Southern Africa has more than 950 recorded bird species, and South Africa alone is home to dozens of endemics found nowhere else on Earth.
A continent of colour and song
Ask any experienced guide about their favourite sighting and the answer is often not a lion but a bird: a lilac-breasted roller flashing turquoise in the sun, a pel's fishing owl at dusk, or the prehistoric silhouette of a shoebill rising from the papyrus.
Africa is home to more than 2,000 bird species, and a birdwatching safari opens a whole new dimension of the bush. Every game drive becomes richer, every stop more rewarding, and quiet moments are filled with sound and colour.
Birding also rewards patience in a way few other pursuits do. It encourages you to slow down, to listen, and to notice the intricate connections that hold an ecosystem together.
Where to go birding
Kruger National Park records more than 500 species, from vultures and eagles to the colourful bee-eaters of summer. Botswana's Okavango Delta is a waterbird paradise, with African skimmers, slaty egrets and pel's fishing owls.
Uganda boasts more than 1,000 species and is the finest place in Africa to search for the shoebill. In South Africa, the forests of the Garden Route shelter the Knysna turaco and the narina trogon, while the fynbos of the Western Cape hosts endemics such as the Cape sugarbird and orange-breasted sunbird.
“Birding turns every drive into a treasure hunt. Suddenly, the bush is alive with a thousand small stories.”
When to go
The southern African summer, from November to March, is the finest time for birding. Migrants arrive from Europe and Asia, resident species are in breeding plumage, and the bush echoes with calls.
In East Africa, the period from November to April brings Palearctic migrants, while Uganda offers rewarding birding throughout the year.
How we plan your birding safari
We pair you with lodges known for outstanding birding guides and plan itineraries around the species you most want to see, whether you are a dedicated lister or simply curious.
Birding combines effortlessly with Big Five game viewing, so non-birding companions will be just as delighted. Bring good binoculars and we will handle everything else.
Plan your birding safari
Share your wish list of species and we will design an itinerary to find them.
Know before you go
Birdwatching Safari: frequently asked questions
Yes. Kruger and the private reserves around it offer outstanding birding alongside excellent Big Five game viewing.
Uganda is the best destination, particularly the Mabamba Swamp near Entebbe and Murchison Falls National Park.
The forests around Wilderness National Park and Knysna are excellent for the Knysna turaco, narina trogon and other forest specials.
A good pair of binoculars is essential. A field guide or birding app is helpful, and a camera with a telephoto lens is a bonus.
