Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Eastern Cape · Year-round
5 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
African Firefinch
Lagonosticta rubricata
The African firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata), also called the dark firefinch or blue-billed firefinch due to the color of its bill, is a common species of estrildid finch found in almost all parts of 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 Limpopo~32 records
Curve from 400 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 African Firefinch is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
400 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Firefinch
Stays that give back
Across Limpopo
Zvakanaka Farm
Louis Trichardt
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 650 a night
Makulu Birders Cottage at Wilds Uitvlugt
Rust de Winter
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Chacma baboon · Vervet monkey
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
More stays nearby
Verkijken Cottage
Haenertsburg
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,120 a night
Bramasole Boutique Hotel
Magoebaskloof
Birder friendly · Forest biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,512 a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 8,380 a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Spotted hyena
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Phelwana Game Lodge
Hoedspruit
Savanna biome · Giraffe · Cheetah
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 1,100 a night
Maninghi Lodge
Welgevonden Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Giraffe · African elephant
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School and 1 other
Price on request
Graceland Eco Retreat
Magoebaskloof
Savanna biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 2,000 a night
Sunbird Lodge
Phalaborwa
Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 1,500 a night
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Cape Vulture Lodge
Hoedspruit
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 4,000 a night
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Kelora Bush Camp
Hoedspruit
Savanna biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 6,400 a night
Kamoka Bush Camp
Hoedspruit
Savanna biome · Ana tree
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 3,278 a night
Monwana Villa
Thornybush Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Tsendze Rustic Camp Site
Kruger National Park
Savanna biome · Flaky bark thorn · Leadwood
From R 379 a night
Satara Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
Savanna biome · Blue wildebeest · Cheetah
From R 331 a night
Monwana Game Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Olifants Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
Savanna biome · Knobthorn · Leadwood
From R 1,445 a night
Maroela Satellite Camp
Kruger National Park
Savanna biome · Delagoa thorn · Knobthorn
From R 390 a 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 African Firefinch
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.
Species
Lagonosticta rubricata
Records
400
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Firefinch on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Where can you see the African Firefinch in South Africa?
The African Firefinch is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (52% of records), Eastern Cape (18% of records), Mpumalanga (12% of records), based on 400 iNaturalist observations. 2 places to stay on Spekboom in Limpopo have recorded the African Firefinch on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Firefinch?
The African Firefinch is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it.
What is the African Firefinch?
The African firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata), also called the dark firefinch or blue-billed firefinch due to the color of its bill, is a common species of estrildid finch found in almost all parts of Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 5,400,000 km2.