What is the Marico Sunbird?

The Marico sunbird or Mariqua sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Go Birding

Marico Sunbird

Cinnyris mariquensis

The Marico sunbird or Mariqua sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordMarico Sunbird10+ 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

Records569 records

Curve from 569 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

Limpopo and beyond

Provinces where Marico Sunbird is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

569 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Marico Sunbird

Places to stay

10+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Rhino Sands Safari Camp

Hazyview

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 30 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Zululand Conservation Trust

From R 22,680 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

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

Marico Sunbird 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

Marico Sunbird 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

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Marico Sunbird 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

Marico Sunbird 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

Marico Sunbird 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

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok

From R 2,634 per night

Bitterpan Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Camel thorn · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Camel thorn, Gemsbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Gharagab Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Giraffe · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Kalahari Tented Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,314 per night

Urikaruus Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Marico Sunbird recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

More stays nearby

Babylonstoren

Klapmuts, Simondium

12 birds recorded · Angulate tortoise, Wild olive · Spa, Vineyards

Price on request

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

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

Price on request

La Clé Lodge & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · Cycling

Price on request

Coot Club

Stanford

Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 8 birds recorded · White milkwood, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Canoeing

Price on request

Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point

Hazyview

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Price on request

Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa

Somerset West

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Vineyards, Wine tasting

Price on request

Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse

Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West

Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 26 birds recorded · Black wildebeest, Bontebok · Horse riding, Hiking

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 5,636 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Marico Sunbird

Hosts have recorded the Marico Sunbird 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

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

Species

Cinnyris mariquensis

Records

569

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the Marico Sunbird in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Marico Sunbird at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and Madikwe Game Reserve. 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 Marico Sunbird in South Africa?

The Marico Sunbird is most recorded in Limpopo (45% of records), Mpumalanga (32% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (11% of records), based on 569 iNaturalist observations. 16 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Marico Sunbird on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Marico Sunbird?

The Marico Sunbird 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; Timbavati Private Nature Reserve: May-Sep, dry season; Madikwe Game Reserve: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.