European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordEuropean Bee-eater50+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Most records Nov to Jan

When European Bee-eater sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.

Best monthsNov to Jan

Records1,536 records

Curve from 1,536 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

Mpumalanga and beyond

Provinces where European Bee-eater is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

1,536 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the European Bee-eater

Places to stay

50+ results in South Africa

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Singita Ebony Lodge

Mpumalanga

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 42 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Mpumalanga

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

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

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 71 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Photography

Supports Jaci's Lodge Trust

From R 31,500 per night

&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 37,800 per night

&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp

Phalaborwa

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Barry House on Riverton

Robertson

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 158 birds recorded · Horse riding, Canoeing

From R 1,155 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

European Bee-eater 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

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Izingwe Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Aardvark, Banded mongoose · Hiking, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

European Bee-eater 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

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Inzalo Safari Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

European Bee-eater recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Ouberg Private Nature Reserve

Montagu

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Succulent Karoo biome · 109 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Honey badger · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 350 per night

Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin

Montagu

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 108 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Honey badger · Gravel cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,500 per night

Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping

Nieu Bethesda

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Nama-Karoo biome · 221 birds recorded · Stargazing, Canoeing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,760 per night

Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve

Western Cape

European Bee-eater recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 16 birds recorded · Black wildebeest, Black backed jackal · Spa, Stargazing

Supports Saving Private Rhino

Price on request

Cederberg - Kliphuis

Cederberg Wilderness Area

European Bee-eater recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing

From R 180 per night

Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

European Bee-eater recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded · Photography

From R 1,990 per night

Algeria Cottages

Cederberg Wilderness Area

European Bee-eater recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,990 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the European Bee-eater

Hosts have recorded the European Bee-eater at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park and Timbavati Private Nature 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

Kgalagadi 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

Timbavati Welgevonden

Species

Merops apiaster

Records

1 536

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the European Bee-eater on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the European Bee-eater in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the European Bee-eater at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Welgevonden 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 European Bee-eater in South Africa?

The European Bee-eater is most recorded in Mpumalanga (21% of records), Limpopo (19% of records), Western Cape (15% of records), based on 1 536 iNaturalist observations. 61 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the European Bee-eater on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the European Bee-eater?

Sightings of the European Bee-eater peak from Nov to Jan, based on 1 536 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.

What is the European Bee-eater?