Whilst most travelling birdwatchers generally prioritise East or South African birding destinations, with their world renowned wildlife reserves, Malawi is increasingly attraction birders' attention with a diversity of wildlife that includes more than 650 bird species. Coupled with its safe, easy-going nature and a wide range of habitats that includes woodland, montane plateau, rift-valley escarpments, low lying marshes and Africa's third largest lake, the country is now recognising its birding potential. Nyika plateau in the north is probably Malawi's top birding destination with more than 400 species recorded across its mosaic of miombo-clad foothills, rolling grasslands and hidden pockets of Afromontane forest that harbour numerous East African species at the southern tip of their range. Nyika also holds the world's largest population of the stunningly beautiful and endangered Blue Swallow. Birding is best during the winter (November through January) although the late dry season (July through October) is also good for safaris.
Souza's Shrike © Nik Borrow
Showing the 8 Most Recent Trip Reports Posted
Malawi - 11th - 27th November 2006, author Pete Morris (link created October 29, 2007)
(392 species of birds including Pel's Fishing Owl)
Malawi - November 2017, author Birding Ecotours (added October 26, 2023)
(Black-throated Wattle-eyes, White-browed Robin-Chat, Olive Sunbird, African Black Ducks, Hamerkop, Pied Kingfisher, Schalow’s Turaco, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Black-backed Puffback, Tropical Boubou, Black Cuckooshrike)
Zambia and Malawi Trip Report – August - September 2014, author Chris Lotz, Birding Ecotours (link created October 14, 2014)
(A customized tour for three clients, all with lists of well over 7000 species seen worldwide)
Malawi - Miombo & Montane Birding Sep 16, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created June 13, 2017)
(Malawi, South Luangwa, Boehm's Bee-eater, African Broadbill, East Coast Akalat, Boehm's Flycatcher, Montane Widowbird, Red-throated Twinspot, Souza's Shrike, Boulder Chat, African Spotted Creeper, Lilian's Lovebirds, African Skimmers, Yellow-throated Apal)
Malawi with Birding Africa - November/December 2010, author Callan Cohen (added January 8, 2011)
(Lesser Seedcracker, Black-lored Cisticola, White-winged Apalis, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Boulder Chat, Lillian's Lovebird, Sharpe's Akalat, Yellow-throated Apalis, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Anchieta's Sunbird, Dzalanyama, South Vipya, Nyika Plateau, Vwasa)
Malawi - 12-22 December, 2008, author Benjamin Schwartz (added January 6, 2009)
(Loads of Miombo specialties in Dzalanyama)
Malawi - October 14th - November 2nd 2005, author Greg Baker (added December 12, 2005)
(Montane Widowbird, White-backed Night Heron, Brown-breasted Barbet)
Malawi and Zambia - February 1999, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 27, 2004)
No Sightings Have Been Posted for this Region Yet.