10 Best Birding Safari Destinations in Africa for Birdwatchers and Nature Lovers

May 4, 2025
ABS, Africa travel

Discover Africa’s top birding safari destinations—from Uganda’s shoebill storks to Botswana’s bee-eaters. The 10 best birdwatching parks for your next trip.

10 Top Birding Safari Destinations in Africa for Birdwatchers and Wildlife Lovers

If you’re a nature enthusiast with a passion for birdwatching, Africa offers some of the richest and most rewarding experiences on the planet. From lush rainforests and crater lakes to riverine woodlands and open savannahs, the continent is home to over 2,300 bird species, including rare endemics, seasonal migrants, and spectacular raptors. Combining birdwatching with a classic wildlife safari allows travelers to witness Africa’s avian beauty alongside iconic mammals like elephants, lions, and giraffes.

In this guide, we highlight ten of the best birding safari destinations in Africa—places where you can enjoy incredible sightings in habitats as diverse as wetlands, woodlands, and desert oases.

1. Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda

One of the best birding destinations in East Africa, Queen Elizabeth National Park in southwestern Uganda boasts over 600 bird species—one of the highest concentrations in Africa. The park’s varied ecosystems include crater lakes, papyrus swamps, open savannah, and tropical forest, offering habitats for everything from flamingos to forest dwellers.

Highlights include sightings of the Shoebill stork, African skimmer, Great blue turaco, Martial eagle, and Papyrus gonolek. Boat safaris along the Kazinga Channel offer incredible opportunities for waterbird photography, with hippos and elephants often in the background.

Top Species to Spot:

Shoebill stork
White-winged warbler
Pel’s fishing owl
African jacana

2. Lake Nakuru National Park – Kenya

Known globally as the “pink lake” thanks to its immense flocks of flamingos, Lake Nakuru National Park is a birdwatcher’s dream in the heart of Kenya’s Rift Valley. At its peak, the lake can host over one million lesser flamingos, along with pelicans, herons, and fish eagles.

The park also offers good sightings of Rothschild’s giraffes, black and white rhinos, and leopards. The birding is excellent year-round, especially around the acacia woodlands, shoreline, and alkaline lake zones.

Top Species to Spot:

Lesser and Greater flamingos
Great white pelican
African fish eagle
Hildebrandt’s starling

3. Lake Manyara National Park – Tanzania

Tucked between the Rift Valley escarpment and the alkaline Lake Manyara, this underrated gem is one of Tanzania’s finest birdwatching safari destinations. More than 400 bird species have been recorded here, and the proximity to Arusha makes it an easy addition to a northern circuit safari.

During the wet season, large flocks of flamingos, spoonbills, and storks dominate the lake’s edge, while forest trails are alive with hornbills, barbets, and sunbirds. The combination of scenic beauty and rich birdlife makes Lake Manyara a rewarding stop for twitchers.

Top Species to Spot:

Lilac-breasted roller
Silvery-cheeked hornbill
Greater flamingo
Yellow-billed stork

4. South Luangwa National Park – Zambia

Famed for its walking safaris and thriving populations of leopards and elephants, South Luangwa is also a paradise for birders. With more than 400 bird species, this Zambian jewel offers sightings of both resident and migratory species in pristine riparian and woodland habitats.

Prime birding months are November through April, when colorful migrant species arrive and the Luangwa River swells with life. Carmine bee-eaters, fish eagles, and crowned cranes headline an impressive list.

Top Species to Spot:

Southern carmine bee-eater
African paradise flycatcher
Grey crowned crane
Böhm’s bee-eater

5. Okavango Delta – Botswana

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s premier wildlife havens, the Okavango Delta is a must-visit for birdwatchers. With over 500 recorded species, including both wetland and savannah specialists, the Delta offers exceptional birding year-round, especially during the wet season (November to March).

Exploring the Delta by mokoro (dugout canoe) allows up-close encounters with water birds, while game drives reveal raptors, ground hornbills, and rollers. The region also supports endangered species like the Wattled crane and Slaty egret.

Top Species to Spot:

Wattled crane
Pel’s fishing owl
Slaty egret
Collared pratincole

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6. Kruger National Park – South Africa

One of Africa’s most accessible and well-known wildlife destinations, Kruger National Park is also a birdwatcher’s haven. With over 500 recorded species, including the sought-after “Big Six” birds, Kruger offers both beginner and expert birders exceptional sightings across a variety of habitats.

Kruger’s well-developed infrastructure allows for guided birding walks, self-drives, and photography tours. The best time for birding is from November to March, when migratory species boost the diversity.

Top Species to Spot:

Southern ground hornbill
Lappet-faced vulture
Saddle-billed stork
Martial eagle

7. Nyungwe Forest National Park – Rwanda

Nyungwe Forest is one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse montane rainforests. Located in southwestern Rwanda, it offers a completely different birding experience—home to over 300 species, including 27 Albertine Rift endemics found nowhere else on Earth.

Canopy walks and forest trails allow you to explore the habitat of turacos, bee-eaters, and rare species like the Red-collared babbler and Grauer’s swamp warbler. Nyungwe also attracts primate lovers with chimpanzees and colobus monkeys adding to the forest magic.

Top Species to Spot:

Rwenzori turaco
Dusky crimsonwing
Great blue turaco
Red-throated alethe

8. Etosha National Park – Namibia

Famous for its salt pan, stark landscapes, and abundant wildlife, Etosha National Park is also a remarkable birding destination—especially during the wet season when ephemeral water sources fill with flocks of flamingos, storks, and waders.

The park hosts over 340 bird species, including large numbers of migratory birds from Europe and Asia. Waterholes provide reliable viewing opportunities, while grasslands host raptors and bustards.

Top Species to Spot:

Greater and lesser flamingos
Secretary bird
Blue crane
Kori bustard

9. Kakum National Park – Ghana

West Africa’s birding scene is often overlooked, but Kakum National Park in southern Ghana offers birders a chance to spot rare rainforest species in an easy-to-access location. The park is home to over 250 bird species, including several Upper Guinea endemics.

The highlight is the canopy walkway—the first of its kind in Africa—which allows birders to see hornbills, forest bee-eaters, and turacos at eye level in the upper tree canopy.

Top Species to Spot:

Yellow-bearded greenbul
Black-casqued hornbill
White-throated bee-eater
Forest wood hoopoe

10. Liwonde National Park – Malawi

Liwonde National Park combines the beauty of the Shire River with diverse bird habitats, including floodplains, woodland, and marsh. One of Malawi’s premier birding spots, it’s home to over 300 species, including both aquatic and forest birds.

Guided boat safaris and walking tours make it easy to spot African finfoots, Pel’s fishing owls, and raptors. With relatively low visitor numbers and excellent conservation efforts, Liwonde is a hidden gem for bird lovers seeking tranquility and rare sightings.

Top Species to Spot:

Pels fishing owl
Brown-breasted barbet
African skimmer
White-backed night heron

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Whether you’re spotting flamingos in Kenya, forest endemics in Rwanda, or bee-eaters in Zambia, birding in Africa is an unforgettable experience. With rich biodiversity, stunning scenery, and abundant wildlife, these birding safari destinations offer the perfect blend of adventure and avian discovery.