SAFARI CAMPS for responsible travellers
The preferred booking platform for lodges & campsites managed by AFRICAN PARKS
Africa has more than 2,700 bird species on the mainland and associated islands, and ticking them off the life list is a significant focus for passionate bird watchers. For others, it's more about celebrating Africa's extraordinary biodiversity by simply seeing and hearing various birds. Whatever your level of interest in bird-watching, you will love the avian candy on offer.
Included in the African Parks protected areas are some of Africa's best twitching opportunities - from the rare and seldom seen to the bizarre or extraordinarily beautiful. See each place below for notes on bird species in that area, or consult your bird guide/app.
Scroll past the places and camps below to find out more about bird-watching
Come bird-watching with African Parks
Tips for bird-watching
Serious vs casual bird-watchers
Serious bird-watchers have specific requirements and usually prefer to be in a different vehicle than most game-drive clients. And vice versa. Bird watchers stop often and for longer periods than others and prefer focusing on specific habitat types instead of targeting predators and other large mammals. This may frustrate others. Consider this when you discuss vehicle and guide options with your travel agent.
Guides
Most African Parks protected areas have local guides who know the area and species well. Some of those are expert bird-watching guides. If your interest in birds is more than a casual interest, we suggest asking for local bird guides - they know the local specials and where to find them. Remember that some birds are seasonal migrants, and others are only active during certain times of the year. If you have certain species in mind, ask your travel agent to advise on the time of year and choice of guide.
If you plan to watch birds casually, the local park and community guides can identify the species you encounter.
Apps and bird books
Each to their own, but we suggest downloading relevant mobile apps rather than lugging around heavy books. The following apps are excellent for Africa:
Southern Africa: Roberts Bird Guide - iPhone and Android
East Africa: Birds of East Africa - iPhone and Android
Zambia: Birds of Zambia - iPhone and Android
Africa-wide: Birds of Africa - iPhone and Android
Equipment
If you are an experienced bird-watcher, we don't need to tell you that high-quality binoculars are the difference between success and failure to identify elusive, fast-moving birds in poor light. For the not-so-serious birder, a good pair of binoculars is a great investment for repeat visits to the African Parks camps ;-)