Day 1, Wednesday, October 8, 2025: Home to Matambako
I had my friend Maans from SA visiting early October. I did not have any trips planned and wanted to explore something new. My dream is to go to Ethiopia, but that would require a long drive north of Marsabit in Kenya and cross the border into Ethiopia, a country I believe might not be safe at this time. Maans mentioned Malawi and Zambia and very quickly a plan started maturing. I asked a friend if she was crazy enough to do a trip like that. Since she had never been out of Tanzania and had an unused passport she immediately agreed. I tried to warn her about the many hours in the car, but she was stubborn and decided to join. I picked her up on October 7th. We left at 06:00 on the folowing day. This was a day totally in the car and we managed to reach Matambako the first night (862 Km).
The sun is just getting up as I am getting to the end of the Arusha Bypass Road
Day 2, Thursday, October 9, 2025: Matambako Tanzania to Rhumpi, Malawi
We left at 06:00 that morning as well. The roads were good down to the Malawi border. The exit from Tanzania were very easy, but to import the car to Malawi were quite a time consuming exercise. We were finally through and the worst shock came with the roads in Malawi. They were absolutely terrible. I had enquired about a guide in Malawi, but they all wanted $150 a day! In one of the poorest country in Africa they asked for almost 4 times as much as I am paying my guides in Kenya, Uganda ans Tanzania! My car took a terrible beating on the roads, but we arrived safe and sound in Rhumpi and had no problems finding a reasonable priced place to stay. We had now travelled 1330 km and not looked at a single bird. We had dinner and retired early.
Safely installed in Rhumpi, Malawi.
Day 3, Friday, October 10, 2025: Rhumpi – Chelinda Camp, Nyiaka NP.
Again an early start and still pretty bad roads especially after we entered the park. I drove fast in order to get some afternoon birding. We had planned to camp, but we got a good offer for a room and decided to have some comfort. I started birding around the camp: Blue Swallow, Black-lored and Churring Cisticola, Olive-flanked Ground Robin, Yellow-crowned Canary, Forest Double-collared Sunbird, Montane Widowbird, Cape Robin-Chat, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Moustached Tinkerbird, Olive Woodpecker, Evergreen Forest Warbler were some of the birds I added on my own. One of the staff at the camp were also a bird guide so I took advantage of his expertise in the local area in the afternoon. Here are some more species observed that day: African Harrier Hawk, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-starred Robin, Fülleborn’s Boubou, Black-browed Mountain Greenbul, African Olive Pigeon, Senegal Coucal and at night I heard Montane Nightjar. One lifer in box, but no sign of my other target bird, Malawi Batis.
We had an early dinner and retired early.
Some pictures from Day 3:
Blue Swallow, Hirundo atracaerulea
Angola Swallow, Hirunda angolensis
Black-lored Cisticola, Cisticola nigriloris, Endemic to Highlands in S Tanzania and Northern Malawi
Churring Cisticola, Cisticola njombe, Endemic to S Tanzania and N Malawi
White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Melaenornis fischeri
Forest Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris fuelleborni
Montane Widowbird, Female, Euplectes psammacromius, Endemic to S Tanzania and N Malawi
Southern Fiscal, Lanius collaris
Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilius
African Harrier-Hawk, Polyboroides typus
Black-browed Mountain Greenbul, Arizelocichla fusciceps, Endemic to S Tanzania and Malawi – LIFER
Day 4, Saturday, October 11, 2025: Nyiaka NP – Mzuzu
I went early in the car with the guide. Here are some of the birds we encountered on the morning birding: Malachite Sunbird, Plateau Lark, Dusky Turtle Dove, Giant Kingfisher, Denham’s Bustard and Scarlet-tufted Sunbird. We returned to camp, packed and were soon on our way out of the park. The guide told me where to stop for a few birds and sure enough I found Miombo Scrub Robin and African Spotted Creeper exactly where he told me. We exited the park and I found out later some miscommunication with my Zambia host regarding Malawi Batis. It was supposed to be common in Zambia. That was the first bird I dipped on. We drove down to Rhumpi and further south and my car felt very weird when I exceeded 40 km an hour. We stopped in Mzuzu and found a garage. It turned out the terrible Malawi roads had taken their toll and one steel bar from the chassis had broken in the weld. It were a quick fix and we stayed at a guest house in Mzuzu that night.
Some pictures from Day 4:
Denham’s Bustard, Neotis denhami
Montane Widowbird, Euplectes psammacromius, Endemic to S Tanzania and N Malawi
Miombo Scrub Robin, Tychaedon barbata – LIFER
African Spotted Creeper, Salpornis salvadori
Broken Bar, Welded
Day 5, Sunday, October 12, 2025: Mzuzu – Liwonde
We had an early start from Mzuzu and arrived in Liwonde in the afternoon. We did a little bit of birding just outside the park and stayed at a guest house near the gate.
Relaxing outside a guest house in Liwonde
Day 6, Monday, October 13, 2025: Liwonde – Zomba
We were in the Liwonde National Park at opening time. My big target here were Lilians’s Lovebird. We saw quite a few, but noone wanted to sit for a picture. Other birds observed included: Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Crowned Lapwing, Little Egret, African Openbill, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Violet-backed Starling, Meve’s Starling, White-crested Helmetshrike, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Broad-billed Roller, Common Hoopoe, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Grey Go-away-bird, Helmeted Guineafowl, Boehm’s Bee-eater, Great and Reed Cormorant, Amethyst and Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Great Egret, African Sacred Ibis, African Jacana, African Darter, Red-billed Oxpecker, Malachite Kingfisher, European and Purple Roller and Osprey. It were extremely hot in the park so we decided to head further south and up in the mountains to Zomba. We set camp at Zomba Trout Farm. I took a short stroll before dark and were rewarded with Yellow-throated Apalis, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Cape Robin-Chat, Little Greenbul, Livingstone’s Turaco, Red-chested Cuckoo, Olive-headed Greenbul, Tambourine Dove, Buff-spotted Flufftail and at night African Wood Owl. I cooked for us and we spent the first night in a tent on the trip.
Some pictures from Day 6:
Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Lamprotornis chloropterus
Meve’s Starling, Lamprotornis leucogaster
Common Hoopoe, Upupa epops
Helmeted Guineafowl, Numida meleagris
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Yellow-throated Apalis, Apalis flavigularis, Endemic to Malawi – LIFER
Day 7, Tuesday, October 14, 2025: Zomba to Dzanlayama Forest Reserve
I took a morning walk up the trail from camp. Here are some of the new birds I observed: Mountain Wagtail, White-starred Robin, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Southern Yellow White-eye, Black-backed Puffback, Black Saw-wing, African Stonechat, Cardinal Woodpecker, African Yellow Warbler and Black-fronted Bushshrike. I heard the Thyolo Akalat, but it would not show itself. We packed and started the long journey to Dzanlayama Forest Reserve. Here we again opted for a room. I took a short walk to look for my target Stierling’s Woodpecker. It was quiet, but I found Shelley’s Sunbird and Kurrichane Thrush.
Some pictures from Day 7:
Mountain Wagtail, Motacilla clara
White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Elminia albonotata
White-starred Robin, Pogonocichla stellata
Olive-headed Greenbul, Arizelocichla striifacies
African Yellow Warbler, Iduna natalensis
African Stonechat, Saxicola torquatus
Cape Robin-Chat, Dessonornis caffer
Day 8, Wednesday, October 15, 2025: Dzanlayama Forest Reserve, Malawi – Nyimba, Zambia
There were a so called bird guide at the lodge were we stayed. He was 100% sure he would find the Stierling’s Woodpecker for me. We walked for a while and then he called that he had the woodpecker. I played the call and the Woodpeckers responded. I took quite a few photos without looking closely at the birds. Can you imagine my surprise at night when I had beautiful pictures of Green-backed and Cardinal Woodpeckers, but none of Stierling’s :-). On the way back to the lodge, I heard several Stierling’s Woodpeckers calling and had one fly over, but no pictures :-). Other birds observed on the morning walk included Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow, Brown-crowned Tchagra, African Golden Oriole, White-crested Helmetshrike, Violet-backed Starling, Grey-olive Greenbul, Golden-breasted bunting, Tropical Boubou, Brubru, Chinspot Batis, Black-backed Puffback, Schalow’s Turaco, Green Wood Hoopoe, European Bee-eater and White-breasted Cuckooshrike. We packed up and headed for the Zambian border. They held us up for a while, but then we had a straight run towards Lusaka. We stopped about 340km before Lusaka at a small town called Nyimba.
Some pictures from Day 8:
European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster
Green Wood Hoopoe, Phoeniculus purpurea
Cardinal Woodpecker, Dendropicus fuscescens
Green-backed Woodpecker, Camphetera maculusa
Day 9 – 11, October 16-18, 2025: Lusaka, Zambia
From Nyimba we drove to my friend Williams house in Lusaka. I had a few minor repairs to attend to on my car (which they failed to fix. The same in Zambia as in Tanzania). It was nice seeing Lusaka, such a contrast to any City in Tanzania. I did some shopping with William and we had a great time.
William and me in Lusaka. Two young handsome gentlemen
Day 12, Sunday, October 19, 2025: Lusaka to Kafue National Park
I had one target in the park: Black-collared Lovebird. We had a long drive and much of it on very bad roads. We entered the park and started looking for birds. Here are some of the birds we registered in our way to our camp: Brown Snake Eagle, Black Kite, Green Wood Hoopoe, Lilac-breasted Roller, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove and African Wattled Lapwing. We reached our destination and set up camp. Our host knew about the Lovebird and agreed to take an afternoon birding session with me. Here are some of the birds we recorded: African Openbill, African Fish Eagle, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Common Hoopoe, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Meve’s Starling, Blue Waxbill, Broad-billed Roller, Grey Go-away Bird, Natal Spurfowl, Swainson’s Spurfowl and finally a flock of Black-collared Lovebird. They had just finished drinking and we did nor manage to get close to them. Further on Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Helmeted Guineafowl, Great Egret and Greater Painted-Snipe. We returned to camp. I cooked and we retired early.
Some pictures from Day 12
Camp in Kafue National Park
Natal Spurfowl, Pternistis natalensis
Black-collared Lovebird, Agapornis nigrigenis – LIFER
Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsoni
Greater Painted Snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
Day 13, Monday, October 20, 2025: Kafue National Park to Fringilla.
We went out again in the morning to get better pictures of the Lovebird. We saw them, but no pictures. Here are some of the other birds observed that morning: Tropical Boubou, Crested Francolin, Black-backed Puffback, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Little Heron, Crested Barbet, Senegal Coucal, Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow, White-browed Robin-Chat, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Saddle-billed Stork, Southern Ground Hornbill, Klaas’s Cuckoo, African Grey and Trumpeter Hornbill. We packed up, left the camp and the roads took another victim. One of my rear shock absorbers 1 year old broke. No problems driving so we hit Fringilla Lodge before dark. I had by now added another member to my team: Paul van Giersbergen sitting in France started giving me coordinates.
Some pictures from Day 13
Senegal Coucal, Centropus senegalensis
Great Egret, Ardea alba
African Fish Eagle, Icthyophaga vocifer
Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta
Saddle-billed Stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Day 14, Tuesday, October 21, 2025: Fringilla to Solwezi
With coordinates from Paul, I set out that morning and stopped at his coordinates. Played the Chaplin’s Barbet once and 4 or came in. With the only endemic bird in Zambia in box I returned to the lodge. Some other birds recorded at the Barbet spot: Crowned Lapwing, Striped Kingfisher, Lizard Buzzard, Red-breasted Swallow, Broad-billed Roller, African Wattled Lapwing and Scarlet-chested Sunbird. I went back to the lodge and we were soon away. I stopped and had my rear shock absorbers replaced and we made it to Solwezi that afternoon.
Some pictures from Day 14
Chaplin’s Barbet, Lybius chaplini ,Endemic to Zambia – LIFER
Lizard Buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Broad-billed Roller, Eurystormus glaucurus
Red-breasted Swallow, Cecropis semirufa
Day 15, Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Solwezi to Nyachisala Camp
We started early from Solwezi, again had a long drive. The last part to the camp were quite challenging with deep sand, but we arrived after the rain had started to pour down. We set up camp and I managed to register a few birds: Purple-crested Turaco, Senegal Coucal and African Wood Owl.
Day 16, Thursday, October 23, 2025: Nyachisala Camp
I met up with my guide in the morning and to my big surprise he did not have binoculars! He did not know most of the birds I had targeted either. Yet I had to pay $40 a day for him. We started the morning walk and I registered the following birds: Afep Pigeon, African Palm Swift, Gabar Goshawk, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Yellow Bishop, Stout Cisticola, Fan-tailed Grassbird, African Stonechat, Grey-rumped Swallow, Olive Sunbird, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Miombo Scrub Robin, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Angola Lark, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Lesser Grey Shrike, Diederik Cuckoo, Brimstone Canary, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Village Weaver, Common Waxbill, Red-throated Twinspot and Rufous-naped Lark. We were now back in camp and I understood that all ID I had to do myself. The guides excuse were that the camp were new. I said, the camp are new, but the birds are the same and Diderik Cuckoo does not sing like a Klaas Cuckoo. In the afternoon we took a new walk: Little Greenbul, Chirping Cisticola and Fan-tailed Widowbird. At night, we got out for and found Vermiculated Fishing Owl.
Some pictures from Day 16
Stout Cisticola, Cisticola robustus
Brimstone Canary, Chritagra sulphurata
Angola Lark, Amirafra angolensis – LIFER
Lesser Grey Shrike, Lanius minor
Chirping Cisticola, Cisticola pipiens
Vermiculated Fishing Owl, Scotopelia bouvieri – LIFER
Day 17, Friday, October 24, 2025: Nyachisala Camp
We started birding in the morning from Camp. Here are some of the birds we registered: Broad-billed Roller, African Broadbill, African Paradise Flycatcher, Copper Sunbird, Yellow-fronted Canary, Pale-billed Hornbill, Meyer’s Parrot, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Fülleborn’s Longclaw, Bate’s Sunbird, Bannermann’s Sunbird, Pin-tailed Whydah and finally Black-collared Bulbul. We tried again and again for the last species and finally got views of it. No pictures though. We returned to camp, relaxed during the midday heat and started birding in the afternoon. The first bird, the guide called a Locust Finch. He had my Bino’s so I had to use my Camera as binos and quickly realised it was a Fawn-breasted Waxbill. We only added Moustached Grass Warbler that afternoon.
Some pictures from Day 17:
Yellow-fronted Canary, Crithagra mozambica
Fan-tailed Grassbird, Catriscus brevirostris
Rosy-throated Longclaw, Macronyx ameliae
Bate’s Sunbird, Cinnyris batesi – LIFER
Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Estrilda paludicola
Moustached Grass Warbler, Melocichla mentalis
Day 18, Saturday, October 25: Nyachisala Camp – Wini wa Nzambi Lodge, Mwinilunga
W started out early in order to explore Mufundi Plain on the way to our next destination. Unfortunately it started raining. We only registered Sooty Chat and Little Bee-eater. We continued to Wini wa Nzambi Lodge in Mwinilunga. When we arrived there the rain were seriously pouring down. I asked my guide if he had ever birded at the lodge. He said no, so I gave him the next day off.
Some Pictures from Day 18:
Soory Chat, Juvenile, Myrmecocichla nigra
Heavy rain at Wini wa Nzambi Lodge, Mwinilunga
Day 19, Sunday, October 26: Wini wa Nzambi Lodge
I started birding early. Here are some of the birds I saw on my morning walk: Black Saw-wing, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Southern Yellow White-eye, Black-backed Puffback, African Goshawk, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Red-chested Cuckoo, Schalow’s Turaco, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Purple-banded Sunbird and Diederik Cuckoo. I went back to camp, had breakfast and since it were clouded over, I continued birding after breakfast: Bar-winged Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Black-headed Oriole, Olive Sunbird, Narina Trogon, Miombo Tit, Chinspot Batis, Ashy Flycatcher, Little Greenbul, Tropical Boubou, Black Cuckoo and Grey Penduline Tit. I had lunch and continued birding: African Dusky Flycatcher, Red-capped Crombec, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Chinspot Batis, Bleating Camaroptera, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Black Kita, Miombo Scrub Robin and Collared Flycatcher. A very successfull day with 3 lifers on my own. I prepared dinner and we retired early.
Some pictures from Day 19:
Black Saw-wing, Psalidoprocne pristoptera
Southern Yellow White-eye, Zosterops anderssoni
Dark-backed Weaver, Ploceus bicolor
Purple-banded Sunbird, Cinnyris bifasciatus
Purple-banded Sunbird, Female, Cinnyris bifasciatus
Red-chested Cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius
Miombo Tit, Melaniparus griseiventris
Chinspot Batis, Female, Batis molitor
Amethyst Sunbird, Juvenile, Chalcomitra amesthystina
Olive Sunbird, Cyanomitra olivacea
Red-capped Crombec, Sylvietta ruficapilla – LIFER
African Dusky Flycatcher, Muscicapa adusta
Ashy Flycatcher, Fraseria caerulescens
Miombo Scrub Robin, Tychaedon barbata
Collared Flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis – LIFER
Day 20, Monday, October 27: Wini wa Nzambi – Chitunta Plains – Zambezi Rapids – Wini wa Nzambi.
I had the guide with me again that morning. We arrived at the Chitunta Plains and very quickly found Dambo Cisticola and after a while I saw Grimwood’s Longclaw in flight two times (No pictures). Other birds observed at the plains: Meyer’s Parrots, African Pied Wagtail, Caspian Plover, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Giant Kingfisher, Ross’s Turaco and Fülleborn’s Longclaw. We continued to the Zambezi Rapids. We walked up and down the rapids and only found Mountain Wagtail. We returned to the car and the guide went to explore the rocky area near the Rapids. He found a pair of skittish Forbe’s Plovers. I told him to get back in the car and with the car as a hide, I managed to get superb pictures. We then drove a little south of Mwinilunga and searched for Margarit’s Batis. No luck, but we added Little Rush Warbler. We returned to the lodge. Said goodbye to the guide, made dinner and retired early.
Some pictures from Day 20:
Dambo Cisticola, Cisticola dambo – LIFER
Fülleborn’s Longclaw, Macronyx fuelleborni
Forbe’s Plover, Thinornis forbesi – LIFER
Day 21, Tuesday, October 28: Wini wa Nzambi – Manyama
We started early and stopped at the Margaret’s Batis spot again. No luck for the Batis, but I got another lifer: Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo. Other birds observed at the spot included: Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Narina Trogon, African Broadbill and Little Swift. we continued and found a place to sleep in the little town Manyama.
One picture from Day 21
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Cercococcyx olivinus – LIFER
Day 22, Wednesday, October 29: Manyama – Kapiri Mposhi
The day was just a day for driving. We were on the way home to Tanzania. We needed at least one more stopover after Kapiri Mposhi so I contacted the oracle Paul again. He knew my targets and suggested we stop first at Fika Lodge and then spend a night or two in Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge and Campsite. My plans for the next day were in box.
Day 23, Thursday, October 30: Kapiri Mposhi – Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge and Campsite.
We had a stop at Fika Lodge right on the main road. Paul had told me it was a good spot for Black-backed Barbet and Boehm’s Flycatcher. I tried for the Barbet, but no luck. I found the Boehm’s Flycatcher. Other birds at Fika Lodge included: Amethyst Sunbird, Southern Black Flycatcher, Broad-billed Roller, Tropical Boubou, Crowned Hornbill, Brown-hooded Kingfisher and African Paradise Flycatcher. We continued onwards to Mutindo Wilderness. We arrived in the afternoon and set up camp. I took a small afternoon walk and registered the following species: Tropical Boubou, Black-backed Puffback, Trilling Cisticola, African Paradise Flycatcher, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Southern Yellow White-eye, Orange-breasted Bushshrike and Ross’s Turaco.
I made dinner and we retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 23:
Boehm’s Flycatcher, Myopornis boehmi – LIFER
Southern Black Flycatcher, Melaenornis pammelaina
Crowned Hornbill, Lophoceros alboterminatus
Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Halcyon albiventris
Violet-backed Starling, Female, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Female, Anthreptes longuemorei
Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes longuemorei
Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
Day 24, Friday, October 31: Mutinondo Wilderness
I started birding very early that morning. I walked out of camp and started observing birds: Chinspot Batis, White-necked Raven, Black Cuckoo, African Green Pigeon, Black-backed Barbet, Spotted Flycatcher, European Bee-eater, Black-headed Oriole, Black-crowned Tchagra, Whyte’s Francolin, Violet-backed Starling, Amethyst Sunbird, Crowned Hornbill, Black Cuckooshrike, Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow and Ancheta’s Sunbird. Apparantly I had walked on the wrong trail. I started at 06:00 and walked in one direction to 09:30 before I turned. Obviously the path I had taken were good since i added three lifers. I returned to camp around 11: We then started hearing about the post election problems in Tanzania and decided to stay one more night. I contacted Paul again and he also had a new destination for me for the day after. While I prepared for the afternoon walk, a Striped Pipit walked leisurely through our camp. I walked in the opposite direction from camp in the afternoon in order to have the sun behind me: Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Wahlberg’s Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Little Greenbul, Schalow’s Turaco and Ross’s Turaco were some of the birds i observed. I returned to camp, made dinner Paul had found a new destination for us for the day after: Kapishya Hot Springs. We retired early.
Some pictures from Day 24:
Black-backed Barbet, Pogonornis minor – LIFER
African Green Pigeon, Treron calvus
Amethyst Sunbird, Chalcomitra amethystina
Violet-backed Starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Ancheta’s Sunbird, Anthreptes anchietae – Bad picture, but still a LIFER
Striped Pipit, Anthus lineiventris
Day 25, Saturday, November 1: Mutinondo Wilderness – Kapishya Hot Springs
I started at 06:00 and took a different route this time. I had another view of Whyte’s Francolin and added Fawn-breasted Waxbill to the list for Mutinondo. Otherwise a very quiet morning. We had breakfast, packed and were soon on our way to Kapishya Hot Springs. We sat up camp by the river and I were soon out birding. Managed to see Bocage Akalat a lifer, but no pictures. Other birds observed included White-browed Robin-Chat, Common Bulbul, Southern Yellow White-eye, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Olive Sunbird, Schalow’s Turaco, Variable Sunbird, Brown-headed Apalis, Laura’s Woodland Warbler and Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow. I went back to camp and the news we got from Tanzania were encouraging so we decided that after morning birding the day after, we should cross the border. I made dinner and we retired early to bed.
Some pictures from Day 25:
Common Bulbul, Pycnontus barbatus
Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Estrilda paludicola
Variable Sunbird, juvenile, Cinnyris venustus
Brown-headed Apalis, Apalis alticola
Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow, Gymnoris superciliaris
Laura’s Woodland Warbler, Phylloscopus laurae – LIFER
Day 26, Sunday, November 2: Kapisha Hot Springs, Zambia to Mbeya, Tanzania
Again, I started birding early. I targeted the Bocage’s Akalat, but could not find it. A pair of Pale-throated Greenbuls entertained me. Other new birds for the morning included Green-headed Sunbird, African Paradise Flycatcher and Little Greenbul. We packed camp quickly and headed for the border. We filled up diesel in Zambia. It was an enormous numbers of trucks at the border and the people at the border warned us to cross. At any rate the paperwork were done very fast. We drove out of Tunduma and found a guest house south of Mbeya.
Some pictures from Day 26:
White-browed Robin-Chat, Cossypha heuglini
Pale-throated Greenbul, Atimastillas flavigula
Southern Yellow White-eye, Zosterops anderssoni
Green-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
Little Greenbul, Eurillas virens
African Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis
Day 27, Monday, November 3: Mbeya – Babati
We started early and tried to fill up the tank in Mbeya, but not easy. Plenty of military check points. A little north of Mbeya we finally found a chaotic filling station with Diesel. Iringa were a ghost town with hardly any people to be seen. I planned to fill diesel again in the capitol, Dodoma. Unfortunately it were the day of inauguration of the President, so not a drop of Diesel to get at any filling station there. We were told that there were a filling station further north. When we came there they had just ran out. I were now on my reserve tank and finally found a small filling station where we could fill up. We stayed the night at my normal place in Babati.
Day 28, Tuesday, November 4: Babati – Home
The drive went without any problems. I dropped my friend and were finally home after 28 days on the road and more than 8.100km covered.
Finally home after an endurance test for both the car and the driver. The car had a few problems as expected after all the bad roads in Malawi, the 65 year old Norwegian driver past the 8.100km endurance test with flying colours. 🙂
It were a crazy trip indeed. At some point, I have to go back to Malawi to get my two remaining birds: Malawi Batis and Thyolo Akalat. In terms of Zambia, there are much more to explore. I ticked about 120 species for Malawi and close to 170 in Zambia. In total, I got 25 lifers, but still missing pictures of a few of them. Thanks goes to Paul van Giersbergen for giving me coordinates and suggesting place to bird on the Zambia leg and Maans Boysen for planting the trip in my head.