Saiwa Swamp National Park is a superb bird-watching destination, with more than 300 species recorded in a tiny area. No cars are permitted in the park, and birders can explore the trails unguided. Look out for spectacular western specials such as Ross’s turaco, double-toothed barbet, yellow-billed barbet, red-headed bluebill and grey-winged robin-chat (the latter often skulks in undergrowth near the campsite). Stilted platforms overlooking the marsh provide a vantage point for spotting the likes of grey crowned crane, blue-headed coucal and broad-billed roller.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- African blue flycatcher
- African fish eagle
- Black-and-white-casqued hornbill
- Black-throated apalis
- Black-throated wattle-eye
- Blue-headed coucal
- Broad-billed roller
- Brown-throated wattle-eye
- Double-toothed barbet
- Eastern grey plantain-eater
- Grey-headed nigrita
- Grey-winged robin-chat
- Grosbeak weaver
- Joyful greenbul
- Little rush warbler
- Long-crested eagle
- Lühder’s bush-shrike
- Marsh tchagra
- Marsh widowbird
- Mosque swallow
- Narina trogon
- Ross’s turaco
- Snowy-crowned robin-chat
- Swamp flycatcher
- Tullberg’s woodpecker
- Yellow-billed barbet
Best Time for Bird Watching
Saiwa Swamp has an extraordinary number of birds recorded for such a small area, making it a great birding destination year-round. Better still, almost all of its birding specials are resident and might be spotted at any time of year. Migratory birds are present from November to April. During the wettest months, from April to August, frequent showers might sometimes interfere with your enjoyment of birding.