Limpopo
Kruger · Mapungubwe
Self-drive
Stays in LimpopoWhere to see
Where to see the Wire-tailed Swallow in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Wire-tailed Swallow at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Hirundo smithii · Least Concern
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Wire-tailed Swallow
Hosts have recorded the Wire-tailed Swallow at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland 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
KwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland · Ithala · Weenen
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
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
Hirundo smithii
Records
806
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Wire-tailed Swallow on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Wire-tailed Swallow in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Wire-tailed Swallow at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ithala Game Reserve and Weenen 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 Wire-tailed Swallow in South Africa?
The Wire-tailed Swallow is most recorded in Mpumalanga (46% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (30% of records), Limpopo (25% of records), based on 806 iNaturalist observations. 48 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Wire-tailed Swallow on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Wire-tailed Swallow?
The Wire-tailed Swallow 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; Mapungubwe National Park: May-Sep, dry season; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Wire-tailed Swallow?
The Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Wire-tailed Swallow?
The wire-tailed swallow (Hirundo smithii) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It has two subspecies: H. s. smithii, which occurs throughout Africa, and H. s. filifera, which is found in southern and southeastern Asia. It is mainly resident, but populations in Pakistan and northern India migrate further south in winter. The genus name Hirundo is the Latin word for swallow.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Wire-tailed Swallow
Every stay on the Wire-tailed Swallow 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