Birding in the Kruger National Park:

Kruger has a list of almost 500 species, some of which are not to be found elsewhere in South Africa. Hornbills, Starlings, Vultures, Rollers, Bee-eaters and Shrikes typify the ubiquitous avi-fauna and birders can look forward to pursuing the big 6 (Saddlebilled Stork, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappetfaced Vulture, Pel's Fishing Owl and Ground Hornbill). The far north of the park (Pafuri and Punda Maria regions) is regarded as one of the birding Mecca's of the country (with many regional rarities to be found), yet birding throughout the entire park is excellent. Eagles are common: Bateleur, Martial, Blackbreasted Snake, Brown Snake, African Hawk, African Fish and Tawny are all regularly seen, and in summer: Wahlberg's, Steppe, Lesser Spotted. The Park's numerous water points make for excellent birding, while the rest camps and picnic sites are exceptionally rewarding for birders.

Berg-en-Dal
The camp is an excellent venue to see Fantailed Flycatcher, Heuglin's and Whitethroated Robins. Scarletchested Sunbird is particularly prominent. The adjacent Matjulu Dam attracts a constant supply of water birds and African Fish Eagle is usually present and viewed at close quarters. The surrounding hills host a wealth of species and are a good place to search for Pennantwinged Nightjar (in summer and at dusk) and Croaking Cisticola.

Crocodile Bridge
A special to be looked for in this area is the Pinkthroated Twinspot. Blackbellied Starlings have also been recorded in this region. The rest camp itself has a busy stream of bird activity.

Letaba
Letaba Camp has a rich bird population and is particularly good for viewing owls. Pearlspotted, Barred and Scops were once uniquely recorded simultaneously in a single tree (admittedly a tape recorder was involved), while Giant Eagle Owl is regularly recorded along the river itself. Scan all large Riverine trees carefully. Greencapped Eremomela should be looked for in the camp and like most camps in the central and northern parts of the park Mourning Dove is particularly prominent. The Matambeni Bird Hide on the northern bank of Engelhard Dam is a good place to watch water birds. On the south bank of the dam a colony of Redwinged Pratincoles appear annually to breed.

The Masorini Ruins close to the Phalaborwa Gate is a good venue to view Yellowthroated Sparrow, Mocking Chat and Redheaded Weaver.

Lower Sabie
Starlings, sunbirds and hornbills typify the commoner species in the camp itself. At night residents should listen for Mozambique and Fierynecked Nightjars. The nearby Sunset Dam is one of the finest venues in the Park to observe aquatic species at close quarters with cormorants, herons, kingfishers and storks occurring in abundance. Marabou, Saddlebilled, Woolynecked, Yellowbilled, Openbilled and Black Stork can sometimes be seen simultaneously. In the Lower Sabie area Mlondozi Dam is a good spot to view waterfowl including some of the rarer species in the park. The small pan on the N'watimhiri road is a regular haunt of Lesser Moorhen.

Mopani
The camp overlooks the Pioneer Dam where a plethora of water birds are to be seen. Storks, egrets, kingfishers and African Fish Eagles are ever present while Redwinged Pratincole, African Spoonbill, Blackwinged Stilt and Whitewinged Tern are some of the more uncommon species to watch for. Mosque and Wiretailed Swallow breed in camp (the former should be looked for at the camp's huge Baobab Tree). Mocking Chats should be looked for from the ladies bar.

At the nearby Nshawu Pans look for Kittlitz's Plover, Chestnutbacked Finchlark and Redwinged Pratincole.

Olifants
Two birds to look out for on the Olifants River are Whitefronted and Whitecrowned Plover. Search the riparian trees on the Olifants River near Balule for the Pel's Fishing Owl.

Orpen (by Errol Pietersen)
Orpen and the surrounding area is a good region for general bushveld birds and 5 of the "big 6" are regularly seen and breed in the area, with only the Pel's Fishing Owl being absent.

The plains immediately east of Orpen Camp are one of the more reliable places to see the nomadic Lesser Blackwinged Plover (Search at the turn off to Tamboti and Maroela Camps). Montagu's Harrier has also been recorded on a few occasions in this grassland area.

Whitefaced and Knobbilled Ducks, Dabchick and Lesser Moorhen breed in the flooded vegetation at Rabelais Pan. 1999 saw the first Kruger breeding record of Painted Snipe here.

African Rail and African Crake are regularly recorded in dense, marshy areas, particularly on the dirt roads around Talamati. These species early in the morning or late afternoon or on overcast, rainy days when they are foraging on the edge of the road. Fairfield Waterhole near Talamati is a regular haunt. Also just outside Talamati Camp Saddlebilled Stork breed. Of the other storks, Woolynecked, Openbilled, White and Black may be seen, the latter two being locally common when food is abundant. Marabou Stork is regularly seen at the waterhole outside Orpen Camp.

The Orpen area hosts a wealth of raptors, especially in the summer months. Tawny (breeding outside of the camp), African Fish (at Rabelais Pan), Wahlbergs, Lesser Spotted, Steppe, African Hawk and Brown Snake Eagles, Bateleur, Blackshouldered Kite, Gabar and Dark Chanting Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk and Eastern and Western Redfooted Kestrels are all regularly seen. Less frequently seen are African Goshawk, Martial and Blackbreasted Snake Eagles and Gymnogene. Five vulture species may be seen in the area, although the Cape Griffin is least often observed despite a breeding colony near the Strijdom Tunnel at Manoutsa.

Night drives, and dawn and dusk produce Pearlspotted, Scops, Barred, Giant Eagle, Spotted Eagle and Barn Owl, as well as Fierynecked, Mozambique, Freckled and European Nightjars. Less common are Marsh and Grass Owl and Rufouscheeked and Pennantwinged Nightjar.

Rarities to come out of the area include Bluethroated Sunbird at Orpen Camp, Longcrested Eagle on the Timbavati River, Olive Bush Shrike at Tamboti Camp and in the incredible wet season of 1999-2000 plenty of Black Coucal.

Pafuri Region
The drives along the banks of the Levuvhu River via the Nyalaland Drive (S64) or the picnic site/Crook's Corner loop (S63), take visitors through some of the most potentially productive birding territory in South Africa. One can simply spend several hours in the Pafuri Picnic Site itself, with Trumpeter Hornbill, Purplecrested Lourie, Wattleeyed Flycatcher, Tropical Boubou, Longtailed Starling, Narina Trogon, Gorgeous, Greyheaded and Orangebreasted Bushshrike and several different species of robin, sunbird and firefinch all potentially swelling one's list. Other rarities for the Park recorded at the picnic site include Cinnamon Dove, Brown Robin and Wood Owl.

Another rewarding place to spend time is the tar road's bridge over the Levuvhu River. Horus Swift is regularly seen here alongside the commoner Little and Whiterumped Swifts. Whitecrowned Plover and Finfoot are also regularly recorded from the bridge's vantagepoint. The reeds and undergrowth may hold Redfaced and Blackbacked Cisticola. It is also a good place to watch for Birds of Prey including the magnificent Crowned Eagle. For the lucky ones the chance of locating a roosting Pel's Fishing Owl makes scanning all large riverine trees worthwhile.

Above the baobabs along the Nyala Drive is an excellent place to search for both Böhm's and Mottled Spinetails, while the drive is also good for recording Crested Guineafowl and Longtailed Starling. A journey to Crook's Corner should produce Whitefronted Bee-eater and Broadbilled Roller (summer) while Lemonbreasted Canary is frequently recorded in the Hyphaene palms not far from the lookout point. Scalythroated Honeyguide has also been recorded near this spot.

Pretoriuskop
In the camp itself look for Greencapped Eremomela, Brownheaded Parrot, Cutthroat Finch, Redheaded Weaver and several sunbird species. Black Cuckoo (summer) and Gorgeous Bush Shrike can be heard calling from the dense bush surrounding the camp. The Pretoriuskop region is one of the best areas in the Park to see Pennantwinged Nightjar, Blackbellied Korhaan and Redcollared Widow.

Punda Maria
In the camp (particularly on the Paradise Flycatcher Trail) Yellowbellied and Terrestrial Bulbul, Bearded Robin should be looked for. Birding throughout the camp is excellent. Birds of prey are common overhead. Black Eagle is sometimes seen, while in winter the Whitenecked Raven is a regular visitor. The Mahonie Loop, (the 25km circular drive around the camp) is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding birding drives in the Park. One should give oneself plenty of time to cover the distance, and travel with windows down and stop frequently, particularly for calls. On a good day one could record several of the following ‘specials': Whitebreasted Cuckooshrike, Crowned Hornbill, Chestnutbellied (Greyhooded) Kingfisher, Crested Guineafowl, Gorgeous Bush Shrike Cape Parrot, African and European Golden Oriole (both summer), Yellowspotted Nicator, Stierling's Barred Warbler and Dickinson's Kestrel. Narina Trogon has also been recorded on the loop, but is shy and elusive. On the drive from Punda Maria to Pafuri via the Klopperfontein Dam, Rackettailed Roller and Mashona Hyliota have been recorded. This is also one of the best areas to search for Yellowbilled Oxpecker. This species was absent in the park for many years, but returned in the 1980s and their numbers are still increasing. Buffalo are the preferred hosts.

Satara
Satara, like other camps, has a plethora of resident birds. Particularly prominent are Redbilled Buffalo Weaver and Mourning Dove. At night Giant Eagle, Barn, Scops and Pearlspotted Owls can be seen and heard in camp. The open plains to the north of the camp are perhaps the best place in the park to record Montagu's and Pallid Harrier.

The N'wanedzi Picnic Site (24 km from Satara) is worth visiting. Violeteared Waxbill, Yellowbellied Bulbul, Mocking Chat are regulars here, while Shafttailed Whydah has been seen nearby. There is also a viewing platform that provides an elevated view down on the N'wanedzi River. About 2 km from N'wanedzi on the S37 Road the Sweni Bird Hide is well worth stopping at. In winter, when water levels are low, and rocks, mud-banks and reeds are exposed, the site is exceptionally active bird-wise, with many passerines coming to drink and joining the ubiquitous Hamerkop, Greenbacked Heron and Great White and Little Egrets. In summer, after heavy rain, the high water levels reduce the bird-life. However it is an excellent venue to see Bluecheeked Bee-eater that is regularly in attendance here.

Shingwedzi
Shingwedzi has abundant bird-life and, aside from the ubiquitous squabble of hornbills, starlings, weavers and Mourning Doves, the camp is a good place to see Bennett’s Woodpecker, Natal Robin, European Hobby (hawking prey at dusk in summer), Grey Penduline Tit, Black and Steelblue Widowfinch and Scops Owl (at night). Cutthroat Finch has been recorded in camp near the swimming pool. Giant Eagle Owl is also regularly seen in the large riverine trees on the road approaching the camp. One should keep a careful lookout for Bathawk. Although not easy to see, they are around and the lucky birder could see them catching bats and swifts at dusk. The highwater bridge is a good potential vantage point, while they can also be seen along Kanniedood Dam.

There was great excitement in 1995 when Collared Palm Thrush was recorded in the camp. It has subsequently been recorded every year and quite possibly breeds.

Downstream from the rest camp Kanniedood Dam hosts many interesting species. Storks (Openbilled, Yellowbilled, Saddlebilled and Woolynecked) are prominent. The hide is a good spot to see Black Crake and African Jacana at close quarters. Whitewinged Tern has also been recorded on the dam. In summer a bit of luck may offer birders the chance to compare the rare Dwarf Bittern with the common Greenbacked Heron.

Yellowbilled Oxpecker is being recorded more regularly in the Shingwedzi area since their recolonisation of the Park. Check buffalo in particular for this species. Arnot’s Chat, Broadbilled Roller, Mosque Swallow and Dusky Lark (summer) are other species that should be searched for in the Shingwedzi area.

Skukuza
Although Skukuza is a large and busy camp, the camp hosts an excellent avi-fauna. Scanning the Sabie River from in front of the restaurant can produce Finfoot and Halfcollared Kingfisher. In summer this venue is a hub of activity with a massive nesting colony of Lesser Masked and Spottedbacked Weavers. Green Pigeons are abundant in the Riverine fig trees. In taking a walk along the river's bank there is a strong chance of encountering Redfaced Cisticola and Spectacled Weaver and, in early the morning, Little Sparrowhawk. The river walk and a stroll around the rest of the camp could yield Collared Sunbird, Redbacked and Bronze Mannikin, Purplecrested Lourie and three bush shrikes (Orangebreasted, Greyheaded and Gorgeous) may well be heard or even seen. Heuglin's Robin is another species constantly heard but more difficult to see. Up to seven species of flycatcher may also be found (Paradise, Black, Dusky, Spotted, Fantailed, Bluegrey and Pallid). Watching the sky above the river at dusk may reveal Bat-hawk or European Hobby. When night falls a spot-light lights up a fig tree outside the restaurant. Woodland Kingfishers use this ‘extended daylight' to hunt insects attracted to the glow.

The nearby bird hide at Lake Panic is a good spot to go to observe kingfishers, herons and Wiretailed Swallows at close quarters. Blackwinged Stilts are often in attendance.

- Compiled by Chris Patton, with input from Ian Whyte, Hein Grobler, Andrew Deacon, Errol Pietersen and Marc McDonald