Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Little Swift
Apus affinis
The little swift (Apus affinis), is a small bird, superficially similar to a barn swallow or house martin.
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
Records841 records
Curve from 841 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 Little Swift is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
841 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Little Swift
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a 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
Little Swift recorded here
Hutwini Walking 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
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Little Swift recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Little Swift recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Little Swift recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Little Swift recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Little Swift recorded here
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Little Swift recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
Little Swift recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Little Swift recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
Little Swift recorded here
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Limietberg Nature Reserve
From R 220a night
Little Swift recorded here
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Little Swift recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Little Swift
Hosts have recorded the Little Swift at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma 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
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Goukamma · Rocherpan
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
Species
Apus affinis
Records
841
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Little Swift on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Little Swift in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Little Swift at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Rocherpan Nature 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 Little Swift in South Africa?
The Little Swift is most recorded in Western Cape (24% of records), Mpumalanga (24% of records), Limpopo (17% of records), based on 841 iNaturalist observations. 73 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Little Swift on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Little Swift?
The Little 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. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Little Swift?
The little swift (Apus affinis), is a small bird, superficially similar to a barn swallow or house martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.