If you’ve been to Kavinga before, you’ll know that the rustle of feathers and chatter of guinea fowl are an integral element of the bush’s background soundtrack. While the past few drier seasons have seen a noticeable decline in their numbers, we’re happy to report that our guinea fowl population is making a strong comeback.
Thanks to the late rains and abundant long grass and thick vegetation, guinea fowl chicks have had excellent cover from predators this year — resulting in a high survival rate. Now, as they grow older, the flocks are reassembling, bringing a fresh burst of energy to the area.
Did you know?
The Zambezi Valley and Mana Pools National Park are home to two distinct guinea fowl species:
- The Helmeted Guinea Fowl. The more commonly seen species, these birds sport striking blue heads and are often found foraging in large, noisy flocks across open areas. They’re always up to something, whether darting through the grass looking for food, having a group dust bath or running crazily across a road in front of the game viewer.
- The Crested Guinea Fowl. Rarer and a bit more secretive, these birds prefer the cover of dense woodland. They’re distinguished by their darker plumage – it looks almost like they’re wearing a suit – and bushy black feather crests. Although we often see the adults, a recent sighting of chicks running through camp was particularly exciting as it’s unusual to see their chicks.
The morning show: guinea fowl at the waterhole
One of the most magical parts of waking up at Kavinga? Hundreds and hundreds of guinea fowl descending on the waterhole at dawn. It’s a noisy, bustling affair as birds chatter, peck, and flap their way into the new day.
If you’re a photographer – or just someone who appreciates nature’s theatre – this is the moment to grab your coffee and head straight to our underground photographic hide. With its view of the birds against the backdrop of golden morning light, the hide offers a front-row seat to this incredible spectacle.
The return of greater numbers of guinea fowl to the area is really exciting. Whether you visit us for the birds, the big game, or simply the peace of the African bush, they’re sure to be one of the many highlights of your stay.