Mutemwa Lodge is ideally situated for an excellent, all-round birding experience. Birders can expect a list of between 150 and 200 species during a four-day stay at the lodge. A large percentage of these species will be specials (see list below). This is made possible by the wide variety of habitats that surround the lodge.

The mighty Zambezi River fronts the lodge and is accessed using motorised boats and Canadian style canoes. The magnificent African Fish-Eagle is seen and heard on a daily basis on the small island across from the lodge. There are vast stretches of low overhanging vegetation, where White-backed Night-Heron, African Finfoot and Half-collared Kingfisher are seen regularly.

White-crowned Lapwing and African Skimmer (August to December) abound on the many white, sandy beaches/islands. Rock Pratincoles are plentiful at this time when the river is at its lowest levels and the rapids are exposed.

There is a trail on one of the forested islands and a short walk can produce the elusive Pel's Fishing-Owl, Narina Trogon and African Broadbill. The enigmatic African Pitta was heard calling on this island in early January 2005. Western-banded Snake-Eagle, Osprey and large flocks of African Openbill are often seen flying overhead while boating on the river.The reed beds are home to many species of warbler, weaver and cisticola. The most sought after are Greater Swamp-Warbler, Chirping Cisticola and Southern Brown-throated Weaver. Both Coppery-tailed and White-browed Coucal are seen in the reeds and bush that line the edges of the river and islands.

The riverine forest holds typical species, namely: Schalow’s Turaco, Narina Trogon, Olive Woodpecker, Eastern Nicator and Ashy Flycatcher. The more observant birder is likely to see Brown Firefinch. Moving slightly inland, birders will encounter broad-leaved woodland, small lakes, vleis and flooded grassland. These areas are extremely beautiful and rich in birdlife. The woodland is good for Lizard Buzzard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Broad-billed Roller, Green Wood-Hoopoe and Bennett's Woodpecker. The picturesque lakes are scattered with water lilies, and African Pygmy-Geese and Lesser Jacana are seen often. Rufous-bellied Heron, Lesser Moorhen, Allen's Gallinule and Luapula Cisticola are a few of the specials found in the vleis and flooded grassland areas. We also see Copper Sunbird, especially March & April, in the pockets of scrub that fringe some of the vleis

Night birding at Mutemwa is characterised by the calls of Fiery-necked Nightjar, African Barred Owlet and Pel's Fishing-Owl. A pair of African Wood-Owl has made the lodge their home and are often seen dueting in the trees above the boma area. A short drive should produce Southern White-faced Scops-Owl, African Barred Owlet, Square-tailed Nightjar and the stunning Pennant-winged Nightjar. Other nocturnal birds to look out for are: Water Thick-knee, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Swamp Nightjar and Temminck's Courser.

A specialist bird guide, Cuan Rush, is available to guide you on all your birding activities at Mutemwa Lodge. He has had almost ten years experience in the birding field, and spent half this period as an assistant to Guy Gibbon of Southern African Birding producing birding multimedia for Southern Africa.

The best times to come birding at Mutemwa are November to April