uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Euplectes axillaris
The fan-tailed widowbird (Euplectes axillaris), also known as the red-shouldered widowbird, is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae, which is native to grassy and swampy areas of the tropical and subtropical Afrotropics.
Species insights
When to visit
Most records Oct to Feb
When Fan-tailed Widowbird sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Best monthsOct to Feb
Recorded in KwaZulu-Natal~478 records
Curve from 655 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Fan-tailed Widowbird is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
655 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Fan-tailed Widowbird
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Birdsong Cottage
Howick
From R 795a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Mount Currie
Mount Currie Nature Reserve
From R 230a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Weenen
Weenen Game Reserve
From R 130a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 130a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 840a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 270a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Spioenkop
Spioenkop Resort
From R 240a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 200a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 360a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
From R 1,420a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
From R 900a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
From R 130a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 170a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,070a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,150a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito
From R 13,000a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 4,280a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
From R 1,280a night
Birder friendly
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
From R 5,400a night
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 Fan-tailed Widowbird
Hosts have recorded the Fan-tailed Widowbird at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Giants Castle Game Reserve.
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.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Euplectes axillaris
Records
655
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Fan-tailed Widowbird on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Fan-tailed Widowbird in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Fan-tailed Widowbird at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ithala Game Reserve and Kamberg Nature 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 Fan-tailed Widowbird in South Africa?
The Fan-tailed Widowbird is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (73% of records), Mpumalanga (12% of records), Gauteng (8% of records), based on 655 iNaturalist observations. 20 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Fan-tailed Widowbird on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Fan-tailed Widowbird?
Sightings of the Fan-tailed Widowbird peak from Oct to Feb, based on 655 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the Fan-tailed Widowbird?
The fan-tailed widowbird (Euplectes axillaris), also known as the red-shouldered widowbird, is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae, which is native to grassy and swampy areas of the tropical and subtropical Afrotropics.