Birding at Tuli
The Northern Tuli Game Reserve has been identified as an Important Bird Area and is home to a large number of resident as well as migrant birds, with 350 different species identified in the area. Tuli Safari Lodge is an active member of Birdlife Botswana.
The ‘green’ season (usually November to April but slightly dependent on the rains) in Tuli is a fantastic time for birding.
Birding enthusiasts staying at Tuli Safari Lodge can make use of our four hides situated at key locations in the reserve, as well as enjoying two guided game activities (bush walks and game drives) each day.
Birding within the lodge’s extensive grounds is excellent: 90 different birds were counted in the gardens by keen birders in just one morning.
Birders can enjoy the short walking trail through the lodge which passes through varied habitats. Common bird sightings on the walk include: Swainson’s Spurfowl (Francolin), Crested Francolin, Helmeted Guineafowl, Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Rock Dove, Cape Turtle-Dove, Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, Meyer’s Parrot, Grey Lourie, African Cuckoo, Jacobin Cuckoo, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Diderick Cuckoo, Common Swift, Red-faced Mousebird, European Roller, Purple Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller, African Grey Hornbill, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Red-billed Hornbill, African Hoopoe, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, White-fronted Bee-eater, Reed Cormorant, African Darter, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, White Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Hammerkop, African Sacred Ibis, Egyptian Goose, White-faced Duck … Our resident woodland kingfisher also likes to dip its beak in the pool on regular occasions!
Bird specials in the reserve include Kori bustard, Senegal coucal, Threebanded courser, Ayre’s Hawk Eagle, Bat Hawk and Pel’s fishing owl (which nests at one of our bush camps). For our full bird list please click here ...
Tuli is able to cater for all budgets with camp sites and self-catering chalets at Molema Bush Camp; self-catering en-suite safari tents at Nokalodi Tented Camp; as well as Tuli Safari Lodge (with options for dinner, bed & brunch as well as fully inclusive rates, although please note that self-driving within the Northern Tuli Game Reserve is not permitted).
