At iNsingizi

iNsingizi’s setting is a Garden of Eden for birds and bird-spotters alike. Home to 208 recorded bird species, it’s a haven for birds, heaven for bird-watchers.

iNsingizi Lodge & Spa is a twitcher’s delight and the perfect springboard from which to explore its diverse array of birdlife. From migratory and seasonal visitors to locally common residents; from scarce, elusive species to very common residents.

In the early mornings and late afternoons, when birdlife is most active, observe and record the habits, calls and rituals of iNsingizi’s abundant birds, as you take in the awesome diversity of this birding paradise.

And as you wake up to exquisite birdsong, from the whistlers to the warblers, no stay at iNsingizi Lodge & Spa is complete without being serenaded by the unmistakable cry of our resident African fish-eagles, as they begin with a staccato intro, before descending into machine-gun trills and raucous chirping.

From perching to wading birds; from browsing to diving birds; from aquatic birds to terrestrial birds, the land on which iNsingizi Lodge & Spa is situated, along with the adjoining farm, is a bird-spotting paradise.

From year-round resident birds like the Shelley’s francolin and the little grebe (formerly known as the old dabchick) to summer visitors like the steppe buzzard and the African paradise-flycatcher, the area serves as a roosting, feeding, and breeding ground for a wide diversity of birdlife, ranging from localised and very common residents, to seasonal and uncommon migrants, and even rare visitors.

Rare bird species spotted here include the red-chested flufftail, the Narina trogon, and African swamphen, while threatened species include the southern ground hornbill (after which the lodge is named) and the crested (grey-crowned) crane, which can usually be seen welcoming guests as they drive onto the farm.

Rare sightings include the peregrine falcon and the lemon dove. Among the migrants are the black and red-chested cuckoos. Uncommon summer visitors to iNsingizi include the African pygmy-kingfisher. The violet-backed starling is iNsingizi’s only uncommon resident, summer visitor, the Knysna turaco our only localised resident, and the mocking cliff-chat our only widespread resident.