Phinda Private Game Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
5 places
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African Swamphen
Porphyrio madagascariensis
African swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) is a species of swamphen occurring in Egypt, Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
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
Records1,304 records
Curve from 1,304 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
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where African Swamphen is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,304 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Swamphen
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a 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 Swamphen recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
African Swamphen recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
African Swamphen recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Swamphen recorded here
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,990a night
African Swamphen recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Swamphen recorded here
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,500a night
African Swamphen recorded here
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
African Swamphen recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Swamphen recorded here
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
African Swamphen recorded here
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
African Swamphen recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Swamphen recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
African Swamphen recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Swamphen recorded here
More stays nearby
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus
From R 2,235a night
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Swamphen
Hosts have recorded the African Swamphen at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Kruger National 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
Rocherpan · Garden Route · Keurbooms River
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeKwaZulu-Natal
Phinda · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalGuided drivesStays in KwaZulu-NatalLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
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
Porphyrio madagascariensis
Records
1,304
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Swamphen on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Swamphen in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Swamphen at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Garden Route National Park, 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 Swamphen in South Africa?
The African Swamphen is most recorded in Western Cape (67% of records), Gauteng (14% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (8% of records), based on 1,304 iNaturalist observations. 23 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Swamphen on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Swamphen?
The African Swamphen 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. Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Garden Route National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Swamphen?
African swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) is a species of swamphen occurring in Egypt, Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It used to be considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen, which it resembles, but with bronze green or green-blue back and scapulars.