Tour OverviewThe Makuleke concession is located in the Pafuri section of the far northern part of the Kruger National Park. It comprises 240 square kilometres (93 sq mi) of land in a triangular shape, created by the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers at the tripoint of Crook’s Corner, which forms a border with Zimbabwe along the Limpopo River. It is the ancestral home of the Makuleke people and the most diverse and scenically attractive area in the entire Kruger.
This region carries a remarkable geological and natural heritage that makes it of interest to geographers and historians. This section also holds 75% of the biodiversity found in Kruger (despite covering only 1% of the land total of the park) and is on the bucket lists of keen birders and naturalists alike. It is a dramatically beautiful area, boasting features such as Lanner Gorge, the bridge over the Luvuvhu River and the Fever Tree forest.
It is home to an array of special avian species not seen in the rest of the park, as well as some species that are difficult to see anywhere in the subregion. Some spectacular rarities have also been recorded here in the past. The area’s bird list is well over 250 species strong!
Birders come from all over to see specials such as Pel’s Fishing Owl, Meves’s Starling, Racket-tailed Roller, Arnot’s Chat, Lemon-breasted Canary, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Purple Indigobird, Tropical Boubou, Three-banded Courser, Orange-winged Pytilia and Yellow-bellied Greenbul.
Other fantastic birds that are possible in the Maluleke concession include Verreaux’s and Crowned Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Peregrine and Lanner Falcon, African Cuckoo-Hawk, African Skimmer, African Finfoot, Dwarf Bittern, Black Stork, White-crowned Lapwing, Crested Guineafowl, Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbill, Purple-crested Turaco, Brown-necked and Brown-headed Parrot, Narina Trogon, Senegal Coucal, Thick-billed Cuckoo, African Golden and Eurasian Golden Oriole, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Crimson-breasted Shrike, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, White-crested and Retz’s Helmetshrike, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Eastern Nicator, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, White-browed Robin-Chat, Bearded Scrub Robin, White-rumped, Little and Horus Swift, Böhms and Mottled Spinetail, Red-headed Weaver, Southern Black Tit, Purple-banded Sunbird, Village Indigobird, Burnt-necked and Green-capped Eremomela, Thrush Nightingale, Olive Tree, Icterine and Marsh Warbler, Southern Yellow White-eye, Red-faced Cisticola and many more.
The Maluleke concession has been called the best birding site in South Africa by many expert birders, and it is easy to see why!
To book your expert-guided birding tour in the Kruger Park and surrounding areas, get in touch at info@naturetravelkruger.com