Birding in Zimbabwe Masvingo LAKE KYLE

call it what you will – is a dam near Masvingo surrounded by granite hills, miombo woodlands and with Lake Kyle Recreational Park on the north shore. The well-known Great Zimbabwe ruins, a world heritage site, and some forest lie on the south side.

The lake itself will give you the normal herons, egrets and storks with ducks and other waterbirds. The miombo woodland is a popular habitat to bird in and offers African Cuckoo Hawk, Brown-backed and Green-backed Honeybirds, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, African Golden Oriole, Rufous-bellied Tit, Miombo Rock-thrush, Boulder Chat, Red-faced Crombec, Green-capped Eremomela, Stierling’s Wren-warbler, Southern Hyliota, Collared Flycatcher, Grey Tit-flycatcher, Wood Pipit, Miombo Blue-eared Starling and Miombo Double-collared Sunbird amongst others.It is worth checking the unusual forest birds that occur at Great Zimbabwe with African Emerald Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Grey Cuckooshrike, Red-capped Robin-chat, African Dusky Flycatcher, Cape Batis and Swee Waxbill having been recorded there. Being on the edge of the plateau there are some interesting lowveld birds to watch out for.

Our bird list is still under development so any ‘new’ species you see are needed.

For places to stay see below:

National Parks at Kyle offer self-catering lodges, camping and caravan sites.

Rainbow Hotels run the Lodge at the Ancient City, built in to a granite outcrop, with a variety of room options.

Norma Jeane’s Lakeview Resort is also situated on the lake near Great Zimbabwe with hotel rooms and self-catering chalets.