Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Northern Cape · Best Aug to Oct
9 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Merops hirundineus
The swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae.
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
Records466 records
Curve from 466 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
Northern Cape and beyond
Provinces where Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
468 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Makulu Birders Cottage at Wilds Uitvlugt
Rust de Winter
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Sendelingsdrif Rest Camp
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 311a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Mata-Mata Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Motswedi Camp Site
Mokala National Park
From R 628a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Kokerboomkloof Camp Site
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 311a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Mosu Lodge
Mokala National Park
From R 1,401a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Nossob Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Gharagab Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Augrabies Falls Rest Camp
Augrabies Falls National Park
From R 362a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Vhembe Wilderness Camp
Mapungubwe National Park
From R 1,044a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Mazhou Camp Site
Mapungubwe National Park
From R 339a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Lilydale Rest Camp
Mokala National Park
From R 1,206a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Kalahari Tented Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,314a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Urikaruus Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater recorded here
Leokwe Rest Camp
Mapungubwe National Park
From R 1,743a night
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater 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 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Hosts have recorded the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park and Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier 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
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Mokala
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern CapeLimpopo
Kruger · Mapungubwe
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Merops hirundineus
Records
468
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Mapungubwe National Park, Mokala National Park and Augrabies Falls National Park. 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 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater in South Africa?
The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is most recorded in Northern Cape (79% of records), Limpopo (12% of records), based on 468 iNaturalist observations. 25 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater?
The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater 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. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Mapungubwe National Park: May-Sep, dry season; Mokala National Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater?
The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater?
The swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It is partially migratory, moving in response to rainfall patterns.