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Where to see

Where to see the White-rumped Swift in South Africa

Hosts have recorded the White-rumped Swift at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park.

Apus caffer

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White-rumped Swift
Photo: (c) Justin Ponder, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Planning a trip

When and where to find the White-rumped Swift

Hosts have recorded the White-rumped 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

    Western Cape

    Cederberg Wilderness Area · Goukamma · Anysberg

    Self-driveMalaria-free
    Stays in Western Cape
    Western Cape
  • Limpopo

    Limpopo

    Kruger

    Self-drive
    Stays in Limpopo
    Limpopo
  • Northern Cape

    Northern Cape

    Kgalagadi

    Self-driveMalaria-free
    Stays in Northern Cape
    Northern Cape
  • Eastern Cape

    Eastern Cape

    Kwandwe

    Guided drivesMalaria-free
    Stays in Eastern Cape
    Eastern Cape

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Cederberg Wilderness AreaGoukammaKrugerAnysbergKgalagadi

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

Kwandwe

Species

Apus caffer

Records

783

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the White-rumped Swift on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the White-rumped Swift in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the White-rumped Swift at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kwandwe 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 White-rumped Swift in South Africa?

The White-rumped Swift is most recorded in Western Cape (41% of records), Eastern Cape (17% of records), Gauteng (13% of records), based on 783 iNaturalist observations. 86 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the White-rumped Swift on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the White-rumped Swift?

Sightings of the White-rumped Swift peak from Oct to Dec, based on 783 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.

What is the White-rumped Swift?

The white-rumped swift (Apus caffer) is a small swift. Although this bird is superficially similar to a house martin, it is not closely related to that passerine species. The resemblances between the swallows and swifts are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

Stays that give back

Where to stay for a chance to see the White-rumped Swift

Every stay on the White-rumped Swift page lists the species its host has recorded on or near the property. A record is a sighting, never a promise.

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