in praise of PARADISE
African Birdlife|July/August 2023
Mozambique's San Sebastian Peninsula hosts a diverse array of wild creatures and rich ecosystems, a conservation success story worth celebrating
CHRISTINE READ
in praise of PARADISE

A feeling of euphoria runs through me as our plane tilts, its wings slicing through cumulus as the familiar scene of azure waters beckons below. Once through customs, we make our way down to the harbour and drive through the bustling little town of Vilanculos, a journey that always delivers a heady infusion of African aromas coupled with a humidity that delights the senses.

After a short stop at the local store for supplies, we arrive at the outstretched beach, a wispy line of tall coconut trees swaying gently in the wind and a few friendly hawkers beady-eyed for a quick deal. As we board Curlew Two for the short trip across the bay we are greeted warmly by Skipper Simiao. The tide is out as we weave through aqua-green channels interspersed with a myriad of everchanging, snaking sandbars, so often ribboned with a mix of terns, cormorants and Common Whimbrels – a timeless scene so characteristic of this Bazaruto Archipelago in southern Mozambique.

At last, the verdant, miombo-forested peninsula of San Sebastian lies before us. It is to be an exciting week ahead searching for shorebirds – a veritable smorgasbord of species and sheer density of numbers that the Sanctuary has recently become well known for.

This story is from the July/August 2023 edition of African Birdlife.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July/August 2023 edition of African Birdlife.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AFRICAN BIRDLIFEView All
EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS
African Birdlife

EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS

Keith Barnes, co-author of the new Field Guide to Birds of Greater Southern Africa, chats about the long-neglected birding regions just north of the Kunene and Zambezi, getting back to watching birds and the vulture that changed his life.

time-read
5 mins  |
May/June 2024
footloose IN FYNBOS
African Birdlife

footloose IN FYNBOS

The Walker Bay Diversity Trail is a leisurely hike with a multitude of flowers, feathers and flavours along the way.

time-read
6 mins  |
May/June 2024
Living forwards
African Birdlife

Living forwards

How photographing birds helps me face adversity

time-read
10 mins  |
May/June 2024
CAPE crusade
African Birdlife

CAPE crusade

The Cape Bird Club/City of Cape Town Birding Big Year Challenge

time-read
5 mins  |
May/June 2024
water & WINGS
African Birdlife

water & WINGS

WATER IS LIFE. As wildlife photographer Greg du Toit knows better than most.

time-read
1 min  |
May/June 2024
winter wanderer
African Birdlife

winter wanderer

as summer becomes a memory in the south, the skies are a little quieter as the migrants have returned to the warming north. But one bird endemic to the southern African region takes its own little winter journey.

time-read
1 min  |
May/June 2024
when perfect isn't enough
African Birdlife

when perfect isn't enough

Egg signatures and forgeries in the cuckoo-drongo arms race

time-read
5 mins  |
May/June 2024
Southern SIGHTINGS
African Birdlife

Southern SIGHTINGS

The late summer period naturally started quietening down after the midsummer excitement, but there were still some classy rarities on offer for birders all over the subregion. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.

time-read
4 mins  |
May/June 2024
flood impact on wetland birds
African Birdlife

flood impact on wetland birds

One of the features of a warming planet is increasingly erratic rainfall; years of drought followed by devastating floods. Fortunately, many waterbirds are pre-adapted to cope with such extremes, especially in southern Africa where they have evolved to exploit episodic rainfall events in semi-arid and arid regions. But how do waterbirds respond to floods in areas where rainfall - and access to water - is more predictable? Peter Ryan explores the consequences of recent floods on the birds of the Western Cape's Olifants River valley.

time-read
5 mins  |
May/June 2024
a star is born
African Birdlife

a star is born

It’s every producer’s dream to plan a wildlife television series and pick the right characters before filming.

time-read
2 mins  |
May/June 2024