uMkhuze Game Reserve is possibly the richest birding area for its size in all of South Africa. A checklist of 420-plus species includes several tropical birds near the southern limit of their distribution, notably , , and Neergaard’s sunbird. Nsumo Pan often hosts and other large waterbirds, while kuMasinga Hide is great for colorful bush species such as and . 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 broadbill
- African grass owl
- African green pigeon
- African pygmy goose
- African yellow white-eye
- Black-winged lapwing
- Broad-billed roller
- Dwarf bittern
- Grey waxbill
- Half-collared kingfisher
- Jameson’s firefinch
- Livingstone’s turaco
- Narina trogon
- Neergaard’s sunbird
- Pel’s fishing-owl
- Pink-throated twinspot
- Purple-banded sunbird
- Purple-crested turaco
- Rudd’s apalis
- Rufous-crowned roller
- Southern banded snake eagle
- Southern crested guineafowl
- Stierling’s wren-warbler
- Swee waxbill (NE)
- Western nicator
- Woodwards’ batis
Best Time for Bird Watching
Bird watching in uMkhuze is excellent throughout the year. However, November to April, when Eurasian and intra-African are present, are the very best months when it comes to bird variety. General wildlife viewing is best during the drier months, from May to September.