Customized Birding Tours
with Peter Ginn

When: Anytime

Group size: Maximum six

Length: A 3-week itinerary is provided below but any length of tour can be organized

Fee charged: Of course this depends entirely on what you want to see, and how. Practally all the tours we handle are based in excellent lodges -- usually running at about US$260-320/person/day all inclusive Add to this local transport, which adds about US$20 - 50/p/d. My guide fee is US$150/day equally shared between the group, so for a group of 6 people they can expect to pay US$300 - 350/person/day for an all inclusive tour in lodges. If they want to use cheaper hotels we can reduce this in some areas -- some places do not have alternative accommodation. Obviously for self-drive and self-catering this can be reduced further.

Day two: Start you day off right with an early morning walk on the Imire to take in the breathtaking sights. Later in the morning you wil take a day trip to see the various animals which live on the ranch. If the weather permits a picnic lunch is in order atop the the rocky hills known as "kopje".

Day three: After breakfast you will be heading SE towards the Bvumba Mountains- Misty Mountains. Here you will stay at the Eden Lodge on the edge of a montane mist belt forest which has a unique assemblage of birds. A walk through the forest with a specialist bird guide can be arranged, but should be booked in advance.

Day four: Continuing southwards towards the Save Conservancy you will be staying in a beautiful, exclusive lodge called Mokore. In the afternoon you will explore parts of the conservancy, the largest privately owned game reserve in the world.

Day five & six: You will spend these days exploring the conservancy. The area is renowned for its birdlife, and many species can be seen. In the broken country west & north of the camp you may see some of the large eagles for which the area is famous for and also the very elusive leopard.

Day seven: Travelling westward we arrive at Great Zimbabwe, a monument to a bygone civilization. The amazing stonework created hundreds of years ago offer a glance back into the history of the area. Tonight you will sleep at the Karanga Lodge near the ruins.

Day eight: Today will be spent travelling SW towards the Bubiana Conservancy where we will be staying at a spectacular hilltop lodge called Barberton Lodge. The camp is renowned for the tame Boulder Chats which come to breakfast.

Day nine: Let's hope to do some "rhino tracking" today-- the game scouts will be looking for sign of the endangered Black Rhino which have been translocated to the conservancy. Provided there is sufficient water, you will also have the chance to take a boat trip up one of the local reservoirs in search of birds or game.

Day ten: Continuing westwards we reach Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city. We proceed to the Malalangwe Lodge on the edge of the Matobos Hills. This interesting estate boasts a selection of game allowing for excellent photo opportunities.

Day eleven: Here you can spend the day in the Matabos- an area of incredible granite domes like those at the right, where there is a dense population of eagles. The area is renowned for its San paintings, and the views over the ranks of dwalas stretch as far as the eye can see.

Day twelve and thirteen: You now turn NW towards Hwange National Park, one of the larger parks in Southern Africa where you will spend two nights at Jijima camp, just outside the park. From there you can make trips inside the park in search of large or small game. The area is famous for its elephants and the variety of antelope & birds.

Day fourteen: Travelling NW you will transfer from your mini-bus to the bus to Imbabala -- the most north-westerly lodge in Zimbabwe. Here you can move slowly along the Zambezi River on a flat-floored pontoon launch, watching the scenery, game, and birds in comfort.

Day fifteen: You may want to start your day off with any number of things: an early morning launch cruise, a walk along the river, or a drive through the woodlands. This is followed by breakfast and another activity in search of game.

Day sixteen: After an early morning activity, you transfer to Victoria Falls where you will be staying at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. The rest of the day can be spent visiting Victoria Falls and the adjacent "rainforest" created by the spray from the falls. You can also visit a crocodile farm in Zambezi National Park or take a flight over the falls in a plane.

Day seventeen: Today you will be transferred to the Chizarira Lodge, built on the edge of a huge "Fault Block". This is part of the Ancient Rift System, a huge series of fault lines running from the horn of Africa, through east Africa and down to the Zambezi valley.

Day eighteen: This day is spent exploring the Chizarira Block and National Park.

Day nineteen: Your charter flight takes you to Humi on the shores of Lake Kariba from whence you will be taken to the Musango Lodge- a beautiful thatched lodge overlooking the waters of Lake Kariba. You will be able to watch birds and game from the comfort of a lauch or motor boat.

Day twenty: Depending on the interest of the group you can take a walk on the wild side in the Matusadonna Park or cruise the creeks of the Umi. There is also an opportunity to fish for the renowned Tiger Fish, one of the world's premier game fish.

Day twenty-one: Here we are at the last day of the tour and depending on you flight times you may participate in an early morning activity after which you transfer to Kariba to catch your flight to Harare and thence to Johannesburg to catch your SAA flight.

APPENDIXES

Appendix 1: Birding the Brachystegia Woodlands in Zimbabwe
Appendix 2: Locating Waterbirds in Zimbabwe
Appendix 3: Birding in the Eastern Forests of Zimbabwe