Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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African Palm Swift
Cypsiurus parvus
The African palm swift (Cypsiurus parvus) is a small swift.
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
Records502 records
Curve from 502 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
Gauteng and beyond
Provinces where African Palm Swift is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
502 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Palm Swift
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Mbizane Escarpment Retreat
Mbombela
From R 3,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
From R 1,155a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
African Palm Swift recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Palm Swift recorded here
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
From R 2,310a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Palm Swift recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
African Palm Swift recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
African Palm Swift recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Palm Swift recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
African Palm Swift recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
African Palm Swift recorded here
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Palm Swift recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
African Palm Swift recorded here
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Palm Swift recorded here
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping
Nieu Bethesda
From R 1,760a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris
Mpumalanga
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
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 Palm Swift
Hosts have recorded the African Palm Swift at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier 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
Western Cape
Goukamma · Keurbooms River
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
Species
Cypsiurus parvus
Records
502
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Palm Swift on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Palm Swift in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Palm Swift at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park and other reserves. 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 Palm Swift in South Africa?
The African Palm Swift is most recorded in Gauteng (33% of records), Mpumalanga (15% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (14% of records), based on 502 iNaturalist observations. 43 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Palm Swift on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Palm Swift?
The African Palm Swift 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. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Palm Swift?
The African palm swift (Cypsiurus parvus) is a small swift. It is very similar to the Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis, and was formerly considered to be the same species.