A Great Egret hunts in the shallows of Lagoa Xinguiti. The campsite is located close to the edge of the pan.
If you've got the camping gear, the 4x4 vehicle and a dash of adventurous spirit, you may be looking for some new and exciting birding destinations. If so, Mozambique's Maputo National Park is just the ticket.
Located south of Maputo, on the coastal plain east of the Lebombo range, this 1700-square-kilometre park offers a mix of coastal grasslands, coastal forest, sand forest, swamp forest, shallow freshwater lakes and marine habitats, making for a visually stunning landscape and plenty of variety ... one minute you're driving through a patch of thick forest, only to pop out onto a grassy floodplain before disappearing into a grove of pod mahoganies and then emerging on a lake shore. Several campsites have recently been opened and it's not a destination that is hard to get to - from Mbombela or northern KwaZulu-Natal the main gate is only half-a-day's drive away.
A spectacular shot of a Caspian Tern snatching a morsel of food off the surface of Lagoa Xinguiti.
This story is from the May/June 2022 edition of African Birdlife.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May/June 2022 edition of African Birdlife.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
agrochemicals and birds
By the year 2050, it is estimated that 171 million more hectares of agricultural land will be needed to feed a global population of 10 billion people.
arrivals and departures
The Mouse-Free Marion Project is committed to ensuring that breeding seabirds can return to a predator-free Marion Island.
FULL skies
High summer brings high entertainment to Botswana's Mababe Community Concession and Kazuma Pan.
specials IN THE MIST
With a distinct habitat and climate, Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands are a must-visit destination for any birder wanting to see a bevy of special birds.
MIDRAND marvel
Gauteng birders don't need to travel far to get their feathery fix. Midway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, Glen Austin Pan has become a favourite patch for this returnee expat.
IN TOO DEEP...again
The annual sardine run along South Africa's east coast is a thrill and a challenge for underwater photographers, especially if you throw birds and inclement weather into the mix.
a journey through the mysteries of moult
As a bird researcher in South Africa’s botanically diverse fynbos biome, I have come to regard bird ringing as part of my journey to understanding moult.
Southern SIGHTINGS
The midsummer period lived up to its reputation as the busiest time for rarities in southern Africa and produced a host of really good records, including several that got twitchers racing all over the subregion to try and add these mega ticks to their lists. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.
storm petrels in Kalk Bay
According to Roberts 7, both Wilson’s and European storm petrels occasionally seek the shelter of breakwaters during periods of strong onshore winds, but this is seldom observed off South Africa.
power-napping penguins
Periodic reduction in neural activity (sleep) is found in all animals with brains and seems to be essential to restore effective brain function. There is plenty of evidence of the adverse effects of not getting enough sleep, and recent research in humans has identified getting sufficient sleep as one of the four core pillars of living a long and healthy life.
