Western Cape
Goukamma · Keurbooms River
Self-driveMalaria-free
Stays in Western CapeWhere to see
Where to see the African Palm Swift in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the African Palm Swift at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Cypsiurus parvus
Planning 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
Limpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern Cape
Eastern 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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the African Palm Swift
Every stay on the African Palm Swift page lists the species its host has recorded on or near the property. A record is a sighting, never a promise.
See where to stay