Birding in Mana Pools

Come for the elephants. Find yourself spending
40 minutes watching a bee-eater.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Mana Pools. Elephants wandering beneath the acacias. Wild dogs on the move. Walking safaris that get your heart going a little faster than your average morning stroll.

And then there are the birds.

More than 400 species have been recorded in Mana Pools National Park, which means even people who arrive insisting they’re “not really birders” have a habit of becoming surprisingly invested by day three.

The Problem With Birding in Mana Pools

There is rather a lot to look at.

The Zambezi River, mahogany forests, open floodplains, inland pans and woodland thickets all support different species. Rufous-bellied herons and long-toed lapwings favour the fringing vegetation along the riverbanks, while white-fronted plovers and African skimmers make use of the open sandbars for breeding. White-crowned lapwings and water thick-knees are common along the waterline, and in summer, blue-cheeked bee-eaters join the mix. You might even be lucky enough to find the famously elusive Pel’s fishing-owl!

Then there are the Southern carmine bee-eater colonies, which turn the riverbanks into a rather spectacular display of colour later between August and November.

In the woodlands, look out for Lilian’s lovebirds, crowned hornbills and Ayres’s hawk-eagles, while Western banded snake-eagles have a habit of sitting quietly in tall trees overlooking the river (and being remarkably easy to miss). The thicker vegetation rewards a little patience too, with Eastern nicators, African pittas and red-capped robin-chats among the species to look for.

Sometimes, the Best Birding Happens Before Breakfast

Molori Mashuma sits around 45 minutes inland from the Zambezi River, overlooking Mashuma Pan, a permanent natural water source surrounded by mature Jackalberry and Faidherbia albida trees.

Which is very convenient if you like your birding with a cup of coffee in hand.

As water becomes scarcer elsewhere, the pan becomes a hub of activity. You might see herons, egrets and storks moving across the water, while Meyer’s parrots, hornbills and grey go-away-birds are among the species found in the surrounding woodlands.

You can watch it all from the main deck. Or from your suite’s private deck while still wearing your slippers.

We call it armchair birding, although that makes it sound considerably less absorbing than it is. “I’ll just sit here for five minutes” can very easily become an hour.

The Advantage of a Private Concession

Ask a ‘twitcher’ what makes a good birding safari and the answer isn’t necessarily the number of species. Often, it’s time.

Time to stop when you hear an unfamiliar call. Time to wait for something hiding in the brush to finally show itself. Time to watch instead of immediately moving onto the next sighting.

Being on a private concession gives our guides greater flexibility to shape outings around what interests you. If birds are the priority, birds can be the priority.

And once the sun goes down, things get interesting all over again.

Night drives offer opportunities to look for Verreaux’s eagle-owl, African wood owl and various nightjars. And then there is the bird that tends to make serious birders sit up a little straighter at the mere mention of its name: Pel’s fishing-owl.

No promises. This is the bush, after all. But we’ll certainly be looking.

Bring the Big Lens

Bird photographers are very welcome here. So are their enormous camera bags.

Our open-sided game viewing vehicles offer excellent visibility, which is particularly useful when your subject has wings and absolutely no interest in staying where you’ve pointed your camera. And generous storage behind the seats make travelling with larger lenses easier.

With low vehicle numbers on the concession, there’s also space to wait, without the pressure to immediately move on just as things get interesting.

Back at camp, every suite looks directly across Mashuma Pan. That means the photography doesn’t necessarily stop when the game drive does.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Mana Pools for Birding?

That depends entirely on what you’re hoping to find.

April and May bring lush landscapes, comfortable temperatures and excellent all-round birding as the rainy season draws to a close.

August to October is particularly rewarding for river specialists. Southern carmine bee-eaters nest along the riverbanks, while African skimmers breed on exposed sandbanks.

There’s one important catch. The rains generally arrive from November onwards, when access becomes increasingly difficult and many camps close for the season. Molori Mashuma operates seasonally, so it’s worth speaking to our team about the best time to travel for the species you’d most like to see.

Fair Warning: You May Leave a Birder

You don’t need a life list to enjoy birding at Molori Mashuma.

You can head out with your guide specifically looking for a Pel’s fishing-owl. You can spend a morning photographing bee-eaters. Or you can sit on your deck with a coffee and gradually realise you’ve been watching the same heron fishing for the past half hour.

That’s rather the point.

At Molori Mashuma, there is time to notice the smaller things, wait for something interesting to happen and let the day unfold around whatever has caught your attention.

Even if it happens to weigh 30 grams rather than five tonnes.

To plan your stay at Molori Mashuma, email reservations@molorisafari.com.