South African Bird Life

Boasting an incredibly rich and varied bird population, South Africa is a great place to see bird life. The fantastic infrastructure at the big safari parks makes bird watching a breeze. Over 850 species have been recorded in South Africa, a mixture of migrants and endemic populations, and bird watchers flock there from around the world. Around 50 species are found nowhere else in the world. The list of interesting species is too long to cover here but stars include the African Hoopoe, Secretary Bird and the blue crane which is South Africa’s national bird.
Most parks and trails have bird hides and you can hire guides who specialise in bird watching. The best time to see birds is during the wet season, but of course different species of birds can be seen at different times of the year. Key areas for birding are the Wakkerstroom grasslands and the area around the western cape.