Avitourism

South Africa offers a range of birding habitats, from grasslands, wetlands and forests, to savannahs, fynbos, the seashore and open oceans. Bird-watching in South Africa allows birders to explore a diverse range of habitats. These habitats offer a spectacular diversity of beautiful birds, from the diminutive, fynbos-restricted Orange-breasted Sunbird to the large, desert-adapted Ludwig's Bustard. A remarkable 841 bird species are found in South Africa, about eight percent of the world's bird species. Seventy-four species are endemic to South Africa, i.e. they do not occur naturally anywhere else in the world.

The BirdLife South Africa Avitourism Division Birding Routes provide information and resources to local and international birders on where to go, what to see, who to go birding with and where to stay within a certain geographical area. An exciting initiative along all the birding routes is the availability of Community Bird Guides. The guides are affordable; provide improved security and valuable information on where elusive and special bird species may be found.

Where to stay

Birder-friendly accommodation

Who to go birding with

Birder-friendly tour operators

Community Bird Guides

Becoming birder-friendly

Birder-friendly establishment application form

Birder-friendly establishment self-assessment form

Birder-friendly tour operator application form

If you would like to find out more about registering as a birder-friendly establishment or tour operator or for more information about the community bird guides, please contact Martin Taylor on +27(0)72 277 7254 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information on the guides, birder-friendly registered tour operators and accommodation establishments and everything else you need to know to plan to your birding trip in South Africa, please visit the Birding Routes website.