Birding
Zimbabwe Birding Safaris
Exciting Bird Viewing At Cawston Estate
Viewing our Zimbabwe birding safaris takes you into the middle of nature to view our wide array of beautiful bird species. Cawston Encounters offers guided walks and night drives for guests.
Zimbabwe Birding Safaris At Cawston
With over 300 recorded bird species, Cawston Encounters is one of Zimbabwe’s most rewarding destinations for birders.
Our diverse habitats – from riverine forest and rocky slopes to mopane woodland, teak stands, thorn scrub, and cultivated fields – provide ideal conditions for both resident and migratory species, offering the chance to spot numerous lifers.
Raptors and large birds of prey are a highlight, with regular sightings of Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Martial Eagle, Black Sparrowhawk, White-headed Vulture, and our nesting colony of endangered Lappet-faced Vultures.
Birders can also enjoy seasonal spectacles such as the vibrant Carmine Bee-eaters, which nest in the riverbanks between December and February.
Photography
For photographers and serious birders, Cawston offers guided birding walks, night drives, and exclusive access to tree hides and sunken blinds at waterholes, ensuring close encounters and incredible photographic opportunities.
Our unique vulture restaurant with a dedicated viewing blind provides close-up moments for both raptor enthusiasts and photographers.
Whether you’re chasing rare species, expanding your life list, or capturing that once-in-a-lifetime shot, Cawston is a premier birding and bird photography destination in Zimbabwe.
A Few Of The Special Birds You Can Find At Cawston
Lappet face vulture
White headed vulture
Hooded vulture
Brown snake eagle
Black chested snake eagle
Black bellied korhaan
Pennant-winged nightjar
Bronze winged courser
Wood owl
Verreaux eagle owl
Black cuckoo shrike
Carmine bee-eater
African golden oriole
Violet-eared waxbill
Martial Eagle
Black sparrow hawk
Ovambo sparrow hawk
African crowned eagle
African hawk eagle
Crimson-breasted shrike
Melanistic gabor goshwak