Central African Wilderness Safaris Newsletter: Birding Bulletin

Central African Wilderness Safaris, one of Malawi’s long standing tour operators who also run the iconic Mvuu Lodge in Liwonde National Park and four other properties in Malawi, have released their latest newsletter. This month it’s all about birds and we’ve got some incredible photographs in store! Check out the article below, written in their own words.

Back in November 1987 we recorded 425 species in 17 days throughout Malawi, many of which were ticked off in Liwonde at Mvuu! The journey continues and throughout the seasons we welcome birders from all over the globe – those who come in search of the ‘specials.’ Here are some highlights from our guide cam over the past few months!

The African Darter use their webbed feet to dive underwater into the Shire before stabbing fish with their bill. Gliding through the water slower than cormorants – with just their neck showing – they move stealthily, barely producing a ripple. These close-up shots really allow us to admire their detailed plumage!

A close up of a lilac-breasted roller in all it’s glory – with a lilac breast, rusty red cheeks and a spring-green crown. These guys are so common on safari, it’s easy to overlook them!

The hornbill, the elephant shrew and the frog

This might just be the capture of the year so far – deep within the mopane forests we managed to spot this extraordinary scene. The Southern Ground Hornbill is an extremely vulnerable species – we’re lucky to have such a healthy population in Liwonde, with common sightings on most safaris.

Colourful colonies of bee-eaters

Brilliantly coloured bee-eaters! Above we have the little, the blue-cheeked, the böhm’s and, less commonly seen in Liwonde, the migratory carmine.

Kingfishers

Top left: up close and personal with a striped kingfisher; top right: the largest of the kingfisher species, the giant kingfishe spotted along the banks of the Shire; bottom left: the more elusive malachite kingfisher, often spotted by a quick flash of stunning electric blue; bottom right: our all too common pied kingfishers – it’s always a treat watching these guys hover masterfully before diving to catch their prey in the Shire.

Cyclone Freddy Emergency Appeal

South-eastern Africa is currently experiencing one of the strongest and longest lasting tropical cyclones on record in the southern hemisphere. Flash flooding in Malawi’s southern region has destroyed crops, homes and has taken lives. One of our pillars at CAWS is building resilient communities through listening to and understanding peoples needs as we strive for a future of sustainable wildlife conservation through tourism – now, more than ever, vulnerable communities need emergency aid. If you would like to donate, our recommended platform is through the Round Table Malawi.

Find out more about Central African Wilderness Safaris on their dedicated page here. You can also find out more about their properties using these links: Mvuu Lodge, Mvuu Camp, Heuglin’s Lodge, Chelinda Lodge & Chelinda Camp.