Bird Hides
Kruger Park Birding

© Nigel Dennis
Black stork fishing.
There are 11 bird and game hides in Kruger National Park. Several more are earmarked for construction if sufficient funds become available.

This list excludes in-camp hides that occur in selected camps such as at Bateleur, Sirheni, Talamati, Tamboti and private hides at Letaba for residents of Fish-Eagle Guest House and at Shingwedzi for Rentmeester Guest House.

There are no ablution facilities at any of the hides (except for toilet facilities at Shipandani and Sable Dam for overnight visitors only), but most are located close to rest camps or picnic sites, where such facilities are available.

Area

Hide
Location
Description
You might See
Lower Sabie
Nthandanyathi
S28 near the junction with the S137
Eastern grasslands overlooking the Lebombo
Woolly-necked Stork, Eastern Nicator*, Black Coucal, Magpie Shrike*
Malelane
Gardenia
On the S25, S119 junction
Overlooks small pan partly ringed by gardenia trees
Brown Snake-Eagle, Three-banded Plover
Skukuza

Lake Panic

On the S42 road to Skukuza Nursery
Medium-sized dam with reed beds in mixed woodland
African Pygmy-Kingfisher, African Rail, Southern Red Bishop, White-breasted Cormorant, Black-crowned Night-Heron
East of Satara
Sweni
Where the S37 meets the Sweni River about 5km from N'wanetsi Picnic Site
NoMedium-sized dam in mixed woodland on Sweni River close to the Lebombo
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting*, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Timbavati
Ratelpan
On the S39 about 4km north of Timbavati Picnic Site
Large dam near koppies in mixed woodland
Comb Duck*, Pied and Giant Kingfishers, Thick-billed Cuckoo
Phalaborwa
Sable Dam
On the S51 about 7km from Phalaborwa Gate
Open pan in the mopaneveld
African Fish-Eagle, Black-winged Stilt, African Cuckoo, Brown Snake-Eagle
Letaba
Matambeni
On the S62 on the northern bank of the Letaba River, near Letaba Camp
Large dam and thick riverine bush
African Hawk-Eagle, African Spoonbill, Black Heron*, Goliath Heron, Collared Pratincole*
Mopani
Shipandani
On the S142 about 3km from Mopani Camp
Small water hole with deep sides
African Openbill*, Burchell's Coucal, Diderick Cuckoo, Green-backed Heron
Mopani
Pioneer Dam
On the S142, opposite Mopani Camp
Overlooking large dam with lots of dead trees
Great Egret*, Purple Roller, Woolly-necked Stork, White-breasted Cormorant
Shingwedzi
Nyawutsi
On the eastern side of the S50, a few km north of Grootvlei Dam
Small, intimate water hole in grove of established trees
Malachite Kingfisher, African Hawk-Eagle
Shingwedzi
Kanniedood
On the S50 a few km south-east of Shingwedzi Camp
Long dam surrounded by impressive riverine forest
Saddle-billed Stork, African Spoonbill, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl*, Wood Sandpiper

Best Birding Guide to Kruger Park