Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
13 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Southern Ground-Hornbill
Bucorvus leadbeateriVulnerable
The southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri; formerly known as Bucorvus cafer), is one of two species of ground hornbill, which are both found solely within Africa, and is the largest species of hornbill worldwide.
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
Records2,078 records
Curve from 2,078 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 Southern Ground-Hornbill is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,078 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Southern Ground-Hornbill
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a 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
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
From R 5,990a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Maninghi Lodge
Welgevonden Game Reserve
Price on request
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
From R 28,990a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Singita Ebony Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Price on request
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Satara Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 331a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Singita Boulders Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Price on request
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Olifants Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 1,445a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Roodewal Bush Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,966a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
From R 1,420a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
From R 900a night
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Southern Ground-Hornbill recorded here
The Elephant Coast
Next stop
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Southern Ground-Hornbill
Hosts have recorded the Southern Ground-Hornbill at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand 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
Limpopo
Kruger · Timbavati · Welgevonden
LimpopoSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in LimpopoMpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaGuided drivesStays in MpumalangaKwaZulu-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
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Bucorvus leadbeateri
Records
2,078
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Southern Ground-Hornbill on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Southern Ground-Hornbill in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Southern Ground-Hornbill at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Welgevonden 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 Southern Ground-Hornbill in South Africa?
The Southern Ground-Hornbill is most recorded in Mpumalanga (64% of records), Limpopo (28% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (6% of records), based on 2,078 iNaturalist observations. 31 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Southern Ground-Hornbill on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Southern Ground-Hornbill?
The Southern Ground-Hornbill 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; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Timbavati Private Nature Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Southern Ground-Hornbill?
The Southern Ground-Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Southern Ground-Hornbill?
The southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri; formerly known as Bucorvus cafer), is one of two species of ground hornbill, which are both found solely within Africa, and is the largest species of hornbill worldwide. It can be found in the southern regions of Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. Within these regions, they inhabit both woodlands and savannas.