Birding Safari
Kruger National Park &
Sabi Sands
Itinerary
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Birding Safari
 Our birding safari's provide a unique opportunity to tour multiple habitat types
and geographical locations, designed to maximise the variety of species.
Emphasis is given to high quality, responsible birding experience. Each
birding safari will be guided by an experienced guide with contributions from
other eminent ornithologists. Birding safaris include time spent at the Leutla Conservancy, Blyde River Canyon, Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands.
Within the Leutla Conservancy, opportunities for birding abound. This large private estate encompasses a unique mixture of habitat
types from mountains through woodlands, bush veld, rivers and streams.
A breeding pair of Narina Trogons can normally be seen visiting the main
lawn each day, together with a wide variety of king fishers, owls and raptors.
Birding records from whisper net capture and banded release have been
maintained for twenty years with over 250 species. Guided birding bush
walks commence each morning and afternoon. Hides within the forest and
river areas provide excellent bird viewing opportunities. |
Kruger National Park & Sabi Sands
The greater Kruger National Park provides a unique combination of wilderness areas, varied habitats, together with a wide
variety and concentration of bird species and big game animals. The wide range of habitats is responsible for a bird list of
over 500 species, while the productivity of these habitats is such that many species occur in abundance. The Park is
especially good for large raptors which are rare outside of extensive conservation areas, while many other scarce and
migrant species are attracted to its unspoilt wilderness. Bushveld and Woodland birds are found throughout the Park in any
habitat that has bush and trees. Within Sabi Sands you will have the opportunity to take guided bush walks in big five country.
Birding Safari Itinerary
We tailor each birding safari to suit your requirements, normally at no extra cost. As a guide, our birding safaris
follow a similar route and pricing to that of the wildlife safaris. Although the emphasis is on birding, there will also
be many opportunities for game viewing. Birding safaris follow our core beliefs, in that we provide a high quality
experience in the company of renowned ornithologists, with opportunities to become involved in birding related
conservation projects should you wish.
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Example of bird lists
Leutla Conservancy
Species of note include:
Reed Cormorant
Black-headed Heron
Cattle Egret
Green-backed Heron
Hamerkop
White Stork
Hadeda Ibis
African Black Duck
Cape Vulture
Peregrine Falcon
Amur Falcon
Black-shouldered Kite
Verreauxs' Eagle
African Crowned Eagle
Lizard Buzzard
Brown Snake-Eagle
Black-chested Snake-Eagle
African Fish-Eagle
Jackal Buzzard
Steppe Buzzard
Little Sparrowhawk
Black Sparrowhawk
African Goshawk
African Harrier-Hawk
Coqui Francolin
Crested Francolin
Shelley's Francolin
Natal Spurfowl
Swainson's Spurfowl
Common Quail
Helmeted Guineafowl
Kurrichane Buttonquail
Buff-spotted Flufftail
Common Sandpiper
Speckled Pigeon
African Olive-Pigeon
Red-eyed Dove
Cape Turtle-Dove
Laughing Dove
Namaqua Dove
Tambourine Dove
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Lemon Dove
African Green-Pigeon
Brown-headed Parrot
Purple-crested Turaco
Grey Go-away-bird
Red-chested Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo
Jacobin Cuckoo
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Klaas's Cuckoo
Diderick Cuckoo
Barn Owl
African Wood-Owl
Spotted Eagle-Owl
European Nightjar
Rufous-cheeked
Nightjar
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Freckled Nightjar
Common Swift
African Black Swift
White-rumped Swift
Horus Swift
Alpine Swift
African Palm-Swift
Speckled Mousebird
Red-faced Mousebird
Narina Trogon
Giant Kingfisher
Half-collared Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
African Pygmy-Kingfisher
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
White-fronted Bee-eater
Little Bee-eater
African Hoopoe
Green Wood-Hoopoe
African Grey Hornbill
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Black-collared Barbet
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
Crested Barbet
Greater Honeyguide
Scaly-throated Honeyguide
Lesser Honeyguide
Brown-backed Honeybird
Bennett's Woodpecker
Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Cardinal Woodpecker
Bearded Woodpecker
Rufous-naped Lark
Barn Swallow
White-throated Swallow
Lesser Striped Swallow
South African Cliff-Swallow
Rock Martin, Brown-throated
Martin, Black Saw-wing
Black Cuckooshrike
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Fork-tailed Drongo
Black-headed Oriole
White-necked Raven
Southern Black Tit
Arrow-marked Babbler
Dark-capped Bulbul
Sombre Greenbul
Kurrichane Thrush
Groundscraper Thrush
Cape Rock-Thrush
Familiar Chat
Mocking Cliff-Chat
African Stonechat
Red-capped Robin-Chat
Cape Robin-Chat
White-throated Robin-Chat
White-browed Scrub-Robin
Garden Warbler
Willow Warbler
African Reed-Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Long-billed Crombec
Bar-throated Apalis
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Green-backed Camaroptera
Zitting Cisticola
Desert Cisticola
Neddicky
Rattling Cisticola
Levaillant's Cisticola
Lazy Cisticola
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Spotted Flycatcher
Ashy Flycatcher
Southern Black Flycatcher
Cape Batis
Chinspot Batis
African Paradise-Flycatcher
Cape Wagtail
Mountain Wagtail
Striped Pipit
Cape Longclaw
Common Fiscal
Red-backed Shrike
Southern Boubou
Black-backed Puffback
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Black-crowned Tchagra
Olive Bush-Shrike
Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike |
Grey-headed Bush-Shrike
White-crested Helmet-Shrike
Retz's Helmet-Shrike
Brubru
Cape Glossy Starling
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Red-winged Starling
Red-billed Oxpecker
Gurney's Sugarbird
Malachite Sunbird
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
White-bellied Sunbird
Collared Sunbird
Amethyst Sunbird
House Sparrow
Yellow-throated Petronia
Village Weaver
Cape Weaver
Golden Weaver
Southern Masked-Weaver
Thick-billed Weaver
Red-billed Quelea
Southern Red Bishop
Yellow Bishop
Red-collared Widowbird
White-winged Widowbird
Bronze Mannikin
Swee Waxbill
Green-winged Pytilia
African Firefinch
Jameson's Firefinch
Blue Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Pin-tailed Whydah
Dusky Indigobird
Purple Indigobird
Cape Canary
Yellow-fronted Canary
Black-throated Canary
Brimstone Canary
Streaky-headed Seedeater
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Cape Bunting
Golden-breasted Bunting
Burchell's Coucal
Cape White-eye
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow |
Kruger and Sabi Sands
Particularly rich in Cuckoos(9 species), Rollers(5 species), Hornbills(6 species), and Kingfishers(9 species).
Interesting species include Grey-headed Parrot, African Cuckoo, Thick-billed Cuckoo, and Great Spotted Cuckoo, Greyheaded
Kingfisher and Woodland Kingfisher, Southern Carmine Bee-eater and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller
and Racket-tailed Roller, Southern Ground-Hornbill and Trumpeter Hornbill, Bennett's Woodpecker and Bearded Woodpecker,
Red-breasted Swallow and Mosque Swallow, Black Cuckooshrike and White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Eurasian Golden
Oriole, White-throated Robin-Chat and Bearded Scrub-Robin, Stierling's Wren-Warbler, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Meves's
Starling, Greater Blue-eared Starling and Violet-backed Starling, Yellow-billed Oxpecker and Red-billed Oxpecker, Scarletchested
Sunbird, Red-headed Weaver, Green-winged Pytilia, Violet-eared Waxbill and Lemon-breasted Canary.
Almost all buffalo herds in the northern half of the park are attended by Yellow-billed Oxpecker. Grassland Species also
occur throughout, but more predominantly in the savannas around Satara.
Good birds to see are Coqui Francolin and Shelley's Francolin, Harlequin Quail, Kurrichane Buttonquail, and after good rains
Corn Crake, Flappet Lark, Monotonous Lark, Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, Black Coucal, Black-bellied Bustard, Redcrested
Korhaan, Kori Bustard, Montagu's Harrier and Pallid Harrier.
During drought years, influxes of species favouring the drier western parts of the country sometimes occur.
These include Red-headed Finch, Lark-like Bunting, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver and Marico Flycatcher.
Raptors are generally widespread in the park and occur over all habitats in search of prey.
Red-billed Quelea breeding colonies attract many species including Lesser Spotted Eagle and Steppe Eagle. Flocks of
Kestrels congregate for insects after good rains.
The tall trees found along rivers also provide roosting and breeding sites for Vultures and other large Raptors. Vultures
include White-backed Vulture, Cape Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Hooded Vulture and White-headed Vulture.
Large Raptors encountered throughout the year are Martial Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Verreauxs' Eagle, Tawny Eagle,
African Fish-Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Brown Snake-Eagle, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Bateleur
and Dark Chanting Goshawk, Steppe Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle.
Smaller species include African Cuckoo Hawk, Bat Hawk, Lizard Buzzard, Gabar Goshawk, African Goshawk, Shikra, Little
Sparrowhawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Lanner Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Dickinson's Kestrel, Lesser
Kestrel and Amur Falcon.
Rare visitors include Ayres's Hawk-Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Sooty Falcon, Red-necked Falcon, European
Honey-Buzzard and Osprey.
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