White-rumped Swift

Q: What is the White-rumped Swift?

The white-rumped swift (Apus caffer) is a small swift. Although this bird is superficially similar to a house martin, it is not closely related to that passerine species. The resemblances between the swallows and swifts are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

Apus caffer

The white-rumped swift (Apus caffer) is a small swift.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordWhite-rumped Swift6 stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Most records Oct to Dec

When White-rumped Swift sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.

Best monthsOct to Dec

Records783 records

Curve from 783 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 White-rumped Swift is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

783 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the White-rumped Swift

6 places
Kgalagadi Transfrontier ParkNorthern Cape · Best Aug to Oct
6 places

Places to stay

6 results in the Northern Cape

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

White-rumped Swift recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok

From R 2,634 per night

Bitterpan Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

White-rumped Swift 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

White-rumped Swift recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Camel thorn, Gemsbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Gharagab Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

White-rumped Swift recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Giraffe · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Kalahari Tented Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

White-rumped Swift recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,314 per night

Urikaruus Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

White-rumped Swift recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

More stays nearby

Frontier River Resort

Northern Cape

Desert biome · Spekboom · Canoeing

From R 2,050 per night

Twee Rivieren Rest Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Savanna biome · Gemsbok, Camel thorn

From R 450 per night

Sendelingsdrif Rest Camp

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Desert biome · Halfmens, Quiver tree · 4x4 trails

From R 311 per night

Mata-Mata Rest Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Savanna biome · Gemsbok, Camel thorn

From R 450 per night

Motswedi Camp Site

Mokala National Park

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · African elephant, Brown hyena · Game drives

From R 628 per night

Kokerboomkloof Camp Site

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Succulent Karoo biome · Quiver tree, Spekboom · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 311 per night

Skilpad Rest Camp

Namaqua National Park

Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 953 per night

Mosu Lodge

Mokala National Park

Savanna biome · Camel thorn, Spekboom

From R 1,401 per night

Tankwa Karoo Rest Camp

Tankwa Karoo National Park

Succulent Karoo biome · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 192 per night

Nossob Rest Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Savanna biome · Gemsbok, Brown hyena

From R 450 per night

Augrabies Falls Rest Camp

Augrabies Falls National Park

Nama-Karoo biome · 2 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Giraffe · Hiking

From R 362 per night

Lilydale Rest Camp

Mokala National Park

Savanna biome · Baobab, Mopane · Stargazing, Guided walk

From R 1,206 per night

Elandsberg Rest Camp

Tankwa Karoo National Park

Succulent Karoo biome · 1 bird recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,741 per night

De Hoop Camping Site

Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

Fynbos biome · Gemsbok, Springbok · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 373 per night

Richmond Rooms

Richmond

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom

From R 1,230 per night

The Apollis Cottage

Concordia, Springbok

Succulent Karoo biome · Springbok, Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 1,700 per night

Mooifontein Farm

Colesberg

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom

From R 1,300 per night

Rooikloof Guest Farm

Sutherland

Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom · Stargazing, Scenic drives

From R 1,600 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the White-rumped Swift

Hosts have recorded the White-rumped Swift at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

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

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kgalagadi

Species

Apus caffer

Records

783

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the White-rumped Swift on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the White-rumped Swift in Northern Cape?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the White-rumped Swift at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. 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 White-rumped Swift in South Africa?

The White-rumped Swift is most recorded in Western Cape (41% of records), Eastern Cape (17% of records), Gauteng (13% of records), based on 783 iNaturalist observations. 6 places to stay on Spekboom in Northern Cape have recorded the White-rumped Swift on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the White-rumped Swift?

Sightings of the White-rumped Swift peak from Oct to Dec, based on 783 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.

What is the White-rumped Swift?