Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
17 places
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Giant Kingfisher
Megaceryle maxima
The giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest.
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
Records1,684 records
Curve from 1,684 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
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Giant Kingfisher is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,688 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Giant Kingfisher
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
In Toto Retreat
Sedgefield
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,200 a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · Leadwood · Leopard
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 28,990 a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 1,155 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Coot Club
Stanford
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · White milkwood · Southern right whale
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy
Price on request
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 350 a night
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 10,670 a night
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,400 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · Impala · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 11,980 a night
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,500 a night
Singita Ebony Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,550 a night
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Singita Boulders Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Giant Kingfisher
Hosts have recorded the Giant Kingfisher at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area and Goukamma Nature 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
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Goukamma · De Hoop
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
Phinda · uKhahlamba-Drakensberg
KwaZulu-NatalGuided drivesStays in KwaZulu-NatalMpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaGuided drivesStays in Mpumalanga
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Megaceryle maxima
Records
1,688
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Giant Kingfisher on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Giant Kingfisher in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Giant Kingfisher at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Phinda Private Game Reserve 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 Giant Kingfisher in South Africa?
The Giant Kingfisher is most recorded in Mpumalanga (27% of records), Western Cape (26% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (18% of records), based on 1,688 iNaturalist observations. 89 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Giant Kingfisher on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Giant Kingfisher?
The Giant Kingfisher 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Giant Kingfisher?
The giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest.