Zimbabwe Eastern Highlands Birding Tour

Our journey southeast begins with a stop at the renowned Gosho Park, a great birding spot about an hour and a half away from the capital. Covering an area of 3.4 km2, this park not only features stunning Miombo Woodland but also rocky granite outcrops and wetlands, allowing for an impressive count of 250 bird species. Our focus at Gosho Park remains fixed on sought-after species such as the Boulder Chat, Cinnamon-breasted Tit, and the Collared Flycatcher. Additionally, we will also be on the lookout for other species from the African Sacred Ibis, Hamerkop, and Black Crake to the Miombo Rock Thrush, Southern Hyliota, and Green-capped Eremomela. Amidst the avian marvels, the park also hosts game, offering glimpses of Giraffes, Sable Antelope, Greater Kudu, and various smaller mammal species.

In the early afternoon, we will travel towards the picturesque Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. On the way, we’ll make many birding stops. The Eastern Highlands, comprising the Nyanga, Bvumba, and Chimanimani mountains alongside smaller ranges, adorn Zimbabwe’s Manicaland province. Spanning about 300 kilometers (190 miles), these highlands feature expansive grasslands, woodlands, and forests. Our first destination within the Eastern Highlands is the grasslands of the Nyanga mountains. Home to Mount Nyangani, Zimbabwe’s highest peak, and the breathtaking Mutarazi Falls, this area forms part of the Nyanga National Park established in 1926. Covering 472 km2 (182 sq mi), the park boasts rolling montane grassland, rainforest, rivers, and historical and cultural sites, offering a diverse landscape for exploration.

Birding aside, the Eastern Highlands promise excitement for naturalists. The area hosts rare and range-restricted fauna like the Blue Duiker, Blue Monkey, Leopard, and other mammals, along with intriguing reptile species such as the Gaboon Viper, Forest Cobra, and Green Mamba.

On arrival, we will go exploring, where we will anticipate sightings of notable species such as the endangered Blue Swallow, Chirinda Apalis, and the orientalis subspecies of Black Saw-wing. Scarce and Mottled Swift, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Barratt’s and Roberts’s Warbler, Bronzy Sunbird, Gurney’s Sugarbird, Red-faced Crimsonwing, and Singing Cisticola to name a few.

Where you will be staying: Troutbeck Resort

Today, we’ll be exploring the northern expanse of the highlands, a vital segment of the globally significant Eastern Zimbabwe Mountains Endemic Bird Area (EBA). This region houses a multitude of near-endemic species and contributes substantially to Zimbabwe’s Important Bird Areas (IBAs), with eight IBAs nestled within the Eastern Highlands, including the Nyanga Mountains, Honde Valley, and Bvumba Highlands among others.

Throughout the day, we’ll continue searching for specialties of the region with notable species such as the Crowned, Verreaux’s, and Long-crested Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Peregrine and Lanner Falcon, Pallid Harrier, Eurasian Hobby, and Rufous-breasted Sparrowhaw, Livingstone’s Turaco, Orange Ground Thrush, Whyte’s Barbet, and Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Olive Bushshrike, Red-capped and Cape Robin-chat, African Yellow Warbler.

Where you will be staying: Troutbeck Resort

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.

Over the next few days, our time in the forests of this region will be 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. The sky might reveal the graceful 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, we’ll keep an eye out for the Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Trumpeter, and Crowned Hornbill soaring overhead.

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

Where you will be staying: Aberfoyle Lodge

Over the next three days, we will be exploring the Bvumba Highlands. Renowned for its lush greenery, mist-cloaked peaks, and vibrant floral displays, this highland region exudes charm. The montane forests and verdant landscapes of the Bvumba are a haven for birdlife, boasting an impressive array of species.

Here, we’ll be treated to sightings of unique and sought-after birds, including the rare Swynnerton’s Robin, Chirinda Apalis, and Roberts’s Warbler, along with the Orange Ground Thrush, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Stripe-cheeked and Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Robe, Red-faced Crimsonwing and Buff-spotted Flufftail. Other notable species include the Olive Pigeon, Cape Batis, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Olive and Orange Ground Thrush, Black-fronted and Olive Bushshrike, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, White-starred Robin, Cape and Red-capped Robin-chat, Lemon and Tambourine Dove, Red-necked Spurfowl and Livingstone’s Turaco to name a few.

With its rich natural heritage and captivating landscapes, the Bvumba Highlands promises an immersive and memorable birding experience.

Where you will be staying: Leopard Rock

Today, we’ll be heading back to the capital as we bid farewell to this beautiful region of Zimbabwe. The drive takes approximately four hours, and we’ll have plenty of birding stops along the way.

Where you will be staying: Amanzi