Republic of Angola

Birding Angola
Angola is diverse country, with lush rainforests in the north, cool mountains, huge waterfalls and arid desert in the southwest. The natural diversity is accompanied by a diversity of local cultures. An enthusiast birder can see well over 400 species in a birding trip of 3 weeks, of which 14 are endemic (depending on taxonomy), while dozens of other near-endemic and highly localised bird species also feature prominently. This is a testament for the many habitats within the country, including desert, dry thorn savanna, mopane, moist baobab savanna, montane forest and grassland, lowland rainforest, and vast areas of miombo broadleaf woodland. Other natural attractions includes the bizarre Welwitschia plant, the endangered Giant Black Sable antelope, the breathtaking Calandula Waterfall, the spectacular Tundavala cliffs, and many other gems.
Most visitors will arrive via international flights into the capital of Luanda. There are direct flights from Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, and Sao Paulo. Angola can also be reached overland via border crossings from Namibia. An easy online visa service is available for citizens of most countries. Alternatively, a visa can be obtained in any Angolan embassy.
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Birding Angola
https://birdingangola.com
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Number of bird species: 1008
(As at June 2020)
Number of endemics: 14-18
Grey-striped Francolin Francolinus griseostriatus, Swierstra's Francolin Francolinus swierstrai, Red-crested Turaco Tauraco erythrolophus, *Pale-throated Barbet Gymnobucco vernayi, *White-bellied Barbet Lybius leucogaster, Red-backed Mousebird Colius castanotus, White-fronted Wattle-eye Platysteira albifrons, Gabela Helmet-Shrike Prionops gabela, Braun’s Bush-Shrike Laniarius brauni, Gabela Bush-Shrike Laniarius amboimensis, *Benguela Long-tailed Starling Lamprotornis benguelensis, Pulitzer's Longbill Macrosphenus pulitzeri, Gabela Akalat Sheppardia gabela, Angola Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis brunneus, *Huambo Cisticola Cisticola bailunduensis, Hartert's Camaroptera Camaroptera harterti, *Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris ludovicensis, Angolan Waxbill Coccopygia bocagei.In addition the Golden-backed Bishop Euplectes aureus was confined to Angola but has since been introduced to Sao Tome. Those marked thus* are recognised by some authorities but not all.
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iGoTerra Checklist
iGoTerra ChecklistFatbirder Associate iGoTerra offers the most comprehensive and up to date birds lists on the web
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Southern African Birdfinder
| By Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode & Jonathan Rossouw | New Holland Publishers | 2006 | Paperback | 456 pages, 80 col photos, 100 maps, pull-out route map | ISBN: 9781868727254 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
The Birds of Angola
| By W R J Dean | British Ornithologists' Union | 2000 | Hardback | 433 pages, 16 pp of colour plates, figs, diagrams, maps | ISBN: 9780907446224 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
The Special Birds of Angola - As Aves Especiais de Angola
| By Michael Mills | Go-Away-Birding | 2017 | Paperback | 144 pages, colour photos, 1 colour map | Text English & Portuguese | ISBN: 9780620717267 Buy this book from NHBS.com
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African Bird Club
WebsiteAngola has a bird list of more than nine hundred species but there has been little ornithological activity for some thirty years. Sadly, a long running war and political instability have impacted habitat and species adversely as well limiting opportunities for visiting birders. There is evidence of an improving situation and Birding Africa is running a flagship tour with the African Bird Club in 2005 -
Birds Angola
WebsiteWith more than sixty years of combined experience of working on Angolan birds, Birds Angola offers a wealth of expertise to birders, conservationists, environmental consultants, government, ornithologists and other biologists. We are a group of individuals with a passion for Angola that aims to support, promote and conduct research and conservation of Angolan birds. Our work involves various other organisations, including the BirdLife International network, The African Bird Club, The International Turaco Society, The Kissama Foundation and the Angolan Ministry of the Environment.
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NP Bicauri
InformationSatellite ViewThe area has historically been known for large herds of common antelopes, elephants, and other large mammals. All species populations are believed to have been severely reduced during the war (the park was reportedly used as a practice artillery range), poaching, and human encroachment. Since cessation of hostilities, work has begun by the Huila provincial government to rebuild the infrastructure of the park to attract and protect animals. -
NP Cameia
InformationSatellite ViewThe park is a sample of nature not occurring elsewhere in Angola. Two lakes, Lago Cameia and Lago Dilolo (the largest lake in Angola) lie outside the park boundaries and both have extensive reedbeds and grassy swamps that are rich in aquatic birds. -
NP Cangandala
InformationSatellite ViewThe park, which covers an area of 600 km², consists of undulating sandlime hills with lowerlying drainage lines. The area receives about 1 350 mm rainfall per year with an average temperature of 21,5 °C. No perennial rivers occur and drainage takes place via grass covered waterlanes. A mosaic of open miombo bushveld and savanna occur. Brachystegia-bushveld are found on the water partitions and open grasslands in the lower-lying drainage lanes. -
NP Iona
InformationSatellite ViewBecause of its distinctive habitat and climate, Iona and the Kaokoveld Desert have a number of endemic animals, particularly reptiles. 63 species have been recorded in the ecoregion, eight are strictly endemic. The endemics include two lizards, three geckos, and three skinks.[6] The mouth of the Cunene River to the south supports a small wetland area that is important to migrating birds... -
NP Quiçama
InformationSatellite ViewThe Atlantic Ocean forms the Park's 120 km long western border, while the perennial Cuanza and Longa rivers constitute the northern and southern borders respectively. The eastern border consists of a belt of dense, tall thicket. Quiçama covers an area of roughly 9 960 square kilometres/1.2 million hectares.
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Birding Africa
Tour OperatorGabela! The name epitomises the excitement of birding in Angola, and the frustration that 27 years of civil war has previously prevented access to the region. With its own akalat, bush-shrike and helmet-shrike, Gabela lies at the centre of the Angolan scarp forest -
Birding Ecotours
Tour OperatorHaving thoroughly scouted the destination we will be making regular tours of Angola... -
Rockjumper Birding Tours
Tour OperatorWith the fourth highest rate of avian endemism on the African continent, Angola is a must-visit destination for any serious birder, and our comprehensive overland safari targets every single endemic species – and many more besides!
Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…
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2011 [09 September] - Michael Mills
Report…Every participant enjoyed outstanding views of every single Angolan endemic bird, plus local specials such as Bocage’s Sunbird, Brazza’s Martin, Black-and-rufous Swallow, Anchieta’s Barbet, Bocage’s Weaver, Bannerman’s Sunbird, White-headed Robin-Chat and Cinderella Waxbill…. -
2011 [10 October] - Batis Birding
PDF ReportThree of the Batis Birding team plus two enthusiastic birders from Namibia visited Angola between the 27 October and 11 November 2011 to access some new potential birding sites primarily in the north where we were interested in searching for the recently recorded Oliveback. -
2014 [09 September] - Michael Mills
ReportTour highlights as voted by participants: Swierstra's Francolin, Angolan Cave Chat, Monteiro's Bushshrike, Margaret's Batis, White-headed Robin-Chat, Finsch's Francolin, Bocage's Sunbird, Locust Finch, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Red-crested Turaco, Red-chested Flufftail and Pallid Honeyguide... -
2016 [09 September] - David Hoddinott
PDF Report...On arrival, we were greeted by a superb pair of Spotted Eagle Owls which gave a great show... -
2016 [09 September] - Mark Van Biers
PDF ReportThe magnificent Braun’s Bushshrike, the unique White-headed Robin-Chat, the captivating Angolan Cave Chat and the alluring Red-crested Turaco were the favourites of our third tour to Angola -
2016 [09 September] - Michael Mills
PDF ReportWe fared exceptionally well on the birds, enjoying good views of all of Angola’s endemic species and a whole host of other goodies among the 535 species logged. The charts were topped by a fantastic crowing male Swierstra’s Francolin (overleaf) at Tundavala that gave prolonged views right out in the open and approached me within one metre! Angola’s striking national bird, Red-crested Turaco, was John’s 8000th bird and several people’s final member of the family, and was voted number two of the trip. Some great looks at Braun’s Bushshrike put this bright endemic at number three, and the attractive White-headed Robin-Chat near Kalandula came in fourth. A long walk for exceptional views of a pair of Margaret’s Batis at Mount Moco put this rare species at fifth. The charismatic Angola Cave Chat at Tundavala was voted number six, followed by a trio of Rüppell’s Korhaan in the coastal deserts of Namibe at seven. The localised endemics Gabela Helmetshrike and Gabela Bushshrike came in at eight and nine, and incredible views of Brazza’s Martin at its nest, the first confirmed breeding record for Angola, rounded out the top ten. -
2016 [09 September] - Steve Braine
PDF ReportThis tailor made tour to Angola on the request from Intercontact Germany, commenced in Luanda, Angola and ended in Windhoek Namibia... -
2017 [09 September] - Michael Mills
PDF Report...We started with an introductory stroll around downtown Luanda with Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, Purple-banded Sunbird and the endemic Red-backed Mousebird, the latter seen regularly throughout the tour. We also took some time to study the large dark brown swifts that breed in the seafront buildings of the Marginal, which I now believe are dark Mottled Swifts based on, in addition to their size and shape, their calls heard for the first time which match those of Mottled Swift.... -
2018 [06 June] - Dylan Vasapolli - Birding Ecotours
PDF ReportA birding tour to Angola had been on Birding Ecotours’ radar for some time, and eventually in 2017 plans were put in place for a scouting trip the following year that would see both Jason and Dylan cover the country comprehensively in search of all the region’s birds in order to set up a trip for future years. Two clients, Bruce and Paul, would join on this exciting scouting trip, and in the end contributed greatly to the success of this trip with their easy-going personalities and positive attitudes in our daily quest for not only the country’s many prized birds but appropriate roadside ‘camping sites’ as well
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Angola Birding
WebsiteBirding sites and more...