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Where to see

Where to see the Red-collared Widowbird in South Africa

Hosts have recorded the Red-collared Widowbird at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.

Euplectes ardens

Red-collared Widowbird
Photo: (c) Christiaan Viljoen, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Red-collared Widowbird

Hosts have recorded the Red-collared Widowbird at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 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

  • Self-drive
    Stays in Limpopo
    Limpopo
  • Guided drivesMalaria-free
    Stays in Eastern Cape
    Eastern Cape
  • Stays in KwaZulu-Natal
    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

Euplectes ardens

Records

671

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Red-collared Widowbird on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Red-collared Widowbird in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Red-collared Widowbird at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ithala Game Reserve. 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 Red-collared Widowbird in South Africa?

The Red-collared Widowbird is most recorded in Gauteng (40% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (33% of records), Mpumalanga (15% of records), based on 671 iNaturalist observations. 27 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Red-collared Widowbird on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Red-collared Widowbird?

Sightings of the Red-collared Widowbird peak from Nov to Mar, based on 671 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.

What is the Red-collared Widowbird?

The red-collared widowbird (Euplectes ardens) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. Red-collared widowbirds are found in grasslands and bush clearings in Eastern and Southern Africa. They are known for their long tails and brilliant red badges, both which act as sexual ornaments. They are often associated with other widowbird and bishop species.

Stays that give back

Where to stay for a chance to see the Red-collared Widowbird

Every stay on the Red-collared Widowbird 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