Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Zambia
| List of IBAs in Zambia | ||
| 1. Hillwood | 16. Nkanga River Conservancy Area | 31. Luapula Mouth |
| 2. Source of the Zambesi | 17. Mutulanganga | 32. Lusenga Plain NP |
| 3. Chitunta Plain | 18. Lower Zambezi NP | 33. Kalungwishi |
| 4. Jimbe Drainage | 19. Chisamba | 34. Mweru Wantipa |
| 5. West Lunga NP and LuwakawakaGMA | 20. Lukanga swamp | 35. Sumba NP and Tondwa GMA |
| 6. Minyanya Plain | 21. Imanda | 36. Saise River |
| 7. Mbulo Forest | 22. Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage | 37. Uningi Pans |
| 8. Liuwa Plain NP | 23. North Swaka | 38. Nyika NP |
| 9. Barotse Floodplain | 24. Wonder Gorge | 39. Mafinga Mountains |
| 10. Sioma Ngwezi NP | 25. Kasanka NP | 40. South Luangwa NP |
| 11 Simungoma | 26. Lavushi Manda NP | 41. Lukususi NP |
| 12. Machile | 27. Mutinondo Wilderness | 42. Nyanje Hills |
| 13. osi-oa-Tunya NP and Batoka Grge | 28. Bangweulu Swamps | Luambe NP |
| 14. Kafue NP | 29. North Luangwa NP | |
| 15. Kafue Flats (including Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon NP) | 30. Shirwa Ng'andu |
Bird Friendly Lodges in Zambia
In Mwinilunga District of North Western Zambia, there are evergreen forests which are particularly well developed and a number of birds characteristic of the Guineo-Congolian biome occur, including: Afep Pigeon, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Honeyguide Greenbul, Bristlebill, Rufous Ant Thrush, Buff-throated Apalis, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Bates’s and Green-throated Sunbirds.
Kalwelwa Bushcamp: Only known to ornithologists since 2015, Kalwelwa in Mwinilunga district already proves to be one of Zambia's prime birding destinations. This depression system combines one of Zambia's largest wet evergreen forests with endless Kalahari sands grasslands and marshes, Marquesia dry evergreen forest and miombo woodlands. Most of Mwinilunga's specials have healthy populations here, including the sought-after Grimwoods's Longclaw. https://www.frankwillems.org/kalwelwabushcamp
In Livingstone there is Waterberry Lodge and River Farmhouse. These lodges are near Livingstone on the Zambezi River but far enough away to be able to enjoy the tranquil peace of bush life. Both the lodge and farmhouse provide great opportunities for birding and the Lodge is close to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park which has 413 bird species recorded. https://www.waterberrylodge.com
In Northern Zambia Mutinondo Wilderness is a remote and unspoiled wilderness unlike any other, nestled among a cluster of spectacular inselbergs, and furnished with 70 kilometres of walking tracks and trails and amazing biodiversity. Mutinondo is listed as an Important Bird Area with 363 birds listed and is renowned for sightings of several special species, such as the Chestnut-headed Flufftail https://www.mutinondozambia.com
Eastern Zambia hosts the wonderful Luangwa Valley which is rich in birds and wildlife and an Important Bird Area. It is abundant with raptors, vultures and game birds as well as waterbirds along the river frontage and the special birds of the mopane woodlands. 468 bird species are recorded here.
Luambe Camp and Conservation is the only permanent camp in Luambe National Park located between South and North Luangwa. It offers a remote and private safari in a National Park that is being restored through conservation. https://luambe.com
Lion Camp is situated at the top end of Lion Plain on the banks of the Luangwa River. It is isolated from the main hub of Luangwa and offers game drives and walking safaris among other attractions
Remote Africa Safaris run 3 camps in the north of South Luangwa National Park and one camp on North Luangwa National Park. They run game drives, walking safaris, mountain bike safaris and cultural visits
Munyamadzi Game Reserve is a privately owned unfenced wildlife reserve situated on the Luangwa River on the western part of the Valley. It is a smaller eco-friendly camp and perfect for a private get away.
https://www.theluangwavalley.com
Classic Zambia Safaris have camps in Lower Zambezi and Kafue National Park. They operate Kutali Camp and Chula Island Camp in Lower Zambezi and Ntemwa-Busanga Camp and Musekese Camp in Kafue National Park. They also offer safaris on Liuwa Plain or tailor-made walking safaris of your choice.
McBrides Camp is situated on the eastern bank of the Kafue River accessed through Mumbwa town. It is a wilderness camp with particular interest in lion.
Around Lusaka – the capital of Zambia there are a number of lodges and private game farms which support a diversity of habitat and host a number of birds and wild animals.
Chaminuka is a well-established lodge set in an estate and nature reserve of 40 square kilometres. The lodge is home to over 7, 000 animals, including elephant and cheetah and game drives are available. Chaminuka also has over 300 species of birds. https://www.chaminuka.com
Bird Guiding Companies in Zambia
Birding Zambia- run by Frank Willems. Birding Zambia brings Zambia’s top birders and conservationists together to help you enjoy Zambia astounding wilderness areas and its 782 species. Birding Zambia offers pre-arranged tours and invites fanatic birders, naturalists and bush lovers to travel with them https://www.birdingzambia.com email: BirdingZambia@gmail.com
Lapwing Safaris – run by Leslie Reynolds. Leslie can design your mobile safari to suit your needs and take you anywhere you would like to go for life filled memories. He is also a renowned local artist. See his facebook page Lapwing Safaris or contact Leslie at lapwingsafaris@gmail.com
Explore the birds of Zambia with eBird
But before you start - download The Birds of Zambia App - available from your online shop. Also, consider joining eBird to record your sightings. This is a free App and helps you become a citizen scientist!
Everyone is a citizen scientist.
You can take part in monitoring birds and contribute to their conservation by recording your bird sightings in your garden and surroundings, creating checklists using eBird and Merlin Apps developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and share checklists!
The cornell lab of ornithology
Is one of BirdWatch Zambia’s key partners. It is a member-supported unit of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York USA, which studies birds and other wildlife. Approximately 250 scientists, professors, staff, and students work in a variety of programs devoted to the Lab's mission: interpreting and conserving the Earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
eBird
Is an online database of bird observations providing scientists, researchers and amateur naturalists with real-time data about bird distribution and abundance. Originally restricted to sightings from the Western Hemisphere, the project expanded to cover the whole world in June 2010. eBird has been described as an ambitious example of enlisting amateurs to gather data on biodiversity for use in science. eBird is an example of crowdsourcing and has been hailed as an example of democratising science, treating citizens as scientists, and allowing the public to access and use their own data and the collective data generated by others.
become a Citizen Scientist
Report your bird sightings