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Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge

Zimbabwe

By Jon Mountjoy

January 18^th, 2020

I spent a glorious few days at the Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge. It's right on the Zambezi river, and so I had many outings on the river itself, as well as on range rovers over land. I was there, primarily, for the birds, and I was richly rewarded. The first beautiful animal that I saw was this bushbuck, also known as an Imbabala.

The bushbuck was swiftly followed by these handsome vervet monkeys.

After unpacking, and a quick lie down, I had a splendid light lunch. It's from this vantage point, while eating, that I spotted the imbabala above. This being a malaria zone, there was a good deal of net protection around the bed.

Day 1: Afternoon on the Zambezi

My first safari was on the river. I traveled with a very experienced birder, Richard Nsinganu. Many of these photos are a testament to his skill. En route to the boat, we spotted a lovely broad-billed roller. I was so happy to get a good shot of the pied kingfisher, as well as others of a great cormorant, common sandpiper, african darter and the curious white crowned lapwing.

I thought some of the river bank was particularly beautiful.

Later, I saw the lovely lesser jacana, swallows, more pied kingfisher, and a few hippos.

I spent ages tracking down this african jacana.

And its cousin, the lesser jacana.

African skimmers

It's not everyday you get to see this threatened bird, the african skimmer. It was lovely to see them doing their thing - flying close to the river, with their elongated bottom bill skimming through the water.

As the sun started to set, I was pleased to get the blacksmith lapwing, black-winged stilt, purple heron and white-faced whistling duck and red-billed teal.

There was a tremendous light on the river, just before the sun set. A golden spotlight.

Day 2: Morning drive

What a fabulous start to the day, with marabou stork, white egret, cattle egret, squacco heron, waterbuck, hooded vulture, red-backed shrike and great spotted cuckoo.

What a beautiful stork this is!

I love the yellow billed stork. Also here, a sacred ibis, black winged stilt, and sand piper (I think).

A few fabulous raptors - a yellow billed kite, and a steppe eagle.

I found this quite incredible. This is a truck, laden with something like copper, being ferried across the Zambezi. The week before, a truck just like this, sank.

I came across these weird bugs, beautifully coloured. Also spotted, a peregrine falcon, rock monitor, white stork and greater blue-eared starlings.

Beautiful southern carmine bee-eaters, posing.

The morning drive ended in a spectacular fashion. I was so happy to capture this sequence.

Day 2: Afternoon drive

A baby warthog to start the day, and a very curious pose by the fish eagle, and a swainson's spurfowl. I was very happy to find a levaillant's cuckoo, as well.

It took hours to get the pictures of the mongoose. I kept spotting one, only to have it dart away.

This is one of my favourite photographs. I just love the light on these giraffes.

A lilac-breasted roller, ground hornbill and fabulous giraffe.

Lilac-breasted roller, showing everything but the lilac breast

I hardly ever see a fiery-necked nightjar, so happy to have seen this one on an evening drive.

Day 3: Back on the river

Here I sit on the quay, waiting or the boat to dock (it was moored elsewhere for the evening).

From a black crake, to a heron in the sunset.

Day 4: More birding on land

A little bee-eater, a cervil, fish eagle, trumpeter hornbill, an amazing bateleur eagle and an emerald spotted dove and African pipit. We were incredibly lucky to spot the cervil.

I came across this kingfisher with something in its beak. A few seconds later, it pulled its neck back and swallowed the insect. It looked rather smug, afterwards.

Day 5: Morning drive

The African comb duck looks rather odd.

The day ended with some fabulous birds, including the lesser jacana, blue cheeked bee eater, malachite kingfisher, white fronted bee eaters and giant kingfisher.

That's it for the Imbabala Lodge. If you drop by, tell them I sent you.

Footnotes

Many thanks to the Wild Horizons staff of the Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge for looking after me, and in particular, to my guide Richard Nsinganu, who was instrumental in finding many of the creatures here.