Zimanga Private Game Reserve

Game Reserve · South Africa

No ratings yet

Photo © Gossipguy

Photo © Gossipguy — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Rolling grasslands and acacia-dotted savannas define this corner of KwaZulu-Natal, where the Hlambanyathi landscape rolls gently toward the Indian Ocean's influence. The reserve encompasses diverse habitat mosaics—open plains giving way to thornbush thickets, riverine woodland, and patches of denser bush that punctuate the terrain. This is prime subtropical savanna under a humid subtropical climate, where rainfall arrives year-round without a pronounced dry season, keeping watercourses perennial and grasslands reliably verdant. The ecological character is one of abundance and movement: large herbivorous mammals graze and browse across the open country, while smaller grazers and mixed feeders exploit the varied vegetation. Predators—from big cats to wild dogs and spotted hyenas—patrol these grasslands and bush corridors, their presence felt as much through fresh tracks and distant calls as through direct sightings. Birds of prey hunt overhead, while woodland songbirds, water-associated species, and countless smaller animals occupy the structural layers from dense shrub to open sky.

For wildlife photographers and dedicated birdwatchers, Zimanga demands attention during the year-round growing season when light quality reaches its peak and animal activity peaks with the abundance of food and water. The subtropical climate ensures that no season truly closes the reserve to observation—wet months bring concentrated birdlife and lush photographic backdrops, while drier spells push game toward permanent waters and increase encounter rates in open country. The reserve's private status and careful management create conditions for patient stalking and unrushed encounters. Early morning and late afternoon light transforms the acacia-studded plains and riverine corridors into settings that reward both the telephoto lens and the binocular. Access is measured and purposeful; guided game drives and walks allow visitors to read the landscape as ecologists do, following animal sign and understanding the reserve not as a backdrop but as a functioning ecosystem where every sighting represents genuine behavioral observation rather than roadside convenience.

Website zimanga.com

Email mailtoinfo@zimanga.com

Wildlife & PhotographyEasy

Hides del Tiétar

Zimanga 2027 · 4 Nights

Hides del Tiétar·South Africa

4 nights 6 ES African Savanna Elephant · Plains Zebra +6

Wildlife & PhotographyEasy

Hides del Tiétar

SOUTH AFRICA: The Photography Sanctuary of Zimanga 2027

Hides del Tiétar·South Africa

12–20 Sep 2027

8 nights 6 ES African Savanna Elephant · Cape Buffalo +8

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Alopochen aegyptiaca

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Southern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera edouardi

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Pternistis natalensis

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

White-rumped Swift

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Madagascar Cuckoo

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

African Green Pigeon

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

Aenigmatolimnas marginalis

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Senegal Lapwing

Vanellus lugubris

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Actophilornis africanus

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Leptoptilos crumenifer

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Sagittarius serpentarius

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

White-backed Vulture

Gyps coprotheres

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Buteo rufofuscus

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Red-faced Mousebird

Urocolius indicus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Trachyphonus vaillantii

Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Red-throated Wryneck

Jynx ruficollis

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Gorgeous Bushshrike

Telophorus viridis

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Southern Boubou

Laniarius ferrugineus

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Eastern Nicator

Nicator gularis

Calendulauda sabota

Amirafra rufocinnamomea

Rufous-naped Lark

Corypha africana

Sombre Greenbul

Andropadus importunus

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Pycnonotus barbatus

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Hirundo rustica

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Greater Striped Swallow

Cecropis cucullata

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Phylloscopus trochilus

Fan-tailed Grassbird

Catriscus brevirostris

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Bar-throated Apalis

Apalis thoracica

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Zosterops virens

Acridotheres tristis

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Lamprotornis nitens

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

Bearded Scrub Robin

Tychaedon quadrivirgata

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Fiscal Flycatcher

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-throated Robin-Chat

Dessonornis humeralis

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Oenanthe familiaris

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer diffusus

Passer domesticus

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Ploceus capensis

Eastern Golden Weaver

Ploceus subaureus

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-billed Quelea

Southern Red Bishop

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Uraeginthus angolensis

Green-winged Pytilia

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Dusky Indigobird

Pin-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Motacilla capensis

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Anthus cinnamomeus

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Struthio camelus

Spilopelia senegalensis

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Ciconia ciconia

Microcarbo africanus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

Cyanomitra olivacea

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

South African Shelduck

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Spatula smithii

Yellow-billed Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Caprimulgus natalensis

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

Livingstone's Turaco

Tauraco livingstonii

Denham's Bustard

Centropus grillii

Ceuthmochares australis

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Speckled Pigeon

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

Buff-spotted Flufftail

Sarothrura elegans

Red-chested Flufftail

Sarothrura rufa

Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Black-winged Lapwing

Vanellus melanopterus

Microparra capensis

Gallinago nigripennis

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Calidris minuta

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Hydroprogne caspia

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Larus dominicanus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Southern Bald Ibis

Geronticus calvus

African Spoonbill

Egretta ardesiaca

Egretta garzetta

White-backed Night Heron

Calherodius leuconotus

Ardeola ralloides

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Pandion haliaetus

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Necrosyrtes monachus

Southern Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus fasciolatus

Hieraaetus pennatus

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Micronisus gabar

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Buteo trizonatus

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Coracias naevius

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

White-eared Barbet

Stactolaema leucotis

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Acacia Pied Barbet

Tricholaema leucomelas

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Falco rupicolus

Falco amurensis

Falco biarmicus

Brown-headed Parrot

Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

African Broadbill

Smithornis capensis

Woodwards' Batis

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Olive Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus olivaceus

Telophorus zeylonus

Southern Tchagra

Tchagra tchagra

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Square-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus ludwigii

Lesser Grey Shrike

Corvus capensis

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

Pinarocorys nigricans

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Neophedina cincta

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

South African Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon spilodera

Sphenoeacus afer

Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler

Phylloscopus ruficapilla

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Acrocephalus palustris

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Little Rush Warbler

Bradypterus baboecala

Rock-loving Cisticola

Cisticola aberrans

Wailing Cisticola

Rufous-winged Cisticola

Cisticola galactotes

Levaillant's Cisticola

Cisticola tinniens

Cloud Cisticola

Cisticola textrix

Pale-crowned Cisticola

Cisticola cinnamomeus

Wing-snapping Cisticola

Cisticola ayresii

Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes stierlingi

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Burchell's Starling

Lamprotornis australis

Lamprotornis bicolor

Turdus olivaceus

Brown Scrub Robin

Tychaedon signata

White-starred Robin

Pogonocichla stellata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Sentinel Rock Thrush

Monticola explorator

Cape Rock Thrush

Monticola rupestris

Buff-streaked Chat

Campicoloides bifasciatus

Ant-eating Chat

Myrmecocichla formicivora

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Cyanomitra veroxii

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris chalybeus

Passer melanurus

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Southern Brown-throated Weaver

Ploceus xanthopterus

Dark-backed Weaver

Ploceus bicolor

Red-headed Quelea

Quelea erythrops

Long-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes progne

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Coccopygia melanotis

Mandingoa nitidula

Glaucestrilda perreini

Estrilda astrild

Ortygospiza atricollis

Pink-throated Twinspot

Hypargos margaritatus

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Macronyx capensis

Nicholson's Pipit

Anthus nicholsoni

Anthus vaalensis

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Anthus lineiventris

Crithagra scotops

Lemon-breasted Canary

Crithagra citrinipectus

Streaky-headed Seedeater

Crithagra gularis

Serinus canicollis

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Emberiza capensis

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Acinonyx jubatus

African Wild Dog

Crocuta crocuta

Cercopithecus mitis

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Lepus saxatilis

Mauritian Tomb Bat

Taphozous mauritianus

Egyptian Slit-faced Bat

Nycteris thebaica

Sundevall's Roundleaf Bat

Hipposideros caffer

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

Banded Mongoose

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Aepyceros melampus

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Sylvicapra grimmia

Syncerus caffer

Tragelaphus angasii

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Southern Giraffe

Giraffa giraffa

Phacochoerus africanus

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Panthera pardus

View Complete List (418 more) →

0 Community observations

No community observations yet — be the first to log a sighting here.