Zanzibar Mbweni Ruins Hotel - Nature Trail
Turning back a little towards the mango tree, take the left fork going along the sea front to
point 4
, where a grove of African Acacias have been planted. There is another viewpoint here, overlooking the seashore. On the hillside below are agaves and succulents, some of which are indigenous.
From this point you may be able to see Tropical Boubous in the mangroves. They are skulkers, keeping hidden in bushes and going about in pairs. They have a remarkable duetting call, in which the male gives a clear, drawn-out whistle and the female responds with a song which sounds like a swinging rusty gate.
Tropical Boubou -
Laniarius aethiopicus
photo by Ed Harper
Further out to sea you may see Lesser Crested, Swift and Common Terns flying low over the waves and diving for small fish below the surface. At low tide Reef and Green Backed Herons stalk small fish and crustaceans in the pools and between the mangroves. Also there is a Grey Heron which flaps along the beach. Black Kites hang on the wind scouring the beach for carrion. |
