Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Explore South Africa by province
Birder Friendly stays in South Africa
Across South Africa
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,120 a night
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 8,380 a night
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Spotted hyena
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris
Mpumalanga
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Aardvark · African elephant
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Birder friendly · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Mbizane Escarpment Retreat
Mbombela
Birder friendly · Forest biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,800 a night
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 1,155 a night
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 5,990 a night
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,985 a night
Oceans Away
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 34,972 a night
Lagoon Ocean Lodge
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 24,990 a night
Vine & Vale
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 34,972 a night
Lavender Dreams
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 24,990 a night
Azure Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,492 a night
Milk & Honey
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,492 a night
Tidesong
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 34,972 a night
Oceanique
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 24,990 a night
Sea Whisper
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,492 a night
Utopia
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 31,223 a night
Swallows Rest
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale · Caracal
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 29,981 a night
The Klein Karoo
Next stop
Dry mountains, ostriches, and Calitzdorp's port wines
See places that give backSpekboom is South Africa’s birding accommodation platform, in partnership with BirdLife South Africa. Every stay on this page is somewhere a host has told us birds matter: a garden left indigenous, a wetland kept intact, a farm that has stopped clearing the edges.
Read more
Two different things appear here, and they are worth separating. Birder Friendly is BirdLife South Africa’s own accreditation, with its own standards, and only accredited properties carry that badge. Bird friendly is our lighter flag, set by hosts who manage for birds but have not gone through that process. Both are useful. They are not the same claim.
You can also search the other way round, by the bird itself. Hosts record the species seen on or near their property, and each of those becomes a page showing where you could stay for a chance to see it. A recorded sighting is a record of what has been seen, never a promise of what you will see.
Questions travellers ask
What is the difference between Birder Friendly and bird friendly?
Birder Friendly is an accreditation run by BirdLife South Africa, with standards a property has to meet. Bird friendly is our own flag, set by hosts who manage their land with birds in mind but have not been through that accreditation. We show both, labelled differently, so you know which you are looking at.
Will I definitely see the birds listed for a stay?
No, and nobody can promise that. The species on a listing are what the host has recorded on or near the property. Birds move with the season, the weather and the year. Treat the list as what is possible there, not what is guaranteed.
When is the best time for birding in South Africa?
November to March, when the summer migrants are in and the resident birds are breeding. The Western Cape is also rewarding in winter, when the fynbos flowers.
Where should a first birding trip in South Africa go?
Two regions is plenty: the Western Cape for the fynbos endemics, and Kruger and the Lowveld or Zululand for the bushveld and forest birds. Our birding guide plans it region by region.
Can I search by a specific species?
Yes. Each bird hosts have recorded has its own page showing the stays that carry it, with facts on where and when it is most likely. Start from the species index and pick a bird.
Does booking here support bird conservation?
Every Spekboom booking sends a share of the host commission to the cause linked to that stay. On many birding properties that cause is a habitat or species programme. The cause is named on each listing, so you can see exactly what your booking supports.