As a Guide at Royal Malewane, Nik has not only racked up an impressive bird list, but he’s also helped many of our guests do the same. We often find that while people are not especially interested in birds when they arrive here, spending time with Nik or our other Guides and Trackers can soon turn them into dedicated birders.
You may not always be in sight of one of the Big Five, but the chances are that there will always be a bird or two to watch. The sheer variety of colours, shapes and sizes and behaviours of the birds in the Greater Kruger can keep you entertained and fascinated for hours.

Birds are the closest living relatives to the dinosaurs, so they’re a link to the past. Thanks to passionate birders like Nik and the way they raise awareness of bird conservation challenges, we can look forward to a future in which all 856 species of southern African bird can flourish, from the tiny bronze mannikin to the impressive ostrich.
As for Nik, he still has around 50 elusive birds to tick off on his list. Of the birds he’s not yet spotted in the region, the one he most wants to see is the green tinkerbird (found in the forests of Mozambique), while within the Greater Kruger, his priority is the green sandpiper, a summer migrant from Europe.
To add more ‘lifers’ to your list contact us to enquire about Royal Malewane.