Honde Valley

The Honde Valley stands as one of the top birding spots in Zimbabwe, boasting a rich variety of bird species that are unique and hard to spot in many other places nearby.

The Honde Valley stands as one of the top birding spots in Zimbabwe, boasting a rich variety of bird species that are unique and hard to spot in many other places nearby, except in Mozambique. This lush valley sits at around 850 meters above sea level and happens to be a key area for growing tea in Zimbabwe.

Our birding tours tend to spend time in the forests and dedicated to seeking out species such as the Chirinda Apalis, Barratt’s Warbler, Lesser Seedcracker, and Square-tailed Drongo, among others. These beautiful woodlands often allow us to see rare sightings, offering the possibility of encountering elusive species like the Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo or even the Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike if luck is on our side.

Exploration of the nearby Wamba Marsh and its surroundings promises encounters with remarkable species such as the renowned Marsh Tchagra (affectionately known as the “Wamba bird”), along with the elusive Red-chested and Buff-spotted Flufftail. Other targets include the majestic African Fish Eagle, African Rail, a variety of vibrant kingfishers including the Giant and Malachite Kingfisher, and Magpie Mannikin, Black-winged Red Bishop, and Red-winged Prinia.

There are also many raptor species to be seen in this region. Among them, expect to spot raptors like the Crowned, Steppe, Tawny, Booted, Lesser Spotted, and Wahlberg’s Eagle, along with the Brown and Black-chested Snake Eagle, Eleonora’s and Amur Falcon, the agile African and Eurasian Hobby, and the stately Lizard and European Honey Buzzard, among a host of others. Additionally, there’s a good chance of seeing Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Trumpeter, and Crowned Hornbill.

The Honde Valley is truly unparalleled and is sure to stand out as a highlight of this birding tour.