Malawi - Miombo & Montane Birding 2026

26 Oct 2026 - 10 Nov 2026 (16 days)

USD8,500 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: David Hoddinott

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): USD8,500 * GBP6,766 * EUR8,169 * AUD13,626

Like a distorted exclamation mark, this land of plateaus, rolling plains, lakes, mountains and forests stamps its authority on the continent as an essential birding destination. One of the crowning draw cards is the country’s incredible miombo woodland that is home to a stunning array of range-restricted species. During our explorations, we will seek out the near-endemic Stierling’s Woodpecker and scarce Souza’s Shrike in Dzalanyama’s vast miombo woodlands. The forests of Zomba Mountain, nestled in the tea growing region, hold such specials as Thyolo Alethe and White-winged and Yellow-throated Apalises, while the beautiful Liwonde National Park teems with birds and is the best place to locate Pel’s Fishing Owl, Lilian’s Lovebird, Racket-tailed Roller, Livingstone’s Flycatcher and the stunning Böhm’s Bee-eater. The extensive Nyika Plateau is sure to be one of the undoubted highlights of this tour as we search for the many localised montane forest and grassland species that occur here, including Chapin’s Apalis, Fülleborn’s Boubou, White-chested Alethe, Sharpe’s Akalat, Yellow-browed Seedeater and the stunning Montane Widowbird.

Top Birds

Bohm’s Bee-eater; Stierling’s Woodpecker; Brown-headed, White-winged, Chapin's & Yellow-throated Apalises; Babbling Starling; Brown-breasted, Black-backed, Whyte’s & Miombo Pied Barbets; Lilian’s Lovebird; Green-headed Oriole; Racket-tailed Roller; Schalow’s Turaco; Pel’s Fishing Owl; White-backed Night-Heron; Pale-billed Hornbill; Souza’s Shrike; Fulleborn’s Boubou; African Spotted Creeper; Olive-headed Weaver; Montane Widowbird; Sharpe’s & East Coast Akalats; White-chested & Thyolo Alethes; Olive-flanked Robin-Chat; Miombo Scrub Robin; Retz’s Helmetshrike; Yellow-bellied Hyliota; Bohm’s & Livingstone's Flycatchers; Miombo & Rufous-bellied Tits; Churring Cisticola; Miombo Rock Thrush; Scarlet-tufted, Anchieta’s & Western Violet-backed Sunbirds; Red-faced Crimsonwing; Reichard’s Seedeater; Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver; White-tailed Blue Flycatcher; Bar-tailed Trogon; Lesser Seedcracker; Southern Citril.

Top Mammals

African Elephant; 'Lichtenstein's' Hartebeest; Black Rhinoceros; Common Hippopotamus; Sable & Roan Antelope; 'Crawshay’s' Zebra; Bushbuck; Common Eland; Side-striped Jackal;

Habitats Covered

Montane forest, Brachystegia, Mopane & Miombo woodlands, rivers and montane grassland, dambos (flooded grasslands)

Expected Climate

Warm to cool on the Nyika and Viphya plateaus, mild to hot in the lowlands

Max Group Size

7 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.

Moderate. Some long travel days combined with several low-density target species & some poor road conditions. Not suitable for dedicated photographers, or anyone with mobility or health challenges.

Accommodation

Varies from comfortable to basic (Dzalanyama), some safari tented camps.

Ease of Birding

Moderate to demanding. Some species density is low, particularly in miombo woodland, forest birding presents typical challenges.

Number of Species Expected

350 - 400

Other Attractions

Liwonde National Park, Nyika Plateau, Lake Malawi, vast Miombo woodlands, friendly people, African curios

Photographic Opportunities

Worthwhile to good but limited by time constraints. No dedicated hides or feeders.

What our clients say about us

Keith Valentine
MH, Malawi

Keith was excellent on everything and a wonderful source of information. Keith and Markus are my favorite tour guides ever (over 20 tours with different companies). Keith arranged daily events extremely well and was good at taking the temperature of the group in terms of energy levels and enthusiasm. He is also enormously patient. I would not have considered going to Malawi as a priority until I’d seen about 7,000 life birds (or about 10 years from now) and was very pleasantly surprised by the number of special species, good accommodations, a well thought out itinerary and good arrangements. All in all a memorable and special experience even for somebody who regularly does bird tours.

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