Exclusive Summer Birding Tour Southern & Central Mozambique Johannesburg, Xai Xai, Panda, Ponto da Barra, Morrungulo, Inhassoro, Beira Rio Savanne, Catapu, Chemba, Gorongosa Park & Mountain, Vumba Valley, Lion & Elephant Inn, Johannesburg. January 2019 – December 2019 15 Day Panda Forest Ponto da Barra Rio Savanne Mphingwe Camp ‐ Catapu 1 ITINERARY SOUTHERN & CENTRAL MOZAMBIQUE & EASTERN HIGHLANDS Days DestinationHIGHLANDS Summary Day 1 Johannesburg to Xai Xai We will meet and proceed to by road to Mozambique Overnight Hotel Day 2 Xai Xai via Panda to Birding on route Overnight Hotel Ponto da Barra Day 3 Ponto da Barra Birding the area Overnight Hotel Day 4 Ponta da Barra to Birding on route Overnight Hotel Morrungulo Day 5 Morrungulo to Birding on route Overnight Hotel Inhassoro Day 6 Inhassoro to Birding on route Overnight Hotel Beira Day 7 Rio Savanne Birding the area Overnight Hotel Day 8 Rio Savanne Birding on route Overnight Hotel To Catapu Day 9 Catapu Birding the area Overnight Hotel Birding on route Overnight Hotel Day 10 Catapu to Chemba Day 11 Chemba to Birding on route Overnight Hotel Gorongosa Day 12 Gorongosa Mountain Birding the area on route Overnight Hotel Day 13 Gorongosa to Birding on route Overnight Hotel Vumba Valley Day 14 Vumba Valley to Birding on route Overnight Hotel Lion & Elephant Inn Day 15 Lion & Elephant Inn Early morning departure for Johannesburg. to Johannesburg Tour Concludes 2 Day 1: Johannesburg –Xai Xai Meet and depart from Johannesburg. We depart early morning for the border at Komatipoort en route to Xai Xai, birding on the way and along floodplains. Xai‐Xai is a city in the south of Mozambique. Until 1975, the city was named João Belo. It is the capital of Gaza Province. As of 2007 it has a population of 116,343. Xai‐Xai is located close to the Indian Ocean, on the Limpopo River. It is 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the capital, Maputo, and is in a wide, fertile plain where rice is grown. It is at an elevation of 32 feet (9.8 m). Our target: Rufous‐bellied Heron, Rosy‐throated Longclaw, Great Snipe, Red‐necked Spurfowl, Rufous‐winged Cisticola, Allen’s Gallinule and Lesser Moorhen. Xai Xai Xai Xai Rosy‐throated Longclaw Rufous‐bellied Heron Red necked Spurfowl Rufous‐winged Cisticola Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Greater Painted Snipe Lesser Moorhen Baillons Crake Lesser Jacana Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen 3 Overnight Hotel Honeypot, Xai‐Xai. Day 2 : Xai Xai via Panda to Ponto da Barra Panda District is a district of Inhambane Province in south‐east Mozambique. Its principal town is Panda. The district is located at the northwest of the province. Panda is the only locality in Southern Africa where the Olive‐headed Weaver can be located since 1960. The birds are dependent upon the Brachystegia (Miombo) Woodland and an Old Mans Beard Lichen. Early morning departure to Ponto Da Barra, Inhambane birding en‐route, targeting Limpopo Floodplain, target species include: Eurasian Bittern, Southern Banded Snake‐Eagle, Sooty Falcon, Dickinson’s Kestrel & African Hobby. Southern Hyliota, Red‐faced Crombec, Pale Batis, Stierling’s Wren‐warbler, Black‐eared Seedeater, Racket‐tailed Roller & Olive‐headed Weaver. Old Mans Beard Lichen Olive‐headed Weaver Panda Forest All photos courtesy of Maans Booysen African Hobby Dickenson’s Kestrel Pale Batis Pink‐throated Twinspot Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Racket‐tailed Roller Sooty Falcon Southern Banded Snake‐Eagle Southern Hyliota Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Birding Panda Makolo Bay Lodge Ponto da Barra Overnight at Hotel Makolo Bay Lodge 4 Day 3: Ponto da Barra Barra is located in the Inhambane Province of Mozambique. Set in the most amazing location and only a 30 minute drive from Ihhambane, Barra has stunning views over the ocean. Barra is know as Ponto Da Barra to locals and regular visitors to the country.It is a beautiful charming town known for its serene atmosphere surrounded by beautiful seaside and the combination between modern local and rusting historic architecture, making it been popular among tourists. The main focus will be on wader watching: Great Knot, Crab‐, Pacific Golden‐, Greater Sand‐ & Lesser Sand Plovers, Lesser Crested Tern, Terek Sandpiper, and Bar‐tailed Godwit. Ponto da Barra Inharrime Great Knot Crab Plover’s Pacific Golden Plover Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Greater Sand Plover Lesser Creasted Tern Sandwich Tern Swift Tern Bird Pho tos courtesy of Maans Booysen Carlie’s Bar at Makolo Bay Sunset View from the Deck Overnight at Hotel Makolo Bay Lodge 5 Day 4: Ponta da Barra to Morrungulo Early morning departure. Bonito Bay situated in the idyllic coconut plantations of Inhambanes ‐ Morrungulo beach, Bonito Bay is a mere stones throw from the ocean. Built on an eldlevated plflatform overlklooking the areas pristine and untouched beaches. Baobab forest areas: African‐ & European Hobbies, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Böhm’s‐ & Mottled Spinetails, Plain‐backed Sunbird, Red‐throated Twinspot and Rufous‐bellied Heron. White fronted Plover Turnstone Peregrine Falcon All photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Mosque Swallow Purple‐crested Turaco Purple banded Sunbird All photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Bonito Bay Lodge Sea view from Terrace Overnight at Hotel Bonito Bay Lodge 6 Day 5: Morrungulo to Inhassoro Inhassoro is a small fishing port in Inhassoro District of Inhambane Province in Mozambique. The town has 11,297 inhabitants and is located on the Indian Ocean coast along the EN1 highway. Inhassoro, which looks out at Bazaruto and Santa Carolina or Paradise Island is a developing tourist town. The population of Inhassoro is growing steadily as a result of the increase in tourism. Several old hotels date back to colonial times. Hotel Seta is on the beach with chalets and a restaurant set beneath tall mahogany trees. Birding surrounding area for African‐ & European Hobbies, Red‐necked Falcon, Miombo Blue‐ eared Starling, Black‐and‐white Flycatcher, Eastern Saw‐wing, Brown‐ & Grey‐headed Parrots and Green Tinkerbird. Lowland forest and dambos: Red‐winged Warbler, Black‐headed Apalis, Green Malkoha, Tiny Greenbul, Plain‐backed Sunbird, Narina Trogon, Olive Bee‐eater and Western Violet‐backed Sunbird. Grey‐headed Parrot Red‐necked Falcon Olive Bee‐eater Lesser Frigate Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Hotel Estrelda do Mar, Inhassoro 7 Overnight at Hotel Estrelda do Mar Day 6: Inhassoro to Beira Beira is the fourth largest city in Mozambique.It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungwe River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 397,368 in 1997, which grew to 533,825 in 2017. It holds the regionally significant Port of Beira which acts as a gateway for both the central interior portion of the country as well as the land‐locked nations of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Birding along floodplains. Our target: Olive Bee‐eater, Eurasian Bittern, Locust Finch, Short‐tailed Pipit, Black‐rumped Buttonquail, Southern Banded Snake‐eagle, Red‐necked Falcon, Bat Hawk, African ‐, Western Marsh‐Harrier, Pallid‐, Montagu’s Harrier & Magpie Mannikin. Birding small patches of forests for : Tiny Greenbul, Livingstone’s Flyy,catcher, Plain‐backed Sunbird and Red‐ throated Twinspot. Brown‐headed Parrot Grey‐Headed Parrot Red‐necked Falcon African Marsh Harrier Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Allen’s Gallinule Black Coucal Bat Hawk Southern‐ Brown‐throated Weaver Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Overnight at Hotel Muzibiti Lodge 8 Day 7: Rio Savanne Birding along floodplains. Our target: Olive Bee‐eater, Eurasian Bittern, Locust Finch, Short‐tailed Pipit, Black‐rumped Buttonquail, Southern Banded Snake‐eagle, Red‐necked Falcon, Bat Hawk, African ‐, Western Marsh‐Harrier, Pallid‐, Montagu’s Harrier & Magpie Mannikin. Birding small patches of forests for : Tiny Greenbul, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Plain‐backed Sunbird and Red‐ throated Twinspot. African Quail Finch Lesser Seed‐cracker Locust Finch Red‐headed Quelea All photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Wa ttled Crane CllCollared PtilPratincole SthSouthern BddBanded SkSnake‐ElEagle MtMontagu ’s HiHarrier All photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Overnight at Hotel Motel Bispo, Dondo 9 Day 8: Rio Savanne to Catapu Early morning departure. Birding en‐route along floodplains and wood pockets, targeting: Eurasian ‐, African Oriole, Red‐winged Warbler, Short‐winged Cisticola, Black‐and‐white & Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Yellow‐bellied Hyliota, Cabanis’s Bunting, East Coast Akalat, Green‐ backed‐, Speckle‐throated Woodpecker, Racket‐tailed Roller, Grey‐headed Parrot, African ‐, European Hobby, Kirk’s Francolin, Southern Banded Snake‐Eagle & Crowned Eagle. Reitz Helmut‐Shrike Grey‐headed Kingfisher Western Violet‐backed Sunbird Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Black & White Flycatcher Red‐winged Warbler African Golden Oriole Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Overnight at Mapingwe Camp 10 Day 9: Catapu Birding will target Lowland forest and dambos: Miombo Blue‐eared Starling, Black‐and‐white Flycatcher, Blue‐spotted Wood‐dove, Eastern Bronze‐naped Pigeon, Pied Mannikin, Kirk’s Francolin, Grey‐headed Parrot, African Pitta, White‐chested Alethe, Red‐winged Warbler, Lesser Seedcracker, East Coast Akalat, Green‐backed‐ & Speckle‐throated Woodpecker, Barred Long‐tailed Cuckoo, Blue Quail, Black‐headed Apalis, Green Malkoha, Tiny Greenbul, Plain‐backed Sunbird, Western Violet‐ backed Sunbird, Narina Trogon and African Broadbill. Coutoda 12 Black‐headed Apalis Tiny Greenbul White‐chested Alethe East coast Akalat Bird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen African Pita Green‐backed Woodpecker African Broadbill Woodward’s Batis Bidird Photos courtesy of Maans Booysen Mphingwe Camp ‐ Catapu Overnight at Hotel Mphingwe Camp 11 Day 10 : Catapu to Chemba and Back Chemba District is a district of Sofala Province in Mozambique. The principal town is Chemba. The district is located in the north of the province, and borders with Tete Province in the northeast, Caia District in the southeast, Maringué District in the southwest, and with Tambara District of Manica Province in the northwest. In the district, there are 10,000 farms which have on average 2.6 hectares (0.010 sq mi) of land.