The brief boat trip, skimming across the waters of Lake Malawi, might have left other passengers daydreaming of an island holiday lounging by a pool, sipping cocktails. But for us birders on board, there was only one thing on our minds. For many birdwatchers, the bird often dubbed the ‘Holy Grail' of African Birding is either a cherished memory or species which they long to see. In the days leading up to our stay at Blue Zebra Island Lodge, we had been captivated by videos of a young African Pitta lingering behind the staff canteen. This is a species that we had dreamed of seeing for many y ..read more

As my birding adventure into Malawi, fondly dubbed ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’, began to take shape, I researched some of the country's premier birding destinations. Dzalanyama Forest Reserve stood out among them. Spanning 100,000 hectares near the Mozambique border, this reserve is often hailed as one of the finest Miombo spots globally. As the journey to the reserve approached, I couldn't shake off a sense of apprehension. Bold claims are frequently made about such places, yet reality often falls short of expectations. Following a brief stopover in the capital city, Lilongwe, we embarked e ..read more

We have scoured the web to find the best birding events around South Africa. The Events Diary is a free service for Bird Clubs and conservation organizations in South Africa. If you would like to ensure that your events are listed, please send the details to info@thebirdinglife.com. Please make sure to send the events for the week by the preceding Friday to ensure their inclusion. Please note, we do our best to ensure that information provided is correct. However, we do encourage you to get in touch with the contact person for the event to ensure details are correct. This events diary is and ..read more

We have scoured the web to find the best birding events around South Africa. The Events Diary is a free service for Bird Clubs and conservation organizations in South Africa. If you would like to ensure that your events are listed, please send the details to info@thebirdinglife.com. Please make sure to send the events for the week by the preceding Friday to ensure their inclusion. Please note, we do our best to ensure that information provided is correct. However, we do encourage you to get in touch with the contact person for the event to ensure details are correct. This events diary is and ..read more

The Plan As my 16th birthday approaches, I got wind of my parents planning a surprise party. They had the details already sketched out – a Luau Party at a Tiki Bar and there was even a guest list. My immediate reaction was a resounding 'Noooooo, please No!!' The initial ideas (Yep, I found all the inspo on moms Pinterest Boards) Being a Cambridge International Home schooler, it had been a while since I connected with many of my friends, due to the demands of school and well just my hectic life, I guess. They thought it would be a clever idea to bring everyone together for a celebration. Howe ..read more

To say that 2016 was a tough year would be a massive understatement. In many ways, all that I knew started to crumble and fall around me. I felt like I would drown under the floodwaters of pain and adversity. The most trying circumstance I faced was my mother being diagnosed with cancer. I am a huge sports fan, with weekends filled with as many sporting moments as possible. I can remember how, after many controversial refereeing or umpiring decisions, we would have long chats, venting our anger and sharing our passion for sport for hours on end. My mother, the strong and feisty woman, lay in ..read more

We are proud to announce our next African Young Birder of the Week. Over the next few weeks, the birders that we will be highlighting are our Birding Life Ambassadors. We are proud to have some of the region's best young birders representing our brand. This feature aims to showcase content from each featured birder, allowing us to celebrate young birding talent across the continent. Please share this post to spread the word about these amazing birders! This feature is always done in proud collaboration with Young Wildlife Photographers of Southern Africa. This week's Young Birder of the Week ..read more

The details of our homeward journey were somewhat sketchy, with much of our conversation dedicated to numerous 'What if we did this?' or 'What if we went here?' scenarios. We efficiently packed up early, ensuring everything was loaded into the car. Just before leaving Luca called out for me to come and see a Klaas’s Cuckoo that was super chilled, then Luca, affectionately dubbed Stanley for his role as the chief gate opener during this leg of the trip, went to open the gate. It was then that he heard another distinctive sound, prompting us to rush down the street in eager anticipation. Pe ..read more

As I've been preparing for a trip to an African country I've never visited before, I've been struck by how willing people are to share their knowledge. Many birders I've spoken to have offered suggestions, and my challenge has been to organize this wealth of information into a simple, orderly process. In this article, I'll share the steps I'm taking to prepare for my African birding adventure. The information I'm sharing here has been gathered from experienced birders who generously shared their knowledge. It's important to note that this article won't cover every step I'll take; instead, it ..read more

We have scoured the web to find the best birding events around South Africa. The Events Diary is a free service for Bird Clubs and conservation organizations in South Africa. If you would like to ensure that your events are listed, please send the details to info@thebirdinglife.com. Please make sure to send the events for the week by the preceding Friday to ensure their inclusion. Please note, we do our best to ensure that information provided is correct. However, we do encourage you to get in touch with the contact person for the event to ensure details are correct. This events diary is and ..read more