Hotspots

Both LEONARD 2005 and a new site guide will cover many of Zambia's best birding sites in detail. Some of the most popular sites that are worth visiting for certain species include:

Hillwood (Nchila Wildlife Reserve) - for many of the 'Mwinilunga specials' in the far north-west. www.nchila-wildlife-reserve.com

Lochinvar National Park - for spectacular waterfowl concentrations.

Nkanga River Conservation Area - for a wide variety and particularly Chaplin's Barbet Lybius chaplini. nansai@zamnet.zm

Kafue National Park - for a wide variety, Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis in the south and mammals.

Mutinondo Wilderness - excellent miombo and dambo birding. www.mutinondozambia.com

Zambia South Luangwa National Park
Photo: Claire Spottiswoode

North & South Luangwa National Parks - excellent waterbirds and raptors, not to mention the mammals.

Kasanka National Park and Bangweulu Swamps - good miombo and dambo and of course waterfowl and Shoebill Balaeniceps rex in the swamps. www.kasanka.com

Nyika National Park - for all the montane species. Best approached from Malawi.