What is the Red-chested Flufftail?

The red-chested flufftail (Sarothrura rufa) is a species of bird in the family Sarothruridae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Go Birding

Red-chested Flufftail

Sarothrura rufa

The red-chested flufftail (Sarothrura rufa) is a species of bird in the family Sarothruridae.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordRed-chested Flufftail10+ 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

Records70 records

Curve from 70 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 Red-chested Flufftail is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

70 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Red-chested Flufftail

5 places
Phinda Private Game ReserveKwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
5 places

Places to stay

10+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

Red-chested Flufftail recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge

Hluhluwe

Red-chested Flufftail 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

Red-chested Flufftail 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

Red-chested Flufftail 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

Red-chested Flufftail 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

Red-chested Flufftail recorded here · Forest biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 36,200 per night

Greystone Lodge

Dullstroom

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 10 birds recorded · Fishing, Hiking

From R 1,200 per night

Mbali Collection

Kogelberg Nature Reserve

Red-chested Flufftail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 94 birds recorded

From R 1,590 per night

Oudebosch Eco Cabins

Kogelberg Nature Reserve

Red-chested Flufftail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 94 birds recorded

From R 1,730 per night

The Whale Trail (De Hoop)

De Hoop Nature Reserve

Red-chested Flufftail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 185 birds recorded · Bontebok, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Cycling

From R 6,460 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

Maninghi Lodge

Hoedspruit

Savanna biome · 8 birds recorded · Giraffe, African elephant · Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Rhino Sands Safari Camp

Hazyview

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

Supports Zululand Conservation Trust

From R 22,680 per night

Franschhoek Country House & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Spa, Mountain biking

Supports Cape Leopard Trust

From R 6,195 per night

Tintswalo at Boulders

Simon's Town, Cape Town

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Surfing, Scenic drives

Supports Friends of Table Mountain

From R 4,060 per night

Singita Ebony Lodge

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome · 42 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Red-chested Flufftail

Hosts have recorded the Red-chested Flufftail at stays in or beside Phinda Private 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.

Ways to look

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

Species

Sarothrura rufa

Records

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Red-chested Flufftail on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Red-chested Flufftail in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Red-chested Flufftail at stays in or beside Phinda Private 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 Red-chested Flufftail in South Africa?

The Red-chested Flufftail is most recorded in Western Cape (33% of records), Gauteng (24% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (17% of records), based on 70 iNaturalist observations. 10 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Red-chested Flufftail on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Red-chested Flufftail?

The Red-chested Flufftail 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. Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.