With more than 320 species recorded, Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve is a great bird-watching destination. Raptors, such as palm-nut vulture and martial eagle, are especially well represented. There is also a good number of specials, including miombo pied barbet, pale-billed hornbill, miombo tit and olive-headed weaver. The evergreen forest on Mt Chipata has its own specials, such as moustached green tinkerbird and grey-olive greenbul. Guided walking is one of the main activities in the park, which is ideal from a bird-watcher’s perspective.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- African finfoot
- Anchieta’s sunbird
- Black stork
- Black-chested snake eagle
- Böhm’s bee-eater
- Böhm’s flycatcher
- Broad-tailed paradise whydah
- Dickinson’s kestrel
- Grey-olive greenbul
- Miombo pied barbet
- Miombo rock thrush
- Miombo scrub robin
- Miombo tit
- Moustached green tinkerbird
- Olive-headed weaver
- Pale-billed hornbill
- Souza’s shrike
- White-backed night heron
- White-headed black chat
- White-starred robin
- Whyte’s barbet
- Woolly-necked stork
- Yellow-streaked greenbul
Best Time for Bird Watching
The birdlife in Nkhotakota WR is good year-round. However, the ideal time for bird watching is in the Wet season (November to April) because migratory birds swoop into the reserve at this time. If your interest is more in general wildlife, then the Dry season (May to October) is better, with ideal conditions from July to October.