Kruger National Park Birding Tours

The Amplify Birding Package – US$5,230.00

We offer a variety of Kruger National Park birding tours, and maybe this one will suit your needs perfectly! Enjoy 4 nights and 5 days in the Kruger National Park as we embark on a trip of a life time in search of the various bird species of the Kruger National Park. We cater for up to 3 people in this package, and the price is all inclusive, with more details below.

The Amplify Birding Package is one that has 2 options of where you choose to make your base camp, and what areas of the Kruger National Park you would like to explore. We have chosen a camp in the Southern Kruger National Park, and a camp in the Northern Kruger National Park. This bird watching safari package differs from the Rustic Birding Package because, you will be staying in much nicer accommodation and in smaller camps, with more space and more birding opportunities inside the camps. Your preference purely depends on what bird species you would like to seek out, and there are a variety of different birds each of the areas offer. Below you will find out what is included, and further down we will discuss the 2 camps and what the areas offer in terms of bird watching. Please contact us at any point for more information!

• 4 nights Accommodation (2 “bushveld” camps to choose from)
• Price inclusive of up to 3 people
• Conservation fees
• Pick up and drop off at Skukuza Airport
• Still mineral water
• Guided bird drives through the Kruger Park
• Protective insurance
• Birding expertise
• Photographic opportunities
• 4 night Braai dinner (Barbecue)

Excluded

• Breakfast, lunch
• Alcoholic beverages, snacks and soft drinks

Where To Stay On Your Kruger Bird Watching Safari – The Two Options

Option 1

Biyamiti Bushveld Camp

Trumpeter Hornbill

Biyamiti Bushveld Camp is my favourite place to stay in the southern Kruger National Park, and this private camp will have you in awe. Full of big trees and along the Biyamiti River, the birdlife is abundant with a lot of different species available on show and to photograph. There is a bird hide along the river, and also presents great bird watching opportunities. The camp is secluded and has almost 40 kilometers of private prime river road to explore, with easy access to bird hotspots like Mpondo Dam, Sunset Dam and Lake Panic Bird Hide. We have included some more information and photographs below of the accommodation.

Bird watching in the area produces your typical riverine and Bushveld birds that occur in the Kruger National Park, with specialities including the Black Coucal, Trumpeter Hornbill, Orange-breasted and Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Acacia Pied Barbet, African Harrier Hawk, Shikra, African Hawk Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Lappet-faced Vulture, Senegal Lapwing, Violet-backed Starling, African Barred Owlet, Retz’s Helmet Shrike and many others. In the summer months there are many species of Cuckoo around. Birding is great all year round in the camp and in the adjacent areas.

This is a great option for your stay, but if you need help choosing between Biyamiti or Sirheni (below), please get in touch with us.

Images above of accommodation at Biyamiti Bushveld Camp courtesy of SANParks

Option 2

Sirheni Bushveld Camp

Arnot’s Chat

Sirheni Bushveld Camp is the most northern private camp, which is very quiet and has a short private road leading to the camp. There are two bird hides in Sirheni and during the summer months there is a bit of water around that attracts a variety of birds. Sirheni Bushveld Camp is a beautiful camp with spacious accommodation that can be seen below.

Bird watching in camp is fun and you have good chances of seeing Kurrichane Thrush, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Violet-backed Starling, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Long-billed Crombec, African Palm Swift, Collared Palm Thrush and other more common birds.

This is the second option to choose from for the Amplify Birding Package, and this is here because it is situated within easy driving distance to Punda Maria, Pafuri and Shingwedzi, all top notch birding areas, with 500 bird species occurring in the area.

There is a beautiful road along the banks of the Mphongolo River where there are chances of seeing African Pygmy Kingfisher, Dusky Indigobird, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Village Indigobird, Black Stork, Violet-eared Waxbill, Dwarf Bittern and Eurasian Golden Oriole. A variety of ground nesting birds can be seen in the road around here, and the early morning light presents a fantastic opportunity for photography.

The northern reaches have many rare birds that include Bohm’s and Mottled Spinetail, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Broad-billed Roller, Arnot’s Chat, Bat Hawk, Crested Guineafowl and a variety of other Rollers, Starlings, Shrikes, Birds of prey, and Parrots. This is why Sirheni would be a great option for your stay.

Images above of accommodation at Sirheni Bushveld Camp courtesy of SANParks (Please note there are areas to charge camera equipment etc)

What Camp To Choose As Your Base?

It is a tough choice, Biyamiti Bushveld Camp is a nicer place to stay and has the private road to offer, but Sirheni Bushveld Camp has access to the northern parts of the Kruger National Park, where there are more species of birds. Whatever you decide on, we will make it special for you! You can also ask us for advice, especially if you have a birding “wish list”, and then we can point you in the right direction.

About Your Bird Guide In The Kruger National Park

My name is Gareth Roocroft, founder of Stories Of The Kruger, you can read more about us as a collective here. I live in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, and travel to the Kruger National Park a number of times each year.

“I have been going to the Kruger National Park since 1999, and birding is my main passion, although I love all the wildlife that the beautiful Kruger has to offer while on safari! Kruger National Park guided bird tours has always been something I want to get involved in, and since I have a passion for digital marketing (My remote working online business is called Straw Hat Digital), I have used this and finally got to the point where I am ready to take guests from all over the World to the Kruger National Park in search of birds.

I was born in 1989, and have been a lover of the bush since I can remember. I have written thousands of articles on the Kruger and other wild areas since the early 2000’s. I am not a qualified guide (disclaimer), but I am a passionate, friendly and social person who wants to share the beauty of the birds of the Kruger National Park with everyone. My aim is to make you happy, and remember what a birding safari tour would be like and have you longing for more. I know my birds extremely well, and I know where to find certain birds in the public areas of the Kruger National Park, where we will be exploring. If you want to talk to me a bit more, I am free for a WhatsApp call or a chat via email (email hello@storiesofthekruger.com). I cannot wait to take you birding!”

When Is The Best Time To Book Your Kruger National Park Birding Safari?

The time of year all depends on your comfortability levels. The Kruger National Park is hot all throughout the year, but the summer months (October to March) are especially hot with average day time temperatures being anywhere between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius. This is the best time for birding in the Kruger National Park as all the migratory bird species are around. Winter birding in the Kruger, April to September, is very rewarding too, although you won’t see as many bird species, there are still around 350+ bird species to seek.

Easter is very busy and generally the 15th of December until the 9th of January is jam packed in the Kruger national park, unless you choose to go north, where it is more quiet and border orientated. It is best to avoid these times if possible.

In our opinion, the best months to visit the Kruger National Park for birding purposes are:

Summer:

• October
• November
• March

Winter:

• May
• June
• July
• September

What Should You Bring With On Your Guided Birding Trip?

Here is an essential list of what to pack for your bird watching safari in the Kruger National Park:

• Binoculars
• A bird field guide or app (We can suggest a great App)
• A spotting scope and tripod or window mount
• Any other birding equipment
• Photography equipment
• Spare batteries for photographic and other gear
• Flashlight/torch/headlamp with spare batteries
• Toiletries
• Personal medication (where applicable including anti-malaria medication, please consult us regarding if this is necessary)
• Alarm clock (Your mobile/cellular phone will suffice)
• Passport
• Copies of passport, medical insurance policies, and other important documents, such as identity documents or drivers licenses should you be driving a vehicle for any reason
• Cash/card for drinks, gifts, curios, dining out or anything else you might want to purchase. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted (Amex less so), including for drawing local currency (South African Rand – ZAR) at ATMs. But it’s essential to always have cash as a backup.
• Hiking boots plus another pair of shoes and sandals
• Swimming gear
• Cap/hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen and lip sun protection
• Mosquito repellent
• Long-sleeved clothes as a precaution against biting insects, especially if you are going on a guided late evening/night drive
• Sweatshirt/Jacket

One thing to bear in mind is that you will be flying on a domestic flight to from Johannesburg/Durban/Cape Town to Skukuza, and often baggage allowances for checked-in and carry-on luggage may be less than your international flights. Please just let us know the details of your domestic flight and we will confirm the finer details for you.