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 Hornbill10+ 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

Recorded in KwaZulu-Natal~784 records

Curve from 1,118 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. 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

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

Places to stay

10+ results in KwaZulu-Natal

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

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

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

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

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

Sasi Bush Lodge

Bergville

Grassland biome · Spa, Wine tasting

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 5,400 per night

&Beyond Phinda Homestead

Hluhluwe

Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat

Richmond

Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 9 birds recorded · Spa, 4x4 trails

From R 5,990 per night

Dragonview Lodge

Cathkin Park

Grassland biome

Price on request

The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa

Drakensberg, Bergville

Grassland biome · 7 birds recorded · Horse riding, Spa

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 4,280 per night

Sungubala Eco Camp

Drakensberg, Bergville

Grassland biome · Spotted hyena, Leopard · Horse riding, Stargazing

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 1,140 per night

Makongo Hills Lodge

Magudu

Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 1,280 per night

Drakensberg Vultures View

Cathkin Park

Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Hiking, Horse riding

From R 1,691 per night

Penwarn Farm

Underberg

Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Blesbok, Serval · Canoeing, Wine tasting

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 per night

Berghouse & Cottages

Drakensberg, Bergville

Grassland biome · Scenic drives, Hiking

From R 1,950 per night

Montusi Mountain Lodge

Drakensberg, Bergville

Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 32 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Common eland · Spa, Horse riding

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 6,800 per night

Qambathi Mountain Lodge

Nottingham Road

Grassland biome · 2 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Serval · Spa, Horse riding

From R 4,100 per night

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 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

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 KwaZulu-Natal?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Trumpeter Hornbill 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 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. 11 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal 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. Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.