Phinda Private Game Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
5 places
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Green Twinspot
Mandingoa nitidula
The green-backed twinspot or green twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula) is an estrildid finch found in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
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
Recorded in KwaZulu-Natal~119 records
Curve from 138 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 Green Twinspot is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
138 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Green Twinspot
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Zululand Lodge
Hluhluwe
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Giraffe · Nyala
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,280 a night
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Green Twinspot recorded here · Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Green Twinspot recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Green Twinspot recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Green Twinspot recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Green Twinspot recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Green Twinspot recorded here · Forest biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 13,000 a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust
From R 1,280 a night
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 2 others
From R 5,400 a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 5,990 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Sungubala Eco Camp
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome · Spotted hyena · Leopard
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,140 a night
Drakensberg Vultures View
Cathkin Park
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,691 a night
Penwarn Farm
Underberg
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Blesbok · Serval
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 3 others
From R 1,200 a night
Berghouse & Cottages
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,950 a night
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Qambathi Mountain Lodge
Nottingham Road
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Serval
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,100 a night
3 Driftwood Ballito
Ballito
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 3,995 a night
Birdsong Cottage
Howick
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Vervet monkey
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 795 a night
Biweda Nguni Lodge
Mkuze
Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 2 others
From R 1,840 a night
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · African elephant · Cape buffalo
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,000 a night
The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Green Twinspot
Hosts have recorded the Green Twinspot at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve 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.
Ways to look
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
Species
Mandingoa nitidula
Records
138
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Green Twinspot on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Green Twinspot in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Green Twinspot at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland 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 Green Twinspot in South Africa?
The Green Twinspot is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (86% of records), Mpumalanga (7% of records), Limpopo (5% of records), based on 138 iNaturalist observations. 8 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Green Twinspot on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Green Twinspot?
The Green Twinspot 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. Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Green Twinspot?
The green-backed twinspot or green twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula) is an estrildid finch found in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. The IUCN has classified the species as being of least concern.