Five Southern African nations -- Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe -- have partnered to launch the Great Kavango Zambezi Birding Route, marking what officials said was the region's first cross-border avitourism initiative.
The new route was unveiled at ITB Berlin last month and connects 12 key birding hubs and migration corridors along the Kavango, Zambezi, Chobe, Kwando and Kafue river systems, spanning a conservation area larger than France and Germany combined. A press expedition ahead of the launch recorded 215 species across the
region, including 43 logged for the first time by experienced
international birders.
The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is one of the standout sightings along the Great Kavango Zambezi Birding Route, which connects 12 key birding hubs across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Photo Credit: Ted Floyd
More than 100 operators, lodges and tourism stakeholders have registered as official ambassadors for the route. Travel advisors and tour operators can access suggested itineraries, co-branding tools, marketing assets and guide resources through a dedicated Trade Hub at UncoverKavangoZambezi.com. Registration is free.
No tour products are are planned at this time, but advisors can earn commissions by booking with the project's tourism partners, according to officials.
The cross-border structure enables travelers to move between distinct ecosystems within a single itinerary, linking destinations such as Botswana's Okavango Delta wetlands and Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park woodlands, with the route offering access to more than 650 bird species in total.
Expert guides
To support the route's commercial rollout and ensure consistent on-the-ground expertise, 69 local birding guides recently completed an intensive 12-day certification program in partnership with regional conservation groups, including BirdLife South Africa and the Namibia Nature Foundation.
"This route positions Kavango Zambezi alongside established avitourism destinations like Costa Rica and Ecuador, but with the unique advantage of cross-border scale," said Nyambe Nyambe, the executive director of the Kavango Zambezi TFCA Secretariat.