Kruger National Park’s bird checklist includes more than 515 species. It’s the best place in South Africa to see , with 65 and species documented, along with other large birds – including , and – that are increasingly scarce outside protected areas. Bird watching is good throughout Kruger, but the north is renowned for its long list of specials. Most rest camps are well-wooded and offer excellent birding. species are joined by between November and April.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- African finfoot
- African fish eagle
- African green pigeon
- African jacana
- African openbill
- African pygmy kingfisher
- Bearded scrub robin
- Black-collared barbet
- Broad-billed roller
- Brown-headed parrot
- Brown snake eagle
- Common ostrich
- Crested barbet
- Eastern black-headed oriole
- Eastern paradise whydah
- European bee-eater
- European roller
- Giant kingfisher
- Greater blue-eared starling
- Grey go-away-bird
- Knob-billed duck
- Kori bustard
- Lappet-faced vulture
- Magpie shrike
- Marabou stork
- Martial eagle
- Orange-breasted bush-shrike
- Pel’s fishing-owl
- Purple-crested turaco
- Rufous-crowned roller
- Saddle-billed stork
- Secretary bird
- Senegal lapwing
- Southern carmine bee-eater
- Southern ground hornbill
- Steppe eagle
- Striated heron
- Swainson’s spurfowl
- Tawny eagle
- Thick-billed cuckoo
- Thrush nightingale
- White-fronted bee-eater
- White-headed lapwing
- White-headed vulture
- White-throated robin-chat
- Woodland kingfisher
- Yellow-billed oxpecker
Best Time for Bird Watching
Bird watching in Kruger is good year-round, but it is absolutely stunning from November to April. At this time of year, bird numbers and variety are boosted by some spectacular Eurasian and intra-African , and many species go into their colorful breeding plumage. The best time for general wildlife viewing is during the dry months of May to September.