4 Day Pemba Island Endemics bird tour

Pemba Island Endemics bird tour

Birding Itinerary Summary

Day 1: Morning birding at Ngezi Forest (Chokaani area); afternoon search for Pemba Scops Owl at Ngezi Tiisi.
Day 2: Full-day birding at Maziwa Ng’ombe Forest and surrounding areas; visit Makangale and lighthouse for Nightjars.
Day 3: Full-day birding at Mtambwe Forest; end at Msuka coastal beach area.
Day 4: Birding at Kisiwani kwa Bi Abeid; visit Wete for Pemba flying fox and Kondeni area

Note: this tour can as well be done in a single day for listers

4-day Pemba Island endemics bird tour

Itinerary details

Day 1: Pick up at 06:00am from your hotel

Drive to Ngezi forest. Will be birding Chokaani area until mid of the day. Drive back to the hotel around 11:00am for short break.

In the afternoon hours: around 02:00 PM.

Pick up again from the hotel to Ngezi Tiisi area. The area is popular for Pemba Scops Owl. We will start searching for Scops Owl when it get around 06:00PM. Then before that time we will be birding areas around Tisii while waiting for Scops Owl time. The equipment like spot light torch is very

important to come with it on this trip.

Day 2: Early morning pick up from hotel drive Maziwa Ng’ombe Forest

It’s 35km from Pemba paradise hotel. The area is popular for Pemba White-eye, Pemba Sunbird and sometime Pemba Green Pigeon. It is full day birding. On the way back will pass through open Swamp area of Ngezi forest and spend short time birding around. Then drive again Makangale area for birding then to the light house. Where it’s perfect hotspot for Nightjars.

Day 3: Early morning pick up from hotel drive to Mtambwe forest.

It is 45 km from Pemba paradise Hotel. The area is popular for Broadbilled Roller, Pemba Goshawk, Mozambique Nightjar. It is full day birding. Then our last point will be coastal beach area known as msuka spend the rest of the day birding to see other species birds then back to the hotel finish the birding tour.

Day 4: Early morning pick up from hotel drive to Kisiwani kwa Bi Abeid hotspot

The area is popular for African Pygmy goose, Brown-headed Parrot, Pemba Scops Owl, Pemba Green Pigeon, Pemba Sunbird, Pemba white eye. After this point then drive straight to Wete, Pemba north to see Pemba flying fox. Spend couple of minutes then heading Kondeni area. After this point drive back to the hotel and overnight.

Note: the search for these endemics can as well be done in a single day

4-day Pemba endemics bird tour

costs, inclusions and exclusions

Rates

from USD 180 per person

Included:

professional birding guide fees, entrance to reserve, car and fuel

Excluded:

meals, accommodation, drinks plus any other items of personal nature

Day trip birding in Zanzibar

Customized day birding trips to Zanzibar island

Birding Itinerary Summary

05:45 AM: Pick up at Jambiani, Reef & Beach Resorts.
06:00 AM: Birding at Jambiani Fumbwi Bushland (e.g., Lilac-breasted Roller, Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul).
07:00-07:30 AM: Birding at Ukongoloni village and beach (e.g., Crowned Hornbill, Crab Plover).
10:00-11:30 AM: Birding at Chejuu rice pads (e.g., Senegal Plover, African Crake).
01:00-01:30 PM: Birding at Mapopwe sugarcane plantation (e.g., Black-bellied Starling, Forest Weaver).
02:30-03:30 PM: Birding at Ifufuma conservation forest (e.g., East Coast Akalat, Cardinal Woodpecker).
04:30-05:30 PM: Return drive to Jambiani with roadside stops for birding.

Customized day trip birding Zanzibar island

itinerary details

First site: At 05:45am

Jambiani

Pick up guests at meeting point in the south of Zanzibar (Jambiani)-Reef & Beach Resorts.

Second site

At 06:00am Driving Jambiani Fumbwi Bushland

Spend a half an hour birding around this area. Bird species expected to see here; Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Red-eyed Dove, Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul, Common Bulbul, Zitting cisticola, African golden Weaver, Common Dongo, Striped Kingfisher

Third site: At 07:00-07:30 am

Board in car and drive to Ukongoloni village

Birding around the village then turn up to the beach. The village is popular for unexpected species including: Green wood Hoopoe, crowned Hornbill, Tambourine Dove and Fischer’s Turaco to the woodland area. At the beach: Eurasian Oystercatchers, Eurasian Curlew, Red-necked phalarope, Crab Plover. Though this time of the year most of Palearctic migrants are far away from African continent

Fourth site: At 10:00am-11:30am

Drive Chejuu rice pads

The area is productive for the following species; Senegal Plover, a Parasitic Weaver, a rare African open billed stork, Africa Crake, Greater Painted Snipe, Red eyed Dove, Lilac-breasted Roller, morning Black-shouldered Kite, Zanzibar Red Bishop, Black-winged Red Bishop. Tomention a few.

Fifth site: At 01:00pm-01:30pm

Drive to Mapopwe sugarcane plantation area and around Mapopwe prison

The area hold both two species of Bishops: Zanzibar red, Black-winged Red Bishop. Black-bellied Starling, Forest Weaver, Mouse-coloured Sunbird, Lesser Striped Swallow and sometime Fischer’s Turaco.

Sixth site: At 02:30pm- 03:30pm

Drive Ifufuma village

Birding ifufuma Community conservation forest. It’s small perch of forest hold great species including; East Coast Akalat, Green-backed and Cardinal Woodpecker, Forest Weaver, Black-bellied Starling, breeding colonies for African golden Weavers.

Last point: At 04:30pm-05:30pm

Road sides driving heading back to the hotel (Reef and Beach resorts). On this long driving way back home will have several stops for any interesting species on the roadside. Approximately time for driving is 1 hour. But it might go beyond the time, it depend with what we will see on the way back.

Customized dat trips birding Zanzibar island

Costs, Inclusions and exclusions

from USD160 per person

Included

Reserve entry fees for non-residents (for one reserve)
Professional birding guide fees
Ground transportation

Excluded

Visa fees and international flights to and fro country of origin
meals, beverages like sodas, water, alcoholic drinks or juices
Tips, souvenirs plus any other expenses of personal nature

Note: tipping is recommended of up to 10dollars per guest per day or depending on the satisfaction with the level of service by the guides

Itinerary for day trip birding in Zanzibar Island

A day trip birding in Zanzibar

Summary itinerary visiting different sites

06:00 AM – Uroa: Guest pick-up on Zanzibar’s eastern side.

06:30 AM – Pongwe-Kiwengwa Forest Reserve: Birding in forests and exploring caves with bats and small mammals.

Iconic birds: Fischer’s Turaco, Eastern Nicator, Mouse-coloured Sunbird, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher.

10:30 AM – Pwani Mchangani Bushland: Open bushland birding.

Birds: Parasitic Weaver, Harlequin Quail, Zanzibar Boubou, Zitting Cisticola.

11:30 AM – Cheju (Mapopwe Rice Farm): Birding in rice fields.

Birds: Senegal Plover, African Open-billed Stork, Lilac-breasted Roller, Black-winged Red Bishop.

12:30 PM – Kitope Community Forest: Birding in the community forest.

Birds: Forest Weaver, Diederik Cuckoo, Green Wood Hoopoe, Golden-rumped Tinkerbird.

02:30 PM – Bwawani Mlandege (Stonetown): Freshwater and saltwater swamp birding.

Birds: Common Greenshank, Crab Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Grey Plover.

03:30 PM – Chukwani Mangrove Forest: Mangrove birding near shoreline.

Birds: Mangrove Kingfisher, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Whimbrel, Green-backed Heron

04:30 PM: Drive back to the hotel.

A day trip birding Zanzibar Island

itinerary details

First site: At 06:00am (Uroa)

Pick up guests at the meeting point in the Eastern side of Zanzibar (Uroa)

Second site: 06:30am

(Pongwe-Kiwengwa Forest reserve) Eastern side of island.

Arrived at the Park Receiption (Pongwe-Kiwengwa forest reserve) sort out registration and start birding around Kiwengwa and Pongwe forest for couple of hours.

Remarks on site;

The area hold giant caves. The calves hold several species of bats including; Egyptian Rousette, Decken’s Horseshoes Bat, Large-slit faced Bat and Least long-fingered Bat. Just to mention a few. Also the area hold other small mammals including: Black and rufous Elephant Shrew, Red bush squirrel and rare Blue Duiker.

Iconic species on site:

This is a perfect hotspot site to see: a popular bird in Zanzibar: Fischer’s Turaco, Eastern Nicator, Little Greenbul, Bearded scrub Robin, Mouse-coloured Sunbird, East Coast Akalat, Blue-mantled crested Flycatcher and other Common birds around.

Third site: 10:30am

Pwani Mchangani Bushland (Eastern side of the island)

Pwani Mchangani is the open Bushland. Bird species expected to see hear; Parasitic Weaver, Zitting Cisticola, Burchell’s coucal, a rare Harlequin quail, Java Sparrow, Tambourine Dove, Yellow breasted Apalis, Zanzibar, Boubou, Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul,

Fourth site: 11:30am

Cheju (Mapopwe rice farm)

Birding around this site: bird species species expected to see here: Senegal Plover, a Parasitic Weaver, a rare African open billed stork, Africa Crake, Greater Painted Snipe, Red eyed Dove, Lilac-breasted Roller, morning Black-shouldered Kite, Zanzibar Red Bishop, Black-winged Red Bishop. To mention a few.

Fifth site: 12:30pm

Kitope community forest (central part of the island)

On this community forest we will expect to see;- Forest Weaver, Golden-rumped Tinkerbird, Green Wood Hoopoe, Diederik Cuckoo, Broadbill Roller Yellowbill and African Golden Weaver. To mention a few.

Sixth Site; 02:30pm

Bwawani Mlandege (Stonetown)

On the fresh water and salt water swamp near stonetown, we are expecting to see several waders including the Palearctic migrants( Common Greenshank, Gill-billed Tern, Little Stink, Ruff, Crab Plover, Terek Sandpiper and Grey Plover to mention a few.

Seventh site: 03:30pm-04:30 pm

Chukwani Mangrove forest-Mbweni area (Eastern Side of the island).

The area hold: iconic species; Mangrove Kingfisher and other common bird including; African paradise Flycatcher, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. To the shoreline; Crab Plover, Green backed Heron, Whimbrel, Pale Batis, just to mention a few.

The last site: At 04:30pm start long drive back to your hotel