Birding Holidays & Safaris in Zambia
Shoebill - G. Reed
Country Information
Total Area: 752,618 sq km / 290,587 sq mi
Population: 11,862,700
Currency: Zambian Kwacha (ZMK)
Capital City: Lusaka
Independance: 24 October, 1964
Important Bird Areas (IBA's): 26 (75,000 sq km)
Birding in Zambia
Despite it's large size (Zambia is just slightly larger than Texas), the country is dominated by a single biome and lacks any coastline, nevertheless it still boasts in excess of 750 species. The country is vast and the road network leaves much to be desired but the birding is good pretty much everywhere you go. Birding the miombo woodlands requires birders to be quick on the draw as much of the birding in this habitat is focused on bird parties which move quite rapidly through the trees making long looks difficult. This said, miombo birding is very rewarding and getting that one good look you were after gives a great feeling of satisfaction. All birding holidays to Zambia should include the Bangweulu Swamps and is most famous citizen, the Shoebill.
Zambian Specials:
SHOEBILL, Spotted Creeper, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Red-faced Crombec, Southern Hyliota, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Streaky-breasted Flufftail, Souza's Shrike, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Miombo Blue-eared Starling, Chaplin's Barbet, Ross' Turaco, Bohm's Bee-eater, African Finfoot, Pel's Fishing Owl, Swamp Flycatcher, Katanga Weaver, Denham's Bustard, Great Snipe, Blue-throated Bee-eater, Common Bittern.
Scheduled Birding Trips in Zambia 2010/11
17 Day Shoebill Safari - BBK/LUN - 15 May 2010 - Full Itinerary
17 Day Shoebill Safari - BBK/LUN - 16 May 2011 - Full Itinerary
Tour Reports
May 2009 - Tour report for the 2009 Shoebill Safari