More than 270 bird species have been recorded in Marakele National Park. are well represented, and the park supports a long list of localised species associated with the dry west. Marakele’s cliffs are home to one of the two largest breeding colonies of , a Southern African . More than 800 breeding pairs nest on the cliffs of Kransberg and they are often seen soaring on . are present from November to April.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
(NE) near-endemic = most of the global population is resident in South Africa- African finfoot
- Black cuckoo-shrike
- Black-cheeked waxbill
- Black-chested snake eagle
- Brown snake eagle
- Brubru
- Buff-streaked chat (NE)
- Cape bunting
- Cape rock thrush
- Cape vulture
- Common kestrel
- Fiery-necked nightjar
- Gurney’s sugarbird (NE)
- Half-collared kingfisher
- Lanner falcon
- Lazy cisticola
- Malachite sunbird
- Mocking cliff chat
- Mountain wheatear
- Peregrine falcon
- Rufous-crowned roller
- Southern carmine bee-eater
- Southern white-crowned shrike
- Swee waxbill
- Verreaux’s eagle
- Violet-eared waxbill
- Wahlberg’s eagle
- Wailing cisticola
- White-crested helmet-shrike
Best Time for Bird Watching
A birding visit to Marakele is best scheduled during the season, which occurs from November to April. However, there’s no bad time to visit since bird watching is generally decent throughout the year. June to September are the best months for observing wildlife.