Most of the endemic and special birds of Angola are located in western Angola, along the escarpment (geological uplift that separate the coastal lowlands from the higher interior plateau). This is the heart of the Angola Birding Route. The main bird-watching sites are located near 10 different communities. The following communities already have bird-watching guides trained and available.
- Santa Ambuleia (Bengo Province) – Site 2
- Kinjila (Malanje Province) – Site 4
- Talamajamba (Benguela Province) – Site 8
- Tundavala (Huila Province) – Site 9
- Mangueiras (Namibe Province) – Site 10
See below for Google Map and table of all the Birding Route sites
Angola Birding Route
| # | Birding Site | Province | recommended # days | Key Birds | Habitat | Lodging and distance to site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kissama NP | Luanda | 1 | Gray-striped Francolin, Golden-backed Bishop, African Pitta | Moist Mixed Savanna (Chapparero coastal scrub, Baobabs), Riverine Monsoon forest | Luanda - 60-90 minutes |
| 2 | Santa Amboleia | Bengo | 1 | Gabela Helmetshrike, Monteiro's Bushshrike, African Pitta, Gray-striped Francolin, White-fronted Wattle-eye, Hartert's Camaroptera | Deciduous Forest | Caxito-20 minutes drive |
| 3 | Damengola | Uige | 2 | Braun's Bush-Shrike, White-collared Oliveback, Gabon Coucal, Banded Prinia, 4 species of Nigrita | Full Congolese lowland rainforest | Uige - one hour drive |
| 4 | Kinjila | Malanje | 2 | White-headed Robin-Chat, Red-crested Turaco, Brazza's Martin, Anchieta's Barbet, Anchieta's Sunbird, Bannerman's Sunbird, Gray-winged Robin-Chat, White-spotted Flufftail | Miombo, Gallery Lowland Rainforest, Grassland | Calandula - 30 minutes |
| 5 | Tombinga | Kwanza Norte | 1 | Yellow-billed Barbet, Woodhouse's Antpecker | Congolese Lowland Rainforest | N'taladando 30 minutes |
| 6 | Kumbira | Kwanza Sur | 3-4 | Gabela Bushshrike, Monteiro's Bush-Shrike, Gabela Akalat, Pullizer's Longbill, Red-crested Turaco, Southern Hyliota, Yellow-bellied Wattle-Eye, Gray-striped Francolin | Foothill Montane Forest | Conda - 60-90 minutes drive |
| 7 | Morro de Moco | Huambo | 3-4 | Swiestra's Francolin, Huambo Cisticola, Bocage's Sunbird, Margaret's Batis, Angola Lark, Black-and-rufous Swallow, Bocage's Weaver, Bocage's Akalat, Black-chinned Weaver, "Brown-faced" Black-backed Barbet, Black-necked Eremomela, Miombo Rock-Thrush and other miombo specialties, Schalow's Turaco, Dusky Twinspot | Afromontane Forest, Miombo, Afromontane grassland | Huambo, Alto Hama very basic 2 hours away, Huambo 3 hours |
| 8 | Talamajamba | Benguela | 1 | Hartlaub's Francolin, Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Monteiro's Hornbill | Mopane and Dry Thorn Savanna (acacia) | Benguela - 45 minutes drive |
| 9 | Tundavala | Huila | 2 | White-headed (White-bellied) Barbet, Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird, Angolan Cave-Chat, Angola Waxbill, Swierstra's Francolin (rare), Angola Slaty-Flycatcher, Rockrunner, Oustalet's Sunbird | Open grassland, ravines with montane forest, mostly rocky with sparse vegetation | Lubango - 15-30 minutes drive |
| 10 | Mangueiras | Namibe | 1-2 | Cinderella Waxbill, Benguela Long-taled (Meves's) Starling, White-tailed Shrike, Monteiro's Hornbill, Bare-cheeked Babbler | Desert, Dry Thorn Savanna | Lubango - an hour drive |
| 11 | Barro de Kwanza | Luanda | 1 | White-fronted Wattle-eye | Mangroves, Moist Mixed Savanna | On Site |
| 12 | Foz do Chiloango | Cabinda | 1 | Loango Weaver | Congolese Lowland Rainforest | |
| 13 | Floresta da Maiombe | Cabinda | 2-3 | Black Guineafowl | Congolese Lowland Rainforest |
