What is the Trumpeter Hornbill?

The trumpeter hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator) is a medium-sized hornbill, with length between 58 and 65 cm (23 and 26 in), characterized by a large grey casque on the bill, smaller in females. The eyes are brown or red, with pink surrounding skin. Body mass is between 0.45 and 1 kg (0.99 and 2.20 lb). It is similar to silvery-cheeked hornbill.

Go Birding

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

The trumpeter hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator) is a medium-sized hornbill, with length between 58 and 65 cm (23 and 26 in), characterized by a large grey casque on the bill, smaller in females.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordTrumpeter Hornbill20+ 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

Records1,118 records

Curve from 1,118 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 Trumpeter Hornbill is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

1,120 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Trumpeter Hornbill

Places to stay

20+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

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

Price on request

Maninghi Lodge

Hoedspruit

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

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

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

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

&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge

Hluhluwe

Trumpeter Hornbill 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

Trumpeter Hornbill 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

Trumpeter Hornbill 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

Trumpeter Hornbill 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

Trumpeter Hornbill 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

Trumpeter Hornbill 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

Trumpeter Hornbill 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

Trumpeter Hornbill 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

Trumpeter Hornbill recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Tomjachu Bush Retreat

Mbombela

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 11 birds recorded · Giraffe, Plains zebra · Stargazing, Photography

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,300 per night

Bonamanzi Game Reserve

Hluhluwe

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Leopard, Giraffe · Game drives, Boat trip

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 240 per night

Olifants Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Trumpeter Hornbill recorded here · Savanna biome · 39 birds recorded · Knobthorn, Leadwood · Game drives

From R 1,445 per night

Roodewal Bush Lodge

Kruger National Park

Trumpeter Hornbill recorded here · Savanna biome · 39 birds recorded · Knobthorn, Leadwood · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 10,966 per night

Punda Maria Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Trumpeter Hornbill recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Baobab, Fever tree · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 319 per night

Pafuri Border Camp

Kruger National Park

Trumpeter Hornbill recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Baobab, Fever tree · Guided walk

From R 3,458 per night

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Trumpeter Hornbill recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Hiking, Game drives

From R 1,420 per night

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Trumpeter Hornbill recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 900 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

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Trumpeter Hornbill

Hosts have recorded the Trumpeter Hornbill at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve and Welgevonden 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

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 Welgevonden

Species

Bycanistes bucinator

Records

1 120

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the Trumpeter Hornbill in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Trumpeter Hornbill at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve and Welgevonden 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 Trumpeter Hornbill in South Africa?

The Trumpeter Hornbill is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (70% of records), Mpumalanga (14% of records), Eastern Cape (9% of records), based on 1 120 iNaturalist observations. 22 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Trumpeter Hornbill on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Trumpeter Hornbill?

The Trumpeter Hornbill 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; Welgevonden Game Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.