What is the African Finfoot?

The African finfoot (Podica senegalensis) is an aquatic bird from the family Heliornithidae (the finfoots and sungrebe). The species lives in the rivers and lakes of western, central, and southern Africa.

Go Birding

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

The African finfoot (Podica senegalensis) is an aquatic bird from the family Heliornithidae (the finfoots and sungrebe).

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordAfrican Finfoot30+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Records172 records

Curve from 172 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

KwaZulu-Natal and beyond

Provinces where African Finfoot is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

172 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the African Finfoot

Places to stay

30+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

African Finfoot recorded here · Forest biome · 60 birds recorded · Humpback whale, Southern right whale · Canoeing, Snorkelling

Price on request

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

African Finfoot recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

African Finfoot recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

African Finfoot recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

African Finfoot recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

African Finfoot recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Stargazing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 17,120 per night

Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 8,380 per night

Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Leopard, Spotted hyena · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Kosi Forest Lodge

Manguzi

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · 41 birds recorded · Hippopotamus, Nile crocodile · Canoeing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 71 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Photography

Supports Jaci's Lodge Trust

From R 31,500 per night

&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 31,600 per night

&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 44,800 per night

&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 44,800 per night

&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 35,500 per night

&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Finfoot recorded here · Forest biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 36,200 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 10,670 per night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Hazyview

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Impala, Spotted hyena · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 per night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Marloth Park

African Finfoot recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Hlosi Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

African Finfoot recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Lion, Spekboom · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 4,000 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the African Finfoot

Hosts have recorded the African Finfoot at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve and Amakhala Game Reserve.

Best hours of the day

The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kruger Marakele

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Phinda Amakhala

Species

Podica senegalensis

Records

172

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the African Finfoot on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the African Finfoot in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Finfoot at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Amakhala Game Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve and Marakele National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the African Finfoot in South Africa?

The African Finfoot is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (40% of records), Mpumalanga (22% of records), Limpopo (16% of records), based on 172 iNaturalist observations. 37 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Finfoot on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the African Finfoot?

The African Finfoot is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Amakhala Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Madikwe Game Reserve: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.