What is the conservation status of the Saddle-billed Stork?

The Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

What is the Saddle-billed Stork?

The saddle-billed stork, or saddlebill (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad in west Africa. Considered Endangered in South Africa.

Go Birding

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensisNear threatened

The saddle-billed stork, or saddlebill (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordSaddle-billed Stork10+ stays list it on site or nearby

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~546 records

Curve from 1,654 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

Mpumalanga and beyond

Provinces where Saddle-billed Stork is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

1,654 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Saddle-billed Stork

Places to stay

10+ results in Limpopo

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Maninghi Lodge

Hoedspruit

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 8 birds recorded · Giraffe, African elephant · Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Olifants Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 39 birds recorded · Knobthorn, Leadwood · Game drives

From R 1,445 per night

Maroela Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn

From R 390 per night

Roodewal Bush Lodge

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 39 birds recorded · Knobthorn, Leadwood · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 10,966 per night

Bateleur Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Blue wildebeest, Bushbuck

From R 2,820 per night

Sirheni Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Cheetah, Impala lily

From R 1,634 per night

Mopani Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 28 birds recorded · Blue wildebeest, Flaky bark thorn · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,522 per night

Tamboti Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Photography

From R 771 per night

Shingwedzi Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Cheetah · Photography

From R 378 per night

Shimuwini Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

Saddle-billed Stork recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Baobab, Cheetah · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,670 per night

More stays nearby

Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Stargazing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 17,120 per night

Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 8,380 per night

Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Leopard, Spotted hyena · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Laluka Safari Lodge

Vaalwater

Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Spa, Hiking

Price on request

Phelwana Game Lodge

Hoedspruit

Savanna biome · 2 birds recorded · Giraffe, Cheetah · Safaris, Game drives

Supports DAKTARI Bush School

From R 1,100 per night

Graceland Eco Retreat

Magoebaskloof

Savanna biome · Hiking

From R 2,000 per night

Izingwe Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Aardvark, Banded mongoose · Hiking, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Inzalo Safari Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Makalali Main Lodge

Limpopo

Savanna biome

Price on request

Makalali River Lodge

Limpopo

Savanna biome

Price on request

Sofala Game Farm

Tolwe

Birder friendly

Price on request

Sunbird Lodge

Phalaborwa

Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 1,500 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Saddle-billed Stork

Hosts have recorded the Saddle-billed Stork at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Welgevonden 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

Kruger

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

Welgevonden

IUCN Red List

Near Threatened

Species

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Records

1 654

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Saddle-billed Stork on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Saddle-billed Stork in Limpopo?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Saddle-billed Stork at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Welgevonden 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 Saddle-billed Stork in South Africa?

The Saddle-billed Stork is most recorded in Mpumalanga (55% of records), Limpopo (33% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (11% of records), based on 1 654 iNaturalist observations. 11 places to stay on Spekboom in Limpopo have recorded the Saddle-billed Stork on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Saddle-billed Stork?

The Saddle-billed Stork 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; Welgevonden Game Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.