The great news about South Africa’s birdlife is that many species are abundant, brightly colored and easy to see. Visitors will come across familiar families such as storks and herons, eagles and falcons, kingfishers, woodpeckers and doves, along with gulls, terns, ducks and cranes. September through April, millions of global travelers, such as shorebirds, swallows and swifts, migrate here from the Northern Hemisphere to enjoy a second spring and summer in the south. Read our guide to birding in South Africa.
Southern carmine bee-eaters on the bank of Zambezi river
WHY SOUTH AFRICA IS IDEAL FOR BIRDWATCHING
South Africa is one of the finest countries for birding — not just on the African continent, but anywhere in the world. Almost 900 species have been spotted here — that’s not far from the combined total that has been found in the U.S. and Canada, in an area around 16 times smaller.
If you haven’t traveled to Africa before, there are a huge number of new landbirds, waterbirds and seabirds to see. The wider region of Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) boasts around 100 endemic species — 18 of which can be found within South Africa.
The key to seeing a wide variety of birds is to visit a wide variety of habitats. That’s where South Africa excels: with moist and arid savannahs, grasslands, montane and lowland forests, deserts and semideserts, rivers, lakes and marshes, and the coast — all of which host different groups of birds.
The country also has two very distinctive biomes. To the north and east of Cape Town, the arid area known as the Karoo has an array of desert birds. Further south, running in a narrow belt just inland from the coast, the Mediterranean-type shrubland known as fynbos has one of the highest number of plants anywhere in the world. Not surprisingly, these play host to a very special suite of birds — including no fewer than 11 species found nowhere else on the planet.
All these habitats are the result of South Africa being home to an extremely varied climate, which makes the country an excellent year-round destination. Whatever time of year you decide to travel, there’s always somewhere special to watch birds.
African penguins, Boulders Beach
WHAT ARE THE COUNTRY’S BEST BIRDING LOCATIONS?
Many first-time visitors to South Africa head for the Western Cape, basing themselves in or near Cape Town. It’s best to avoid the humid summer months (December to February) and the wet and cold winter (June to August). Spring (September to November) and fall (March to May) are usually dry, sunny and not too hot: perfect for birding.
Classic sites within range of Cape Town include Africa’s southwestern tip, the Cape of Good Hope, where you might glimpse the rare Verreaux’s Eagle; Table Mountain, with spectacular scenic views as well as birds; Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, home to a breeding colony of African penguins; Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, where the birds are used to people and so easy to see; and Lambert’s Bay, home to a huge colony of Cape gannets as well as many other seabirds.
Cape Town is also an ideal place to venture out on a boat trip, to see some of the world’s rarest and most spectacular ocean-going birds. These include petrels, shearwaters and albatrosses, which travel here from the southern oceans to feed on the abundant fish. There are also several excellent spots for birding in the east of the country: the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, and further north, Mpumalanga and Limpopo — location of the world-famous Kruger National Park.
These are vast areas, so if time is limited, it’s best to focus on two or three destinations — such as the spectacular Drakensberg mountains, near the border with the small country of Lesotho; or the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park and Manyoni Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. Kruger park itself is home to more than 500 species of birds as well as spectacular big game animals.
Elsewhere, Johannesburg might not be an obvious birding hotspot, but to the west of the city, the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden — named in honor of an anti-apartheid activist — is well worth a visit. To the southeast, the Marievale Bird Sanctuary is where visitors will find a host of wetland birds. And a three-hour drive northwest, the Pilanesberg National Park boasts grasslands, wetlands and savannah habitats and their associated birds.
Blue Crane, South Africa’s national bird
WHAT SPECIES OF BIRDS SHOULD YOU LOOK OUT FOR?
Many bird families also found in Europe and Asia have representatives here: think barbets and hornbills, and impossibly colorful bee eaters, rollers and hoopoes. Then there are specialized families found only in sub-Saharan Africa: mousebirds and oxpeckers, bushshrikes and turacos. A huge variety of larks, chats and finches are found mostly in drier areas. And no visit would be complete without seeing the African — formerly known as Jackass — penguin, whose numbers have plummeted in the past few years. With just 50,000 pairs remaining — of which fewer than 9,000 are in South Africa — it is now globally endangered.
Hard-core birders come here to see the regional endemics — around 100 species in total. And although some are easier to see in countries farther north, such as Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique, the majority can be found in South Africa. These include several endemic sugarbirds and sunbirds — the latter the African and Asian equivalent of hummingbirds. They can be watched at close range as they probe their long bills into flowering plants for the precious nectar.
In mountainous areas are two curious endemic species from the same family: the Cape and orange-breasted Drakensberg rockjumpers. These long-tailed, starling-sized birds live up to their name by hopping around on rocks. There are also no fewer than 14 endemic species of lark in Southern Africa.
South Africa’s national bird, the graceful Blue Crane, can be found on grasslands throughout much of the country. The Southern bald ibis, and four species of bustard — here named Korhaans — are also widespread. Other large endemic birds include the Cape vulture, South African shelduck and Cape parrot.
Birdwatching on safari
HOW CAN I MAKE THE MOST OF MY TRIP?
As with any birding trip, advance planning is essential: check out the various field guides to ensure that you’re visiting each location at the best time of year, and make a target list of birds you want to see, to save time in the field.
If you’re not on an organized birding or wildlife tour, it’s well worth hiring a bird guide for a day or two — they’ll know the best places to see the most sought-after species and save you time. Binoculars are essential. Be prepared to pay a reasonable sum for a pair that will last a lifetime, and test them before buying. For general bird and wildlife-watching, a pair of 8x30s or 10x40s are usually the best choice, being light enough for a whole day in the field, but powerful enough to get good views. A telescope is optional: remember that you’ll also need a tripod, which adds weight and cost.
Many birders now carry bridge cameras, which have very good zooms, and can be used to take photos of any mystery birds so you can identify them later at your leisure. Alternatively, the Merlin Bird ID app — free from Cornell University — is very good at identifying birds, either visually or by sound. And a good field guide is also essential; some can now be downloaded as apps.
By Stephen Moss
