Tembe Elephant Park has over 340 bird species recorded and is a birder’s paradise. The extensive checklist is due to the variety of habitats, such as sand forest, scrub and acacia woodland. Some tropical birds are at the most southerly point of their range, including African broadbill and Rudd’s apalis. The guides are knowledgeable, and most birders will walk away with several lifers under their belt. Migratory birds are present from November to April.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
(NE) near-endemic = lives in South Africa and neighboring countries- African broadbill
- Ayres’s hawk-eagle
- Bat hawk
- Black coucal
- Brown scrub robin (NE)
- Chestnut-fronted helmet-shrike
- Crested guineafowl
- Eastern nicator
- Gorgeous bush-shrike
- Green twinspot
- Lemon-breasted canary
- Narina trogon
- Neergaard’s sunbird
- Palm-nut vulture
- Pink-throated twinspot
- Plain-backed sunbird
- Purple-banded sunbird
- Retz’s helmet-shrike
- Rosy-throated longclaw
- Rudd’s apalis
- Rufous-bellied heron
- Southern banded snake eagle
- Swamp nightjar
- Woodwards’ batis
Best Time for Bird Watching
Tembe Elephant Park is a birder’s paradise year-round, but November to April, when migrants from Europe and northern Africa are present, is the very best time. General wildlife viewing is better during the dry winter months of June through September.