Little Swift

Apus affinis

The little swift (Apus affinis), is a small bird, superficially similar to a barn swallow or house martin.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordLittle Swift50+ 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

Records841 records

Curve from 841 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

Western Cape and beyond

Provinces where Little Swift is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

841 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Little Swift

Places to stay

50+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Little Swift recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Little Swift recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Little Swift recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Little Swift recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Little Swift recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 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

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

Little Swift 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

Little Swift 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

Little Swift 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

Little Swift recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Karoo Secret Farm Stay

Aberdeen

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Nama-Karoo biome · 209 birds recorded · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 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

Cederberg - Kliphuis

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Little Swift recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing

From R 180 per night

Mbali Collection

Kogelberg Nature Reserve

Little Swift recorded here · Fynbos biome · 94 birds recorded

From R 1,590 per night

Oudebosch Eco Cabins

Kogelberg Nature Reserve

Little Swift recorded here · Fynbos biome · 94 birds recorded

From R 1,730 per night

Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve

Little Swift recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 166 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,750 per night

Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve

Little Swift recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 166 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,750 per night

Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Little Swift recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded · Photography

From R 1,990 per night

Algeria Cottages

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Little Swift recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,990 per night

Kingfisher Cottage

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Little Swift recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded

From R 1,500 per night

Flamingo Cottage

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Little Swift recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded

From R 1,430 per night

Oystercatcher Cottage

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Little Swift recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded

From R 1,430 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Little Swift

Hosts have recorded the Little Swift at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kruger National Park.

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

Species

Apus affinis

Records

841

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the Little Swift in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Little Swift at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kruger 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 Little Swift in South Africa?

The Little Swift is most recorded in Western Cape (24% of records), Mpumalanga (24% of records), Limpopo (17% of records), based on 841 iNaturalist observations. 51 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Little Swift on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Little Swift?

The Little Swift 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. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Little Swift?