Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Eastern Cape · Year-round
5 places
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African Firefinch
Lagonosticta rubricata
The African firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata), also called the dark firefinch or blue-billed firefinch due to the color of its bill, is a common species of estrildid finch found in almost all parts of Africa.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Records400 records
Curve from 400 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where African Firefinch is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
400 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Firefinch
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Mbizane Escarpment Retreat
Mbombela
From R 3,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
African Firefinch recorded here
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
African Firefinch recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
African Firefinch recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
African Firefinch recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Firefinch recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
African Firefinch recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Firefinch recorded here
Karoo Secret Farm Stay
Aberdeen
From R 1,200a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Firefinch recorded here
Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping
Nieu Bethesda
From R 1,760a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Tomjachu Bush Retreat
Mbombela
From R 3,300a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Firefinch recorded here
Zvakanaka Farm
Louis Trichardt
From R 650a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Firefinch recorded here
Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris
Mpumalanga
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Makulu Birders Cottage at Wilds Uitvlugt
Rust de Winter
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
More stays nearby
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus
From R 2,235a night
The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Firefinch
Hosts have recorded the African Firefinch at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Where to base yourself
Eastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Lagonosticta rubricata
Records
400
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Firefinch on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Firefinch in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Firefinch at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the African Firefinch in South Africa?
The African Firefinch is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (52% of records), Eastern Cape (18% of records), Mpumalanga (12% of records), based on 400 iNaturalist observations. 23 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Firefinch on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Firefinch?
The African Firefinch is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Firefinch?
The African firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata), also called the dark firefinch or blue-billed firefinch due to the color of its bill, is a common species of estrildid finch found in almost all parts of Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 5,400,000 km2.