Western Cape
Goukamma · De Hoop · Grootvadersbosch
Self-driveMalaria-free
Stays in Western CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Amethyst Sunbird in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Amethyst Sunbird at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Chalcomitra amethystina
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Amethyst Sunbird
Hosts have recorded the Amethyst Sunbird at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
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
Eastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
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
Chalcomitra amethystina
Records
3,604
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Amethyst Sunbird on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Amethyst Sunbird in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Amethyst Sunbird at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Table Mountain National 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 Amethyst Sunbird in South Africa?
The Amethyst Sunbird is most recorded in Western Cape (28% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (25% of records), Eastern Cape (23% of records), based on 3,604 iNaturalist observations. 54 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Amethyst Sunbird on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Amethyst Sunbird?
The Amethyst Sunbird 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; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Amethyst Sunbird?
The amethyst sunbird, also called the black sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina), is a species of passerine bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is native to the Afrotropics, mostly south of the equator. They are commonly found in well-watered habitats, and undertake seasonal movements to visit flowering woodlands.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Amethyst Sunbird
Every stay on the Amethyst Sunbird 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