What is the Secretarybird?

The secretarybird or secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open grasslands and savanna of the sub-Saharan region. John Frederick Miller described the species in 1779.

Go Birding

Secretarybird

Q: What is the conservation status of the Secretarybird?

The Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Sagittarius serpentariusEndangered

The secretarybird or secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordSecretarybird6 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

Records1,996 records

Curve from 1,996 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

Eastern Cape and beyond

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

1,993 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Secretarybird

Places to stay

6 results in Limpopo

Izingwe Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Secretarybird recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Aardvark, Banded mongoose · Hiking, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Inzalo Safari Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Secretarybird recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Satara Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Secretarybird recorded here · Savanna biome · 52 birds recorded · Blue wildebeest, Cheetah · Photography

From R 331 per night

Maroela Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Secretarybird recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn

From R 390 per night

Tamboti Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Secretarybird recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Photography

From R 771 per night

Shimuwini Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

Secretarybird recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Baobab, Cheetah · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,670 per night

More stays nearby

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

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

Price on request

Maninghi Lodge

Hoedspruit

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

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Stargazing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 17,120 per night

Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 8,380 per night

Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Birder friendly · Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Leopard, Spotted hyena · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Laluka Safari Lodge

Vaalwater

Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Spa, Hiking

Price on request

Phelwana Game Lodge

Hoedspruit

Savanna biome · 2 birds recorded · Giraffe, Cheetah · Safaris, Game drives

Supports DAKTARI Bush School

From R 1,100 per night

Graceland Eco Retreat

Magoebaskloof

Savanna biome · Hiking

From R 2,000 per night

Makalali Main Lodge

Limpopo

Savanna biome

Price on request

Makalali River Lodge

Limpopo

Savanna biome

Price on request

Sofala Game Farm

Tolwe

Birder friendly

Price on request

Sunbird Lodge

Phalaborwa

Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 1,500 per night

Makulu Birders Cottage at Wilds Uitvlugt

Rust de Winter

Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 8 birds recorded · Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Cape Vulture Lodge

Hoedspruit

Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Spa, Mountain biking

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 4,000 per night

Bramasole Boutique Hotel

Magoebaskloof

Birder friendly · Forest biome

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,512 per night

Zvakanaka Farm

Louis Trichardt

Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 12 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 650 per night

Kelora Bush Camp

Hoedspruit

Savanna biome

Supports DAKTARI Bush School

From R 6,400 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Secretarybird

Hosts have recorded the Secretarybird at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Welgevonden Game Reserve.

Best hours of the day

Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.

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

Welgevonden

IUCN Red List

Endangered

Species

Sagittarius serpentarius

Records

1 993

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the Secretarybird in Limpopo?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Secretarybird at stays in or beside Kruger National Park 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 Secretarybird in South Africa?

The Secretarybird is most recorded in Eastern Cape (18% of records), Mpumalanga (17% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (16% of records), based on 1 993 iNaturalist observations. 6 places to stay on Spekboom in Limpopo have recorded the Secretarybird on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Secretarybird?

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

What is the conservation status of the Secretarybird?