in Lusaka on Day 16. The above information in respect of arrivals and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be sent to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office.

FLIGHTS: Livingstone (IATA: LVI) and Lusaka (IATA: LUN) are the main ports of entry for international flights into Zambia. We have the capacity to advise you on the best route according to your

RBL Zambia Comprehensive Itinerary 12 preferences, but your local travel agent will best be able to book these flights for you. If you would like further assistance kindly contact the Rockjumper office, and we will happily help you plan your route. However, please DO NOT book your international flights until you have consulted the Rockjumper office for confirmation on the status of the tour.

Rockjumper Birding Ltd Labourdonnais Village Mapou Mauritius Tel (USA & Canada) toll free: 1-888-990-5552 Email: [email protected] Alternative email: [email protected] Website: www.rockjumperbirding.com