Our rates are inclusive of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

What Species of Birds Can You Expect To See On Your Next Kruger Trip

Kruger National Park is a bird-watcher’s paradise, with over 500 species of birds recorded within its boundaries.

From colourful kingfishers to majestic eagles, Kruger has something for everyone. You can expect to see many of the common species as well as some endemic species which are found nowhere else in the world. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely bird-watching Kruger trip or a safari experience filled with rare sightings, Kruger National Park has it all!

Common Birds in Kruger National Park

Some of the most common birds that visitors are likely to see include the lilac-breasted roller, southern yellow-billed hornbill, and the brown-hooded kingfisher. Other frequent sightings include the Burchell’s coucal, red-billed oxpecker, and the African grey hornbill. These birds are found throughout the park and can often be spotted perched on trees or flying overhead.

Rare Birds in Kruger National Park

For more experienced birders looking to add to their life list, Kruger National Park is home to a number of rare and elusive species. The park is one of the few places in South Africa where you can see the Pel’s fishing owl, which is one of the largest owl species in the world. Other rare birds include the lappet-faced vulture, which has a wingspan of over two metres, and the saddle-billed stork, with its distinctive yellow and red bill.

Endemic Species of Birds in South Africa

Kruger National Park is also home to several endemic species of birds, which means they are only found in South Africa. These include the Southern ground hornbill, the Cape vulture, and the Taita falcon. These birds are an important part of South Africa’s biodiversity and are protected by the park’s conservation efforts. Refer to the Kruger National Park’s bird guide to enhance your next bird-watching adventure!

The Kruger Gate Hotel and Tour

Staying at the Kruger Gate Hotel is an unforgettable experience that will allow you to immerse yourself in the park’s incredible wildlife. The hotel offers luxurious accommodation and amenities, including a spa, restaurant, and outdoor pool. From the hotel, visitors can embark on guided tours of the park or explore on their own.

Kruger Experience

Visitors can arrange unique experiences at the safari concierge desk, including game drives led by expert guides. These tours offer a chance to see some of the park’s most elusive and rare birds, as well as to learn about the park’s conservation efforts.

In conclusion, Kruger National Park is a bird-lover’s dream destination, with an incredible array of species to be seen. From the common to the rare and endemic, visitors to the park will have a chance to experience South Africa’s rich bird life in a striking natural setting. Staying at the Kruger Gate Hotel only adds to the experience, with its luxurious accommodation and access to expert-guided tours. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just starting out, a trip to Kruger National Park is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Guest Reviews

We phoned Reception at 16h00 on 20 Nov and requested a top sheet and light weight blanket for the night; on return after a sunset gamedrive and supper at the Boma we were disappointed that it was not delivered.

I had a headache, the shop was closed and I asked the Hostess at the Boma, Debra if she knew if there is some assistance. She went out of her way to find me 2 panado\'s! Thank you Debra!

There are so many vista\'s and various offerings at this hotel; I feel like so spoilt when visiting and the Boma is just beyond words! Thank you 😊

Posted on 23/11/2025 by TripAdvisor

This hotel is perfectly located just outside the Paul Kruger Gate by the Sabie River. We flew into Skukuza airport which is extremely small and booked the hotel transfer to collect us. The driver was very helpful, guiding us through paperwork needed for the park and giving us a mini safari on the way to the hotel.
Stayed for 3 nights and had 2 rooms. A lovely hotel with lots of different seating areas connected by wooden walkways, surrounded by trees with a stream running through it. It was well staffed and clean. There were viewing huts over the waterhole and Sabie River where we saw hippos and buffalo and a family of 3 bushbuck in the grounds.
The infinity pool was great, also overlooking the river and the pool bar/restaurant had a good range of food and drink and friendly staff. Just be careful not to leave food/drink unattended on the table as the monkeys come in.
Dinner at the outside Lapa Restaurant was fabulous - so much choice from their buffet and always some singing, often by the staff. The bushbabies patrol around the fence and occasionally come down looking for scraps, which the guests all found entertaining.
Breakfast was another huge buffet with a choice of inside or outside seating. There was also a bar, coffee shop and gift shop, plus a spa which we had treatments at, including extremely firm massages.
We booked 2 morning safari\'s with the hotel (I pre-booked these before we went) and they pointed out that it was fractionally cheaper for us to have a private tour as there were 4 of us. The vehicles can take 9-10 people but I\'m so glad we had the private tour and not the shared vehicle as it meant we could slide across the seats and see so much more and it was much more personalised. (We also did a sunset safari which we had to use SanParks for as private vehicles aren\'t allowed into the park in the evening, but it wasn\'t as good as a much bigger vehicle and less information).
The hotel used Kurt Safari for our morning tours and would thoroughly recommend. We had the same driver/guide, Karabo, each morning so he took us in 2 different directions and we saw an incredible variety of animals and he was very knowledgeable. It was a totally amazing experience!
The morning safari\'s start very early, and you have to fill in some indemnity forms before leaving (you need your passport numbers for this), so we had to be ready about 45 mins before entry to the park at 5.30am. We pre-ordered packed breakfast from the hotel and we stopped at a camp between 8.30-9am to eat - drink, sandwich, apple, yoghurt, biltong, snack. The camps we stopped at also had cafes and shops. The morning safari was about 6 hours, which is long enough really and gave some time in the afternoon to relax and catch up on sleep after a very early start.
We would love to visit Kruger again and if we did, I would stay at this hotel and I would definitely book the private vehicle safari.

Posted on 24/11/2025 by TripAdvisor

I had an amazing time with my sister and our friends. Beautiful accommodations, amazing food, excellent service!! A must visit!!

Posted on 23/11/2025 by TripAdvisor

Nous avons beaucoup aimé le cadre de l hôtel avec la gentillesse du personnel .
L hôtel est juste à côté du parc national donc très pratique pour les safari ( on recommande fortement les safari proposés par l hôtel )

Il y a de nombreuses activités dans l hôtel ( exemple : mini golf, spa/massage , piscine avec vue sur la rivière , belle salle de musculation …)
Et les petits déjeuners et dîners étaient tout simplement excellents !

Posted on 27/11/2025 by Booking.com

Sehr schön gestaltetes grosses Hotel in einem dschungelähnlichen Garten.
Wir hatten ein Deluxzimmer sehr gross und schön gestaltet. Bequeme Betten, 2 Waschtische im Bad, separate Toilette. Essen gab’s abends in der Booma obwohl gross sehr schön und romantisch!

Posted on 26/11/2025 by Booking.com

Pool

Posted on 26/11/2025 by Booking.com

O café da manhã e o jantar foram excelentes! Um buffet completo, muita variedade, funcionários muito simpáticos e prestativos. Valeu muito a pena!

Posted on 25/11/2025 by Booking.com

O hotel é muito confortável e tem funcionários fantásticos. A comida é muito boa. E ainda podemos desfrutar da experiência de estar na piscina e ver os animais bem na frente. Nós vimos Hipopótamos e Elefantes.

Posted on 22/11/2025 by Booking.com

Tudo perfeito!

Posted on 26/11/2025 by Booking.com

Best Hotel ever!

Posted on 25/11/2025 by Booking.com