I'm asking this for friends who want to go to Africa to see the birds as well as the other critters of course.
Can you suggest some areas?
Thanks, Dot

I love birds, but I'm not a twitcher. I think the month, time of year, is also very important.

regards - tom

St Lucia World Heritage Site and Mkuze (Mkhuze) in Kwazulu Natal and Tembe/Ndumu in S Africa. Google them - the numbers of bird species seen in these three parks are astounding. If they dive, Sodwana Bay is great. Hluhluwe National Park, Thanda, Zululand Rhino Reserve and Phinda are nearby for critters. I've been doing research on these areas for my next trip - have not been yet.

See Eastern Africa section: (all good info) http://www.africanbirdclub.org/count.../hotspots.html

Thank you both, I'll pass the info on.

Hi there

Phinda is excellent for birding from November to March - it has a massive list of species including a number of endemics as well as about ten very rare bird species, including the African Broadbill and Neergaard's Sunbird.
The Pafuri area in the Kruger National Park is another twitcher's heaven with very rare birds such as the Bohm's Spinetail and Racket-tailed Roller. The Pafuri area also has an impressive list in terms of number of species. If your friends are in SA for a once off, or can only go to one location, I would definitely suggest one of those two or if they have time, to do both.
Do you perhaps know how long they will come for? Are they twitchers looking to see as many species as possible?
BTW, both areas I mentioned have 'the other critters' as well.
Kind regards

living4safari, I think they'll only go for 2 weeks, they have mentioned possibly March, but they were talking about the Okavango, I'll pass your info on to them, thanx

I agree with the suggestions above. Northern Kwazulu-Natal is great for birding, and so is northern Kruger National Park (Pafuri area). The Okavango will also be fantastic. In general, December to March is the best time for birding in Southern Africa.
Onne from Wild Wings Safaris

Hi there

I am a very enthusiastic birder and can only echo what living4safari and Onne from Wild Wings have already said - those areas are fantastic when looking for lifers and rare/endemic species. A specialist birding safari might also be something they would like to consider.

Cheers
Yolande from Africa Direct

PAFURI area - Northern part of Kruger NP.

There might be more....I don't know off as I am not a birder

Look at Eurozulu if they need help in planning their Kwazulu trip
http://www.eurozulu.com/. They come highly recommended on other forums.
www.kimssouthafrica.blogspot.com

Lots of good information provided already. Kenya of course is without rival as the single 'birdiest' country in Africa; I think the Africa record for most species recorded in a day is still held by a team from Kenya.

In Southern Africa as noted earlier the entire north-eastern area, particularly n. Kwazulu-Natal and pretty much all of the greater Kruger Park is excellent for birders. Pafuri is one of the best areas in all of Southern Africa with several rare species reaching their southern limit there.

Bird-watching in the Okavango Delta is always rewarding and although the area does not have many endemic species (compared with Namibia for example) it is brilliant with a good array of water, woodland and other species. And plenty of raptors. One of the best birding experiences ever in my book was Savuti marsh in December a couple of years ago. Hundreds and hundreds of birds as far as the eye can see, with beautiful bee-eaters flying alongside the vehicle, hawking insects kicked up by the wheels.

Best time by far in Southern Africa is from about November through March/April, when many Palearctic and intra-African migrants are in the area, and many otherwise drab birds like weavers and bishops are in breeding plumage.

Vegantraveler, thank you, I'll pass the info on.
My friends are currently going "cross eyed" with all the possibilities, and their theory of the Okavango being the best place because of the water has been blown out of the water, so to speak.

sallysaab, I'm assuming your friends are first time travelers to Africa?

If your friends are birders, they would probably do best by choosing a Kenya safari with one of the bird tour companies. The focus will definitely be on birds (both easy and hard to find), but they will see the animals too. Like vegantraveler said, Kenya is the birdiest country in Africa. On our 5 week birding safari, we saw over 700 species of birds, the Big Five, and lots of other animals.

But if they aren't birders, then a typical Kenya safari might be better. They can inform the lodges that they're interested in birds as well as animals and they might get a guide who knows his birds. No doubt the focus will be on the Big Five(especially if there are others in the vehicle) but they'll also get to see some birds.

Good luck to your friends!