ABOUT THE BIRDING

Nchila Reserve is part of the Hillwood Estate, which also includes a farm, orphanage, and school. The reserve a superb birding area with few dangerous animals, so it's a great place for birding on foot. The habitat is moist evergreen forest and open plains. Many birds found there are not found in other parts of Zambia. Some of the more notable species are White-spotted Flufftail, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher, Angola Lark, and Green-throated Sunbird. The open plains are an excellent place to see some quite rare animals such as Roan Antelope and Sable Antelope, as well as the rare subspecies Giant Sable Antelope. Also present are Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Oribi, Sitatunga, Lechwe, as well as more widely distributed antelope.

The Chitunta Plain is a nearby open area where plains animals are present. Bogs and marshes offer very different habitat where some specialty birds can be found. Birds such as African Crake and Great Snipe can be flushed by walking through the bogs. Also present are several species of cisticolas and longclaws along with other open country birds.

LOCATION OF SITE

Nchila Reserve and nearby Hillwood Farm are located in far northwest Zambia. They are best reached by flying from Lusaka or Kafue. The only flights are charter planes, so it's expensive to get there.

OTHER LOCALES

• Bangweulu Wetlands
• Barotse Floodplain
• Batoka Gorge
• Kafue Flats
• Kafue National Park
• Kasanka National Park
• Lower Zambesi National Park
• Mutinondo Wilderness
• Nkanga River Area
• North Luangwa National Park
• South Luangwa National Park