ANGOLA – In search of the avian specialities of a poorly-known part of Southwest Africa

PRICE INFORMATION

Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include surface transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

We also include all tipping for local guides, drivers and accommodation/restaurant staff.

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)

Please note that twin-bedded rooms are not available during most of this tour. Most hotel rooms in Angola only have a double bed. In consequence all single travellers must take single occupancy and all couples must share a bed.

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency will be pleased to arrange your air travel on request, or you may arrange this yourself if you prefer.

ANGOLA BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

Angola: Day 1  Our Angola birding tour begins this evening at Luanda, the capital of Angola, where we will overnight. Airport transfers will be provided.

These days Luanda is a bustling city that is experiencing a building boom following on from the newfound oil wealth available in the country. The lavish modern buildings here are in stark contrast to the poverty of much of the country.

Angola: Day 2  Today we will travel northeastwards to Uige for a two nights stay. We will stop along the way to look for our first Angolan birds.

Angola: Day 3  The northern escarpment of Angola extends to the Uige area and this higher ground is covered by a finger of lush evergreen and semi-deciduous Guinea Forest that projects southward from the Congo into Angola. The type of forest that cloaks the attractive hills in the Uige region is evergreen and semi-deciduous and part of the southern extension of the Guinea Forests. The district is blessed with a warm, wet climate that is perfect for growing coffee. In many areas, the undergrowth has been cleared, but the large shade trees that dominate the coffee plantations have been left. This combination makes for a surprisingly marvellous habitat for birds and should provide more opportunistic birding. Sadly, and inevitably, the habitat is under great threat and is being cleared at an alarming rate, making this another threatened avifauna.

Our prime target here will be the brightly-coloured and rare endemic Braun’s Bushshrike, so we shall be listening out for the telltale croaks that should alert us to its presence. Both this species and the more southerly Gabela Bushshrike share some vocalisations with the more widespread Lühder’s Bushshrike with which they were once lumped, but they also seem to have repertoires of their own as well. Since the discovery of Braun’s Bushshrike in 1939, remarkably few birders have seen this little known and highly localized species that is classified by BirdLife International as ‘Endangered’.

Many of the other species that can be found here will be familiar to anyone who has travelled in West Africa and species that we may well find include spectacular Guinea and Great Blue Turacos, African Emerald Cuckoo, Western Bronze-naped and Afep Pigeons, the huge Black-casqued Hornbill, Black Bee-eater, the scarce Blue-throated Roller, the bizarre Bristle-nosed Barbet, Brown-eared and Buff-spotted Woodpeckers, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Bocage’s Bushshrike, Pink-footed Puffback, Simple Greenbul, Banded and White-chinned Prinias, Lowland Masked Apalis, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Black-and-white and African Shrike-flycatchers, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Yellow Longbill (with its amazing descending song), Chestnut-winged and Narrow-tailed Starlings, Grey-headed, Chestnut-breasted and White-breasted Nigritas, Orange-cheeked Waxbill and Thick-billed Weaver, whilst in the more open grasslands here we should find Brown-backed Scrub Robin and perhaps some migrant European Bee-eaters.

We will also hope to find a few of the more difficult species such as Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, the local form of White-throated Greenbul, Tit Hylia and the recently found (in this area) White-collared Oliveback.

Angola: Day 4  After some final birding in the Uige region, we will head towards Calandula (or Kalandula) for a three nights stay.

Angola: Days 5-6  Near to the town of Calandula are the magnificent Calandula Falls. These falls drop 105 metres and span some 400 metres making them one of Africa’s greatest in terms of the volume of water and are certainly worth a look! African Pied Wagtails are often seen on the rocks below and the Red-tailed Rock Agamids (colourful lizards) add to the value! Further on a bridge across the river should hold a colony of Red-throated Cliff Swallows, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, seed-eating species such as Black-winged Red Bishop, Red-headed Quelea, Fan-tailed and Yellow-mantled Widowbirds haunt the riverside vegetation, and with luck will find the lovely (Anchieta’s) Marsh Tchagra and Blue-headed Coucal.

One of the main reasons for visiting the Calandula region is to visit the site where the beautiful and little-known endemic White-headed Robin-Chat was collected as recently as 1966. Some visiting birders rediscovered the species in the area in 2004 and we also found this enigmatic bird here on our first visit in 2005 and subsequently. We will have left behind the Guinea forests and have now entered the distinctive Brachystegia or miombo woodland with its twisted trunks and stunted branches that covers much of Angola. The avifauna of the area is enhanced by the varied habitat, with miombo woodland merging with the slender gallery forests and open areas that occur along the rivers that flow into the Congo basin.

The beautiful White-headed Robin-Chat should not be too difficult to find, as it appears to be reasonably common in this area and has a loud and distinctive song with which it duets with its partner. Also in the gallery forest White-spotted Flufftails hoot from the safety of dark, damp and tangled undergrowth that also offers hiding places to pretty Grey-winged Robin-Chats. African Broadbills whirl round like little mechanical toys upon their perches and Brown-headed Apalises ‘chip’ away from the canopy. At the edge of the forests, we will also search for the localized and attractive Black-backed Barbet which we also have a good chance of finding.

Out in the miombo itself, we shall search for the localized Anchieta’s Barbet, the glorious Anchieta’s Sunbird (though they seem to be absent on some visits, presumably depending on the flowering trees available), and the colourful Sharp-tailed Starling. Other birds occurring in the miombo here, that we may not have encountered already, include African Barred Owlet, Black Scimitarbill, the smart Pale-billed Hornbill, the colourful Narina’s Trogon, Golden-tailed and Bearded Woodpeckers, Meyer’s Parrot, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, White-crested and smart Retz’s Helmetshrikes, Whistling Cisticola, Southern Black Flycatcher, Arrow-marked Babbler and we may find one or two of the scarcer species such as the hulking Thick-billed Cuckoo, Grey-headed Bushshrike, African Golden Oriole or the smart Rufous-bellied Tit.

We will also make an effort to find the range-restricted Bannerman’s Sunbird. However, the presence of the local blue-headed form of the Green-headed Sunbird creates an identification problem and the exact status of the species in the area seems somewhat unclear.

In the general area, we should find a number of other interesting species which may include the spectacular Ross’s Turaco, Red-chested, Black and African Cuckoos, Black Crake, Striated Heron, Common Swift, Green Wood Hoopoe, Broad-billed Roller, Malachite Kingfisher, Greater Honeyguide, the smart Black-throated Wattle-eye, Common Square-tailed Drongo, Grey Tit-Flycatcher and Dark-backed Weaver, whilst at night we will make an effort to track down both Fiery-necked Nightjar and African Scops Owl.

Angola: Day 7 After some early morning birding in the Calandula area, we will we will head westwards to the Muxima area where we will spend two nights.

Along the way, we will pause at a river crossing where we will have an excellent chance of finding Rock Pratincole and perhaps Cassin’s Flycatcher. We may also have our first chance to see the much-wanted Gabela Helmetshrike. We may well also find Mottled and bat-like Böhm’s Spinetails flitting around the impressive baobabs.

continue even further north, Muxima and the Kissama National Park, which is situated on the coastal plain to the south of Luanda

Angola: Day 8  Kissama (or Quiçama) National Park is situated on the coastal plain to the south of Luanda and is a rich mosaic of thicket and riparian forest. The park overlooks the floodplain of the Kwanza (or Cuanza) River, while the surrounding area is a pleasant mix of gently undulating land covered in thorny thickets, and punctuated with imposing and very photogenic baobabs and stunning candelabra-like Euphorbias.

During our visit, we shall concentrate on finding some Angolan endemics, including the dapper endemic White-fronted Wattle-eye, a species that is not uncommon but can be tricky to find at times. A more difficult bird is the secretive endemic Grey-striped Francolin, which can be tricky to lure from the safe cover of the densest thickets, but we shall be making a big effort to track this one down. Roving flocks of White-crested Helmetshrikes may put in an appearance, but one of our important targets will be their much rarer endemic cousin, the Gabela Helmetshrike. Fortunately, not all the species are difficult and we should find Golden-backed Bishops quite easily, although unfortunately at this time of year, they will not be in their colourful breeding plumage, though fortunately, they are distinctive in their non-breeding dress!

During our stay, we should also encounter more widespread African species such as Marabou Stork, African Fish Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Helmeted Guineafowl (the interesting West African form here is quite scarce), Red-necked Spurfowl (of the striking nominate race), Olive Bee-eater, Wattled Starling and Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (that give themselves away by their huge nests). If we are fortunate we will come across one or two of the scarcer species in the park such as Crested Guineafowl or perhaps the stunning Egyptian Plover which can sometimes be found here. Unusually for Angola, mammals and in particular primates are quite conspicuous here, and species we may see include Blue Monkey, Malbrouck Monkey and Southern Talapoin Monkey.

If time permits, and we’ve seen all the key birds, we can also spend some time shamelessly list-padding at some of the wetlands in the park! Here we may add a number of new species such as White-faced Whistling Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Knob-billed Duck, African Pygmy Goose, African Jacana, Collared Pratincole and Goliath and Purple Herons, and with luck, we may also find Long-toed Lapwing, White-backed Duck and the secretive Little Bittern.

Angola: Day 9  After some final birding in the Muxima area, we will drive southwards towards the Kumbira Forest region where we will spend three nights in the Conda (or Konda) area.

On the way, we will stop at a wetland where we may pick up Yellow-billed Duck, Giant and Pied Kingfishers and Greater Swamp Warbler.

Later we will reach the scarp forests where we will be on the lookout for Red-fronted Parrots that screech overhead as they search for ripe fruits in the large trees. Other species we may well find here include Tambourine Dove, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Woodland Kingfisher, African (Congo) Pied and (Eastern) Piping Hornbills, Naked-faced, Hairy-breasted and (Eastern) Yellow-billed Barbets, Speckled Tinkerbird, Cassin’s Honeybird, the smart Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Black-winged Oriole, Little, Slender-billed, Plain and Honeyguide Greenbuls, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Sooty Flycatcher (which sallies out from the canopy like a hirundine), Splendid Starling, the smart Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher, and Little Green, Green-throated and Blue-throated Brown Sunbirds, whilst canopy flocks may hold Red-headed and Crested Malimbes and the very smart Yellow-mantled Weaver.

Angola: Days 10-11  Kumbira Forest is an area of degraded habitat on the central scarp of Angola that was selectively logged before the civil war. Sadly, in the previous few years, the rate of habitat destruction has continued at pace, to the point where the speciality birds of the region are now at real risk of extinction in the near future. Despite not being pristine habitat, it can be teeming with birds. Patches of forest adjoin farmbush (mainly old coffee plantations) and these cover the slopes beneath the impressive quartzite cliffs of Njelo Mountain.

We will be exploring various forest patches in the area, in particular for three little-known and rare endemics, namely the unassuming Gabela Akalat, the unusual blue-eyed Pulitzer’s Longbill and the attractive Gabela Bushshrike, and with perseverance, we should find all three, despite obvious recent declines. Hopefully, the distinctive pooping calls of the bushshrike and the loud and distinctive song as of the longbill will lead us to our quarries, whilst we will have to look carefully for the furtive akalat, which is typical of its congeners, being shy, quiet and elusive with a hardly perceptible song. Indeed, with their drab plumage, they have the appearance of a quiet understorey flycatcher. In this area, we may also find the attractive Monteiro’s Bushshrike and try to tease out a Pale-olive Greenbul or Forest Scrub Robin that sings its sweet song from the dense tangles from the undergrowth. One endemic that should give us no problems at all is the gorgeous Red-crested Turaco as they are very common here and can often be seen bouncing through the canopy or flashing brilliant red as they take to the air, and the attractive Angolan Batis is also usually relatively easy to see. Equally colourful is the stunning Gorgeous Bushshrike and we should have the first of many chances to see this aptly-named bird here. The endemic Hartert’s Camaroptera and near-endemic Bubbling Cisticola are common here and should present few problems. The booming hoots of Gabon Coucals will likely reach our ears well before we can first catch sight of the birds themselves, for these are true skulkers!

Other species we may find here include African Goshawk (often displaying at dawn), Long-crested Eagle, Mottled Swift, Blue Malkoha, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Cardinal Woodpecker, Trumpeter Hornbill, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Falkenstein’s and Yellow-whiskered Greenbuls, the smart Yellow-throated Nicator, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Black-throated and Buff-throated Apalises, Green Crombec, Green Hylia, Southern Hyliota, Ashy and African Blue Flycatchers, the gorgeous Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye (though this species is becoming more tricky as the habitat is cleared), Brown Illadopsis, Fraser’s Rufous Thrush, Dusky Tit, Wire-tailed Swallow, Collared, Olive, Olive-bellied, Green-headed, Superb and Carmelite Sunbirds, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-necked, Village and Vieillot’s Black Weavers, Black-and-white Mannikin, the scarce Brown Twinspot, the gorgeous Grey Waxbill and the endemic Landana (or Pale-billed) Firefinch, and we may also come across one or two of the more difficult species such as Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, African Wood Owl, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Brown-backed Honeybird, Bates’s Paradise Flycatcher or Red-headed Bluebill.

On our second full day, we will make a visit to Mount Namba. Although it will be a long day out, Mt Namba houses the largest tracts of surviving Afromontane forest in Angola. The walk to and from the forest is not difficult (much easier than at Mount Moco), and we will hope to track down a couple of key birds here, namely the tricky Margaret’s Batis and the local form of Naked-faced Barbet (sometimes split as Pale-throated Barbet). Laura’s Woodland Warbler is also a possibility. In addition, we will have the chance to find a few other new species such as Western Tinkerbird (common here), Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Red-tailed Bristlebill, the sneaky Cabanis’s Greenbul and perhaps Crowned Eagle.

Angola: Day 12  From the Conda area we will drive southwards to the Huambo area for a two nights stay, making a number of birding stops en route.

Angola: Day 13  From our base in the Huambo area we will be able to explore a variety of habitats in the surrounding area. Of prime interest will be nearby Mount Moco, which we will explore for a whole day. The mountain supports some isolated patches of Afromontane forest, an increasingly rare and threatened habitat, and as a result, some special birds can be found here. This is the site where the secretive and threatened endemic Swierstra’s Francolin was first rediscovered, and we have a decent chance to find this tricky species here. Fernando Po Swift is also known from the mountain (though is both hard to find and hard to identify with certainty) and Finsch’s Francolin and Angolan Lark can be found in the grasslands. Whilst exploring the remaining forest fragments we will have a chance of finding interesting species such as the local form of Rock-loving Cisticola (which is actually not even related to Rock-loving Cisticola and is best split off as Huambo Cisticola), the smart Dusky Twinspot and the localized Black-chinned Weaver as well as the delightful Bocage’s Akalat. More widespread species in the forest patches may include Olive Woodpecker, Red-throated Wryneck, Tropical Boubou, Yellow-throated Leaflove, the elusive Evergreen Forest Warbler, African Dusky and White-tailed Blue Flycatchers, African Hill Babbler, African Spotted Creeper, Bronzy Sunbird, Northern Yellow White-eye, Spectacled Weaver and Thick-billed Seedeater. Whilst walking to the patches we may encounter smart Striped Pipits, as well as Plain-backed and perhaps Long-billed Pipits, and the local form of Mountain Wheatear.

In the scrubby grasslands below the higher slopes, we will look for another suite of species. One of the best is also one of the toughest, and we will need to work hard to find the rare Bocage’s Sunbird, though the striking Black-collared Bulbul should be somewhat easier to find, and we should also enjoy the poorly named Black-and-rufous Swallow (which is a gorgeous deep blue and rufous!) and Horus Swift. Other species in the various scrubby grasslands and wet dambos in the areas may include Red-necked Spurfowl, African Wattled Lapwing, African Marsh Harrier, Red-necked Buzzard, the stately Black-bellied Bustard, the diminutive Common Buttonquail (scarce), Coppery-tailed Coucal, the delightful White-fronted Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, the dashing African Hobby, Grey Kestrel, Flappet Lark, Black Saw-wing, the subtle Grey-rumped Swallow, Banded Martin, Barn Swallow, Moustached Grass Warbler, African Yellow Warbler, Fan-tailed Grassbird, the distinctive local form of Red-faced Cisticola (sometimes split as Lepe Cisticola), Croaking and Short-winged Cisticolas, Capped Wheatear, Copper Sunbird, the localized Marsh, White-winged and Red-collared Widowbirds, Fawn-breasted, Orange-breasted and Common Waxbills, the tiny Quailfinch, the smart and localized Black-faced Canary, Cape Wagtail and African Pipit, and if we are fortunate, the localized Dusky Indigobird.

Whilst exploring the Huambo area we will cross a number of wetlands and rivers, and here we will be keeping a very sharp eye out for the poorly known and very special Brazza’s Martin, which is sometimes found amongst the throngs of other hirundines which may also include White-throated Swallows. Another special bird we will hope to come across in this area is the superb Bocage’s Weaver, whilst Chirping Cisticola and Little Rush Warbler, though not quite as spectacular, should also be found.

We will also spend some time exploring some of the numerous miombo patches in the area. Although they hold a number of great species, they are under great threat from cutting for charcoal. Nevertheless, we will hope to find a number of special miombo birds such as the hooting Miombo Pied Barbet, the scarce Souza’s Shrike, the spectacular Black-necked Eremomela, and the delightful Western Miombo Sunbird.

More widespread species that are possible in these woodlands include Green-backed Honeybird, Brubru (the form here lacks rufous on the flanks), Petit’s Cuckooshrike, the smart Miombo Scrub Robin, Pale Flycatcher, White-winged Black Tit, Grey Penduline Tit, the delightful Red-capped Crombec, Tinkling Cisticola, Neddicky (or Piping Cisticola), Miombo Wren-Warbler, Green-capped Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow, Black-throated Canary, the stunning Orange-winged Pytilia, Golden-breasted Bunting and the somewhat elusive Wood Pipit (which seems to be easy here), and with luck Salvadori’s Eremomela.

Other species possible in the Huambo/Mt Moco area include Lizard Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Speckled Mousebird, Grey-headed and Brown-hooded Kingfishers, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Mosque Swallow, African Thrush and perhaps African Cuckoo-Hawk, whilst at night we may well come across the spectacular Pennant-winged and Square-tailed Nightjars.

Angola: Day 14  After spending much of the day in the Huambo region we will head for the coast, where we will spend the night at Benguela.

Angola: Day 15  This morning we will explore areas not far from Benguela, including an area of impressive Baobabs set amongst dense thickets and kopjes (rocky outcrops) inland from the coast and also some more open areas. Here we will be keen to find the localized Hartlaub’s Spurfowl and, with luck, the energetic Cape Penduline Tit.

Other species in this area may well include Bateleur, Gabar Goshawk, Red-crested Korhaan, White-rumped Swift, Scaly-feathered Weaver, Yellow Bishop and Yellow-fronted Canary.

Afterwards, we will travel to the city of Lubango for a two nights stay.

Angola: Day 16  The stunning view from the cliffs of Tundavala near Lubango, which tower over 1000 metres up above the coastal plain far below, will certainly be a highlight of the tour. The wonderful panoramic view towards the coast stretches for many kilometres before disappearing into the haze. Beneath us, groups of Bradfield’s and Alpine Swifts whirl through the air and occasionally a magnificent Verreaux’s Eagle glides past. If we can tear ourselves away from the sheer natural beauty of these dizzy heights we will be able to explore the surrounding open ground where Red-capped Larks and Buffy Pipits may be displaying. Here, amongst a maze of bizarrely-shaped rocky outcrops and stunted, windswept vegetation we shall search for the handsome endemic Angolan Cave Chat, which is fairly common and easy to see here as well as the endemic Angolan Slaty Flycatcher and localized Ludwig’s Double-collared and Oustalet’s Sunbirds.

This is one of the few known sites for the recently rediscovered endemic Swierstra’s Francolin and we shall certainly be on the lookout for this rare bird. In some of the gullies and little gorges, some vegetation clings to the rocks and in these sheltered and moister places we will look for the handsome Miombo and Short-toed Rock Thrushes as well as the near-endemic Hartlaub’s Spurfowl and Red-backed Mousebird and the endemic Angolan Waxbill. The brightly coloured local form of the Jameson’s Firefinch (sometimes split as Ansorge’s Firefinch) can also be found.

Other species likely to be found around the Tundavala Escarpment include Yellow-billed Kite, Augur Buzzard, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Freckled Nightjar, Rufous-naped Lark, Lesser Striped, Greater Striped and Angolan Swallows, Rock Martin, Dark-capped Bulbul, White-browed Robin-Chat, African Stonechat, Sooty and Familiar Chats, Wailing and Wing-snapping Cisticolas, Grey Apalis, Chinspot Batis, Variable Sunbird, Southern Yellow White-eye, Northern Fiscal, Pied Crow, Blue Waxbill, Yellow-crowned and Brimstone Canaries and Cinnamon-breasted and, sometimes, Lark-like Buntings.

We will also have our first chance to look for the smart and localized Fülleborn’s Longclaw, and, if luck is on our side, we will come across the extremely rare Angolan form of the White-headed Barbet (sometimes split as White-bellied Barbet) or the scarce Spotted Eagle-Owl or Rufous-cheeked Nightjar. On the rocky slopes, we are also likely to encounter the cute Yellow-spotted Hyrax, whilst around our comfortable lodge, we are likely to see the endearing Lesser Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat.

We will also pause at a small dam where Little Grebe, Red-billed Teal and Three-banded Plover are often present, and occasionally a pair of the scarce African Black Duck joins them.

Other species to watch for in the general area include Black-winged Kite, Rock Kestrel, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, African Olive Pigeon (scarce), Red-eyed, Ring-necked, Laughing and Namaqua Doves, the crazy Schalow’s Turaco, Little Swift, Crowned Hornbill, the smart Black-collared Barbet, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Lesser Honeyguide, Red-faced Mousebird, Black Cuckooshrike, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, White-browed Scrub Robin, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Long-billed Crombec (also possible later in the tour), Hartlaub’s Babbler (sometimes around our lodge!), Black-crowned Tchagra, African Paradise Flycatcher, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Swamp Boubou, Cape (Glossy) and Violet-backed Starlings, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Bronze Mannikin and Pin-tailed Whydah

Angola: Day 17  Today we shall descend the southern escarpment. A major feat of engineering has constructed a wonderful road that snakes down the precipice. As we descend we will check out likely patches of scrub for the attractive Rockrunner and the superb White-tailed Shrike that looks like some strange giant batis!

We will continue along a fine highway into the deserts towards the town of Namibe where we will spend the night.

Here in the dry country, we will target some special birds, many of which are only shared with Namibia, including the elusive Cinderella Waxbill. Much of the birdlife is concentrated in the more vegetated areas and river beds. African Red-eyed Bulbuls sing cheerfully away, and we can also expect to find Rüppell’s Parrot, charming Rosy-faced Lovebirds, Striped Kingfisher, the localized Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, Pririt Batis, Carp’s Tit, the smart Bare-cheeked Babbler, and the local form of Meves’s Starling and the small local form of the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill both of which are of interest and could be split as separate species in the future, and we may find the spectacular Crimson-breasted Shrike. Away from the few watercourses, dry scrub covers the landscape. Here, Chat Flycatchers flit from bush to bush, Kalahari Scrub Robins sit up to sing from prominent perches, flocks of White-throated Canaries and handsome Cape Sparrows roam from bush to bush, Dusky Sunbirds seek what little nectar there is, and flocks of Pale-winged Starlings can be found. As the road goes on we will pass handsome Mountain Wheatears that perch upon convenient posts or favour the isolated kopjes, while Karoo Chats flick away from the roadsides (the small pale form here has a pale rump and probably merits taxonomic investigation). As the landscape becomes still more arid we can look for the localized Benguela Long-billed Lark as well as Sabota, Spike-heeled and the uncommon Stark’s Larks, and small flocks of Grey-backed Sparrow-Larks. By regularly stopping for anything of interest the numerous birding opportunities could include other Namibian ‘specials’ such as Rüppell’s Korhaans, Ludwig’s Bustard or the ghostly Tractrac Chat.

Other species we may well encounter include Western Cattle Egret, Black-headed Heron, Palm-nut Vulture, African Harrier-Hawk (or Gymnogene), the smart Pale Chanting Goshawk, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Green Pigeon, Grey Go-away-bird, Klaas’s Cuckoo, White-browed Coucal, Common Scimitarbill, African Palm Swift, Little and Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Purple Roller, African Hoopoe, Acacia Pied Barbet, Rattling and Grey-backed Cisticolas, Black-chested Prinia, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Groundscraper Thrush, Scarlet-chested, Purple-banded and White-bellied Sunbirds, Southern Fiscal (the form here with a distinct white supercilium), Southern White-crowned Shrike, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Black-backed Puffback, Yellow-breasted Apalis, (Eastern) Black-headed Oriole, Fork-tailed Drongo, Cape Crow, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Southern Masked Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, Southern Red Bishop, Green-winged Pytilia, the smart Violet-eared Waxbill and Red-billed Firefinch.

More uncommon species include Little Sparrowhawk, African Hawk-Eagle, Martial Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle and Chestnut-vented Warbler.

Angola: Day 18  After some final birding inland from Namibe, we shall head northwards to Lobito, situated on the coast north of Benguels, where we will spend the night.

On the way, we will stop at a number of saltpans and coastal wetlands that are likely to be absolutely teeming with birdlife! Here, large flocks of Kelp Gulls are joined by Grey-headed Gulls and Caspian, West African Crested and Sandwich Terns, whilst throngs of shorebirds jostle their way around the pools and may include Water Thick-knee (particularly numerous here), Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Grey, Common Ringed, and Kittlitz’s Plovers, Eurasian Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Ruff, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, Curlew, Common, Marsh and Wood Sandpipers and Common Greenshank, and with a bit of luck the delicate Chestnut-banded Plover. Good numbers of smart Lesser Flamingos are joined by smaller numbers of Greater Flamingos, and we are likely to get some lovely views of flocks of Great White Pelicans.

In the areas with fresher water, Yellow-billed Storks, African Openbills and African Sacred Ibises are likely to be present, and amongst the throngs of herons we are likely to find Grey Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret and attractive Squacco Herons, and perhaps Black Heron and Yellow-billed Egret, and we should also find our first African Spoonbills. Ducks will include numerous Cape Teals and perhaps smaller numbers of Blue-billed (or Hottentot) Teals and Southern Pochards. Other possibilities include African Darter, Reed and White-breasted Cormorants, Common Moorhen and perhaps Red-knobbed Coot and Zitting Cisticola.

Angola: Day 19  Today we return to Luanda where our Angola birding tour ends this evening at Luanda airport.

We will have a chance to stop along the coast, including at the mangroves at the mouth of the Kwanza River where we will look for a few new species such as Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Mangrove Sunbird, the ungainly Long-legged Pipit, and perhaps the local race of the Lesser Masked Weaver.

Further north, we will stop off at other wetlands along the coast, including on the Mussulo Peninsula, where we should find the diminutive, range-restricted Damara Tern (a Benguela Current speciality). Common Tern is also possible from September onwards. Other new species may include White-fronted Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling and Osprey. If conditions are favourable, we will also have a look out to sea, and here we may even see Cape Gannet, Sooty Shearwater or Wilson’s Storm Petrel, all species we have seen on previous tours.