iSimangaliso Wetland Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
2 places
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Yellow-billed Kite
Milvus migrans
The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors.
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~1,266 records
Curve from 3,163 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 Yellow-billed Kite is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,165 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Yellow-billed Kite
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Antbear Eco Lodge
Estcourt
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 2,000 a night
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Birdsong Cottage
Howick
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Vervet monkey
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 795 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Yellow-billed Kite 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
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
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
Qambathi Mountain Lodge
Nottingham Road
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Serval
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,100 a night
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
3 Driftwood Ballito
Ballito
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 3,995 a night
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
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
&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Zululand Lodge
Hluhluwe
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Giraffe · Nyala
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,280 a night
Bonamanzi Game Reserve
Hluhluwe
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Giraffe
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 240 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 Yellow-billed Kite
Hosts have recorded the Yellow-billed Kite at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Species
Milvus migrans
Records
3,165
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Yellow-billed Kite on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Yellow-billed Kite in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Yellow-billed Kite at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 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 Yellow-billed Kite in South Africa?
The Yellow-billed Kite is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (40% of records), Western Cape (37% of records), Mpumalanga (9% of records), based on 3,165 iNaturalist observations. 6 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Yellow-billed Kite on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Yellow-billed Kite?
The Yellow-billed Kite 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. iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Yellow-billed Kite?
The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae, although some populations have experienced dramatic declines or fluctuations. Current global population estimates run up to 6 million individuals.