Although there is only about 70km (45 miles) of the Zambezi River above Victoria Falls inside Zimbabwe, this section of the river is most interesting. This is particularly true of the area above the rapids just down stream from the beautiful Imbabala Lodge. We are very keen on this area because not only can one see all the usual river birds found in Zimbabwe, but the area is also home to all the Okavango specials. In addition guests at Imbabala have the opportunity of watching big game from the safety of a pontoon boat on the river.

Leaving Victoria Falls we drive north-west through areas of Baikaia woodland before entering an area of Mopane woodland. Just before we reach the Botswana border we turn off the main road and drop down onto the river’s floodplain. This are is the only place in the world where 4 different countries meet at a single point – a point out in the river where the Chobe and Zambezi join. Between the two rivers lies Namibia, south of the Chobe lies Botswana, south of the Zambezi lies and Zimbabwe and Zambia lies north of the Zambezi.

One of the joys of this lodge is the fact that we can get out both on a flat-floored pontoon craft & on open vehicles in search of game & birds. The pontoon is brilliant in that we can move around as the boat moves slowly along the river and it is possible to set up a tripod with even a large lens so as to take really good photographs of the wildlife. Drifting in safety down the river while hundreds of elephant come down to drink & bathe in the river has to be one of the most amazing of experiences in Zimbabwe. The photographic opportunities here have to be seen to be believed.

Along the banks one can see the otherwise elusive Chobe River Bushbuck. Groups of Chacma Baboons will be seen drinking as will Greater Kudu and Waterbuck.

White-crowned Plover

The flood plain is home to an interesting variety of birds including a large number of waders and plovers. It is one of only 2 places where I have seen 5 resident species of large plover at the same time: Crowned Plover Vanellus coronatus on the dry ground; Blacksmith V. armatus, Wattled V. senegallus, Long-toed (White-winged) V. crassirostris & White-crowned V. albiceps Plovers along the water’s edge. All these birds nest here, but many of their nests are predated by troops of baboons which feed on the flood plain. Depending on the time of the year we may find the Red-winged Pratincoles nesting on the dry ground which has recently emerged from the flood waters.

White-fronted Bee-eater

White-fronted Bee-eaters Merops bullockoides are resident and nest in small colonies along the river. while in spring the Carmine Bee-eaters . M.nubicoides can be seen as they nest in a bank upriver from the junction. Little Bee-eaters M.pusillus are common, usually seen sitting on a reed or branch over the water as one drifts by.

Carmine Bee-eater

Another bird which may be seen sitting on vegetation hanging over the water is the Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata. From its perch its dives into the water below to catch a small fish or frog. However, the birds which draw the bird watcher to Imbabala are the group of birds which are normally only found in the Okavango system. A number of these are confined to the beds of Giant Papyrus – the Greater Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus rufescens which will react to a tape of the birds call. Other species are found along the river such as the largest of all the coucals, the Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudatus which is often seen sitting on the top of a stick or other vegetation in the early morning.

Half-collared Kingfisher

This area is interesting as it has a good population of a small firefinch, the Brown Firefinch Lagonosticta nitidula and the parasitic Indigo Bird has also been identified because it includes the Brown Firefinch’s call in its song. The noisy White-rumped Babblers Turdoides hartlaubii reach their eastern most extension at Imbabala as does the Chirping Cisticola Cisticola pipiens.