Mutinondo Wilderness Area

National Park · Zambia

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Photo © Sybryn

Photo © Sybryn — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Granite inselbergs rise in smooth grey domes above a mosaic of miombo woodland, dambos and seasonally flooded grassland, and it is this broken, water-rich terrain that gives the wilderness its ecological character. The climate here is subtropical with a distinct dry winter, so the landscape breathes in two rhythms: a wet season that greens the dambos and swells the streams, and a long dry winter that strips the woodland to silver branches and draws animals to permanent water. Miombo canopy, riverine thicket and open grassy pans sit side by side within a short walk, which means the wildlife is equally varied — woodland songbirds and raptors in the canopy, antelope and other small to medium forest mammals threading the margins, and waterbirds, waders and amphibians concentrated wherever the dambos still hold moisture. Predators follow that concentration, and the whole system reads like a self-contained wilderness rather than a fragment.

For photographers, the appeal is the light and the emptiness. Early dry-season mornings bring low golden light across the granite slabs and mist sitting in the dambos, and the bare winter woodland opens sightlines that the wet season hides. Birdwatchers work the woodland edges and wetland margins at first light, when mixed flocks of passerines and hunting raptors are most active; the dry months concentrate everything around water and make patient observation far more productive. Access is by road from the Mpika side, with the final stretch demanding a sturdy vehicle, and the reward is a landscape where you can walk for hours without meeting another soul. Bring long lenses for the open granite, a wide angle for the terrain, and the patience to sit quietly at a waterhole through the heat of the day.

Balaeniceps rex

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

African Black Duck

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Pennant-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus vexillarius

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

White-crowned Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Actophilornis africanus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

African Spoonbill

White-backed Night Heron

Calherodius leuconotus

Western Cattle Egret

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Terathopius ecaudatus

Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Red-faced Mousebird

Urocolius indicus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Pale-billed Hornbill

Lophoceros pallidirostris

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Half-collared Kingfisher

Alcedo semitorquata

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Böhm's Bee-eater

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicoides

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Black-backed Barbet

Pogonornis minor

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Bennett's Woodpecker

Campethera bennettii

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Olive Woodpecker

Dendropicos griseocephalus

Dickinson's Kestrel

Falco dickinsoni

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

White-breasted Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris pectoralis

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

White-tailed Blue Flycatcher

Elminia albicauda

White-tailed Crested Flycatcher

Elminia albonotata

Rufous-bellied Tit

Melaniparus rufiventris

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Pycnonotus barbatus

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Neophedina cincta

Hirundo rustica

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Cecropis senegalensis

Fan-tailed Grassbird

Catriscus brevirostris

Rock-loving Cisticola

Cisticola aberrans

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Meves's Starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Oenanthe familiaris

Western Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes longuemarei

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Eastern Miombo Sunbird

Cinnyris manoensis

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Cinnyris cupreus

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer diffusus

Passer domesticus

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-billed Quelea

Uraeginthus angolensis

Green-winged Pytilia

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Anthus lineiventris

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Yellow-billed Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Caprimulgus natalensis

Böhm's Spinetail

Neafrapus boehmi

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

White-rumped Swift

Schalow's Turaco

Tauraco schalowi

Centropus senegalensis

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Centropus cupreicaudus

Centropus grillii

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Thick-billed Cuckoo

Pachycoccyx audeberti

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles bicinctus

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

African Green Pigeon

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

Red-chested Flufftail

Sarothrura rufa

Crecopsis egregia

Paragallinula angulata

Gallinula chloropus

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Black-rumped Buttonquail

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Microparra capensis

Gallinago nigripennis

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Chlidonias hybrida

Ciconia abdimii

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta ardesiaca

Egretta garzetta

Rufous-bellied Heron

Ardeola rufiventris

Ardeola ralloides

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Macheiramphus alcinus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Micronisus gabar

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Barn Owl

African Grass Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Pel's Fishing Owl

Scotopelia peli

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Apaloderma narina

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Racket-tailed Roller

Coracias spatulatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Blue-breasted Bee-eater

Merops variegatus

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Trachyphonus vaillantii

Stactolaema whytii

Miombo Pied Barbet

Tricholaema frontata

Green-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus zambesiae

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Green-backed Woodpecker

Campethera maculosa

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Falco amurensis

Falco biarmicus

Brown-necked Parrot

Poicephalus fuscicollis

Lilian's Lovebird

Agapornis lilianae

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Square-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus ludwigii

Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher

Trochocercus cyanomelas

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Lesser Grey Shrike

White-winged Black Tit

Melaniparus leucomelas

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

Melaniparus griseiventris

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Pinarocorys nigricans

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Pale-throated Greenbul

Atimastillas flavigula

Little Greenbul

Eurillas virens

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

White-headed Saw-wing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Pearl-breasted Swallow

Hirundo dimidiata

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Moustached Grass Warbler

Melocichla mentalis

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Red-capped Crombec

Sylvietta ruficapilla

Phylloscopus trochilus

Laura's Woodland Warbler

Phylloscopus laurae

Acrocephalus palustris

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Evergreen Forest Warbler

Bradypterus lopezi

Little Rush Warbler

Bradypterus baboecala

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Trilling Cisticola

Cisticola woosnami

Chirping Cisticola

Cisticola pipiens

Stout Cisticola

Cisticola robustus

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Pale-crowned Cisticola

Cisticola cinnamomeus

Bar-throated Apalis

Apalis thoracica

Brown-headed Apalis

Apalis alticola

Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes stierlingi

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Green-capped Eremomela

Eremomela scotops

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Black-necked Eremomela

Eremomela atricollis

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Hartlaub's Babbler

Turdoides hartlaubii

Yellow-bellied Hyliota

Hyliota flavigaster

African Spotted Creeper

Salpornis salvadori

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Lesser Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chloropterus

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Groundscraper Thrush

Turdus litsitsirupa

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

Miombo Scrub Robin

Tychaedon barbata

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Swamp Flycatcher

Muscicapa aquatica

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Collared Palm Thrush

Cichladusa arquata

Bocage's Akalat

Sheppardia bocagei

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Collared Flycatcher

Ficedula albicollis

Miombo Rock Thrush

Monticola angolensis

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Myrmecocichla nigra

Myrmecocichla arnotti

Anchieta's Sunbird

Anthreptes anchietae

Green-headed Sunbird

Cyanomitra verticalis

Cyanomitra olivacea

Shelley's Sunbird

Cinnyris shelleyi

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser rufoscapulatus

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Red-headed Quelea

Quelea erythrops

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Southern Red Bishop

Euplectes capensis

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura

Marsh Widowbird

Euplectes hartlaubi

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Mandingoa nitidula

Fawn-breasted Waxbill

Estrilda paludicola

Estrilda astrild

Ortygospiza atricollis

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Amandava subflava

Black-bellied Seedcracker

Pyrenestes ostrinus

Orange-winged Pytilia

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah

Anomalospiza imberbis

Fülleborn's Longclaw

Macronyx fuelleborni

Anthus cinnamomeus

Anthus vaalensis

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Anthus trivialis

Black-eared Seedeater

Crithagra mennelli

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Denham's Bustard

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Calidris pugnax

Calidris minuta

Microcarbo africanus

Plegadis falcinellus

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Black-fronted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus nigrifrons

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Eastern Nicator

Nicator gularis

Riparia riparia

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Tinkling Cisticola

Cisticola rufilatus

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Yellow-throated Leafbird

Chloropsis palawanensis

Katanga Masked Weaver

Ploceus katangae

Brown Firefinch

Lagonosticta nitidula

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla capensis

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Macronyx ameliae

Black-throated Canary

Crithagra atrogularis

Streaky-headed Seedeater

Crithagra gularis

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Cabanis's Bunting

Emberiza cabanisi

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Panthera pardus

Southern Lechwe

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Southern Tree Hyrax

Dendrohyrax arboreus

Heterohyrax brucei

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Papio cynocephalus

African Savanna Hare

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Smith's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus cepapi

Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epomophorus crypturus

Side-striped Jackal

Lupulella adusta

Bushy-tailed Mongoose

Bdeogale crassicauda

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Crocuta crocuta

Rusty-spotted Genet

Genetta fieldiana

Civettictis civetta

Aepyceros melampus

Hippotragus equinus

Southern Reedbuck

Redunca arundinum

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Phacochoerus africanus

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Damaliscus lunatus

Sylvicapra grimmia

Hippotragus niger

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Orycteropus afer

Malbrouck Monkey

Chlorocebus cynosuros

Lepus saxatilis

Gambian Sun Squirrel

Heliosciurus gambianus

African Clawless Otter

African Wild Dog

Banded Mongoose

Sharpe's Grysbok

Raphicerus sharpei

Syncerus caffer

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