South Luangwa National Park

National Park · Zambia

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Photo © This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract.

Photo © This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Oxbow lagoons glint like hammered bronze along a river that meanders across a broad, flat valley floor, its banks stitched with mature woodland and open grassy floodplain. This is classic Aw country — a tropical savanna climate with a sharply defined dry season that falls in the cooler months, when the rains retreat and the land dries into pale gold. As waterholes shrink, vegetation thins and animals concentrate around the remaining channels, and the whole ecosystem seems to hold its breath. The habitat mosaic is the story: dense riverine forest shading the main watercourse, mopane and mixed woodland on higher ground, and wide, sun-bleached grasslands where the floodplain opens out. That structure supports a full guild of large grazing and browsing mammals, elephant and other heavyweights moving between woodland and water, plus predators that shadow the herds. Birdlife follows the same architecture — raptors working the thermals above the escarpment edge, woodland songbirds in the canopy, and waterbirds and waders crowding the shrinking lagoons.

For photographers, the dry-season window is everything: low, dust-hazed light, bare branches that reveal rather than conceal, and wildlife funneled predictably toward water. Dawn and dusk deliver the long shadows and warm tones that make this valley cinematic, while the clear winter months offer reliable access along the park's track network and walking safaris that put you at eye level with the bush. Birdwatchers should plan around the concentration effect — as the floodplain dries, water-associated groups gather in tight, observable pockets, and woodland species become easier to work through without foliage in the way. Come prepared for cold early mornings and hot afternoons, carry patience for the slow rhythm of a valley that rewards waiting, and let the season dictate where you point the lens.

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Southern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera edouardi

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Tachymarptis melba

White-rumped Swift

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Centropus senegalensis

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Clamator jacobinus

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles bicinctus

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

African Green Pigeon

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

White-crowned Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Actophilornis africanus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Botaurus sturmii

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta ardesiaca

Ardeola ralloides

Western Cattle Egret

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

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

Micronisus gabar

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

African Goshawk

Aerospiza tachiro

Little Sparrowhawk

Tachyspiza minulla

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Pel's Fishing Owl

Scotopelia peli

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

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

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Racket-tailed Roller

Coracias spatulatus

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicoides

Trachyphonus vaillantii

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Bennett's Woodpecker

Campethera bennettii

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Dickinson's Kestrel

Falco dickinsoni

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Falco amurensis

Falco biarmicus

Poicephalus meyeri

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

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

Pinarocorys nigricans

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Pycnonotus barbatus

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Moustached Grass Warbler

Melocichla mentalis

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Meves's Starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Collared Palm Thrush

Cichladusa arquata

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Cinnyris cupreus

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer diffusus

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

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

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Southern Red Bishop

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Uraeginthus angolensis

Green-winged Pytilia

Orange-winged Pytilia

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Anthus cinnamomeus

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

African Black Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Pternistis natalensis

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Pennant-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus vexillarius

Böhm's Spinetail

Neafrapus boehmi

Schalow's Turaco

Tauraco schalowi

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Centropus cupreicaudus

Centropus grillii

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

Red-chested Flufftail

Sarothrura rufa

Crecopsis egregia

Paragallinula angulata

Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Aenigmatolimnas marginalis

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Microparra capensis

Gallinago nigripennis

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Calidris minuta

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Chlidonias hybrida

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Ciconia abdimii

Ciconia ciconia

Microcarbo africanus

Egretta garzetta

White-backed Night Heron

Calherodius leuconotus

Rufous-bellied Heron

Ardeola rufiventris

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Pandion haliaetus

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

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

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Western Barn Owl

African Grass Owl

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Apaloderma narina

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Pale-billed Hornbill

Lophoceros pallidirostris

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Half-collared Kingfisher

Alcedo semitorquata

Böhm's Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Green-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus zambesiae

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Olive Woodpecker

Dendropicos griseocephalus

Brown-necked Parrot

Poicephalus fuscicollis

Lilian's Lovebird

Agapornis lilianae

African Broadbill

Smithornis capensis

Pitta angolensis

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

White-breasted Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris pectoralis

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Square-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus ludwigii

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Lesser Grey Shrike

Eastern Nicator

Nicator gularis

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Neophedina cincta

Riparia riparia

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Hirundo rustica

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Cecropis senegalensis

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Phylloscopus trochilus

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Acrocephalus palustris

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes stierlingi

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Green-capped Eremomela

Eremomela scotops

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

Hartlaub's Babbler

Turdoides hartlaubii

Acridotheres tristis

Lesser Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chloropterus

Sharp-tailed Starling

Lamprotornis acuticaudus

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Groundscraper Thrush

Turdus litsitsirupa

Bearded Scrub Robin

Tychaedon quadrivirgata

Miombo Scrub Robin

Tychaedon barbata

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Collared Flycatcher

Ficedula albicollis

Myrmecocichla arnotti

Western Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes longuemarei

Cyanomitra olivacea

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Shelley's Sunbird

Cinnyris shelleyi

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

Passer domesticus

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser rufoscapulatus

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Euplectes capensis

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Fawn-breasted Waxbill

Estrilda paludicola

Estrilda astrild

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Amandava subflava

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Brown Firefinch

Lagonosticta nitidula

Purple Indigobird

Vidua purpurascens

Dusky Indigobird

Pin-tailed Whydah

Anomalospiza imberbis

Motacilla capensis

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Anthus vaalensis

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Black-faced Canary

Crithagra capistrata

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Rock Pratincole

Glareola nuchalis

Black-winged Pratincole

Glareola nordmanni

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Butorides striata

Blue-breasted Bee-eater

Merops variegatus

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Macronyx ameliae

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Panthera pardus

African Wild Dog

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Four-toed Sengi

Petrodromus tetradactylus

Malbrouck Monkey

Chlorocebus cynosuros

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Papio cynocephalus

African Savanna Hare

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Mutable Sun Squirrel

Heliosciurus mutabilis

Smith's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus cepapi

Mellivora capensis

Bushy-tailed Mongoose

Bdeogale crassicauda

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Common Dwarf Mongoose

Helogale parvula

Banded Mongoose

Crocuta crocuta

Rusty-spotted Genet

Genetta fieldiana

Civettictis civetta

Aepyceros melampus

Sharpe's Grysbok

Raphicerus sharpei

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Phacochoerus africanus

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Tragelaphus oryx

Lepus saxatilis

White-bellied Yellow Bat

Scotophilus leucogaster

Syncerus caffer

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