Birding in Nkhotakota wasn’t my primary activity during a week spent exploring the hills, rivers, and miombo woodlands, I wasn’t specifically here for ornithology.

However, as any birder knows, the binoculars or tele lens are always present. Mostly on long daily drives, and a few hikes, birdlife kept drawing my attention: the chorus in the early morning mist, the flashes of color darting across the road, and unfamiliar shapes passing behind thick green canopy. This post gathers a selection of 29 images from the trip, and a few thoughts on what makes this activity here quietly brilliant. More details can be found on Ukuri Travel‘s page or African Parks‘s website

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve—see first post—hosts an astonishing variety of birdlife, with over 324 species recorded, but probably well over 400 with many likely undiscovered yet. Spread across rugged miombo woodlands, dambos, riverine forests, and submontane forest on Chipata Mountain, the reserve offers ideal habitats for iconic species such as Böhm’s bee‑eaters, Boëhm’s Flycatcher, Stierling’s Camaroptera, Olive‑headed weavers, and the occasional Taita falcon reported near the escarpment. Spring and summer (November–April) bring migrant birds and lush habitats, while the dry season (July–October) provides excellent visibility and comfortable walking conditions with lower humidity.

Birding at Nkhotakota is best experienced through guided walking safaris or long slow drives in the miombo, eventually on canoe trips along the rivers. Rangers and specialist birding guides can lead visitors through different habitats. Whether you’re after the miombo woodland specialties like Miombo Scrub Robin and Anchieta’s Sunbird, or riverine favorites such as the Giant kingfisher and African Finfoot, the varied habitats deliver memorable sightings. For dedicated twitchers, the prospect of spotting unrecorded species adds a thrilling sense of discovery.