10-12 September 2019: Viphya Plateau

Heading north-east, our next destination was the Viphya Plateau, an undulating, sprawling plateau of high grasslands, granite hills, pine plantations and remnant patches of Afromontane forest. Luwawa Forest Lodge provided a good base from which to explore the forest and we soon racked up an impressive tally of specials. The gardens of the lodge furnished Bronzy Sunbird, Forest Double-collared Sunbird and White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, while the nearby forest edges showed glimpses of the skulking Fülleborn’s Boubou. We searched in vain for Olive-headed Weaver, Trilling Cisticola, Bertram’s Weaver, Anchieta's Tchagra and the very scarce Scaly Spurfowl.

Half-collared Kingfisher, Luwawa Forest Lodge

Driving further north to the Nyika National Park we traversed the Viphya Plateau for hours on tracks utilised by forestry vehicles. Fine powder dust seeped through every opening, and we arrived at Nyika a few shades darker. On the way we managed to tick numerous Jackson’s Pipits in the high grasslands. That evening even a cold beer could not remove the dust from my taste-buds.

Maans, the morning after....