Birds in Southern Africa

The southern part of Africa is always a great destination for bird lovers and photographers. Almost a thousand different species fly and flutter around there. That’s about ten percent of all bird species worldwide. So you’ll encounter them everywhere. Moreover, they often have spectacular colors and body shapes and are generally not very shy. A major advantage for a photographer is that the desert-like landscape in Africa is often open, making the many birds clearly visible.

Due to the dry climate, birds are always drawn to places with water. Such hot-spots for bird photography in Namibia include the coast (flamingos, pelicans, and seabirds) and the banks of the Kunene River in the north (various songbirds). In Botswana, the Okavango Delta is renowned for its abundance of birds. A popular destination for birdwatchers in South Africa is Kruger National Park.

Favorite African birds

My favorites? Without a doubt, the funny-looking Hornbills, with their bizarre-looking beaks and interesting breeding behavior. Because of the resemblance of their beak to a banana, Yellow-billed Hornbills are often called flying bananas in Namibia. Photographing them is practically never boring. Unfortunately, Hornbills seem to be somewhat endangered these days due to the felling of nesting trees. The brightly colored Bee-eaters and Rollers are also favorites, of course. Perhaps less appealing, but certainly interesting, are the many carrion-eating birds such as Vultures, Marabou Storks, and Ibises.

You may find more photographs of birds here!