Bird Watching in Zimbabwe

The Eastern Highlands (areas like Nyanga) are well-known as birding "hot spots" while the Zambezi valley also has rich birdlife.

Mana Pools - Northern Zimbabwe

Over 400 bird species have been recorded in Mana Pools. From April to December, African skimmers breed on the exposed sand banks. In September, huge flocks of carmine bee-eaters are joined by flocks of whitefronted bee-eaters. Other species to look for along the river include mottled spinetail and Bohm's spinetail, horus swift, whitebrowed coucal, blue-cheeked bee-eater (summer only) western banded snake eagle, rufousbellied heron, whitecrowned plover, longtoed plover and redwinged pratincole. The Zambezi River attracts a variety of waders and some exciting species recorded here include green sandpiper, ringed plover, grey plover, Caspian plover, common redshank and bartailed godwit.

Lake Kariba - Northern Zimbabwe

Close to 375 bird species can be seen around Lake Kariba; like greyheaded gull, whitewinged tern as well as plentiful raptors like African hawk eagle, Ayre's eagle, crowned eagle, peregrine falcon,rock pratincole and African fish eagle.

Hwange National Park - Western Zimbabwe

About 420 bird species occur in Hwange National Park, including huge populations of raptors and others like crimsonbreasted shrike, glossy starling, pied babbler, violeteared waxbill, blackcheeked waxbill, Meyer's parrot, longtailed shrike, groundscraper thrush, whitecrowned shrike, redbilled francolin and lilacbreasted roller. Bradfield's hornbill is a species that is restricted to the teak woodland in this part of the country.

Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens - Central Zimbabwe

Over 275 bird species have been found here and is best known for its collection of aloes and cycads which attract large numbers of nectar-eating birds, particularly sunbirds.

Harare - Central Zimbabwe

Over 400 bird species have been recorded around Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. In the wet season, the vleis attract exciting birds like streakybreasted flufftail, several species of crake and black coucal, yellowbacked widow and in some areas all three species of longclaw, (orangethroated longclaw, yellowthroated longclaw and pinkthroated longclaw) can be found.

Honde Valley - Eastern Zimbabwe

An area of growing interest for birders; look out for birds like: eastern sawing swallow, Delegorgue's pigeon, barred cuckoo and others.

Gonarezhou National Park and the Save Valley Conservancy - Southern Zimbabwe

Over 400 bird species reside here, including bateleur eagle, tawny eagle, brown snake eagle and martial eagle, lappetfaced vulture, peregrine falcon and Dickinson's kestrel.

Matobo National Park - Southern Zimbabwe

This is one of the best places for viewing raptors in Zimbabwe; up to 50 raptor breeding territories are being monitored. There are also over 300 bird species in the region with one notable species being the boulder chat.

Bulawayo (Aiselby Municipal Sewage Works) - Southern Zimbabwe

Over 400 bird species occur here, like yellow wagtails, grassveld pipit and buffy pipit, redcapped lark and Temminck's courser. Various species of wader including ruff, common sandpiper and wood sandpiper also feed along the edges of the lands.