As part of their Africa Wealth Report series, New World Wealth has reviewed the conservation status of Africa’s most iconic birds, which are crucial to the continent’s eco-tourism sector.
Notably, birdwatching or birding is one of the fastest growing hobbies among the world’s wealthy post-covid. Other fast growing hobbies include padel, fly-fishing and kite surfing.
“Beulah” the Lappet-faced vulture
Beulah is a new arrival at the Dullstroom Bird of Prey Centre. She is a Lappet-faced Vulture, which is Africa’s largest bird of prey by some margin.
Like the Big 10 Eagles, the Lappet-faced Vulture serves as a vital barometer for the health of ecosystems across Africa. They are also a key part of “nature’s clean-up crew” as they clear carcasses and therefore prevent the spread of diseases. Unfortunately this makes them especially vulnerable to carcass poisoning which is a growing problem, especially in Africa.
Farmers and poachers often deliberately poison carcasses in order to kill predators in one of the most cruel and unnecessary practices that exists in the world today. Vultures and big eagles are typically the largest causalities of this poisoning – see the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Vulture Program for more information.
The Lappet-faced Vulture is currently listed as endangered by Birdlife International, with their populations falling fast. If current declines continue, they could go extinct within the next 20 years.
According to Dr Gareth Tate from the Endangered Wildlife Trust, “Lappet-faced vultures are one of Africa’s most powerful scavengers, but they’re quietly disappearing. Even in Kruger National Park — once regarded as a safe space for the species — numbers have declined by almost 50% over the last ten years, which is a huge warning sign. When a top scavenger like this drops so sharply in a protected area, it tells us the pressures outside and inside park boundaries, especially poisoning and contaminated carcasses, are still reaching them.”
Interesting bird stats
- Birds are an excellent barometer for the health of an ecosystem and for the planet at large. It is worth noting that unlike land animals, birds lack the protection afforded by traditional National Parks as they fly over the game fences to feed, nest, find mates and migrate. They are therefore heavily reliant on surrounding wild spaces such as eco-estates to nest and survive.
- Colombia is home to the largest number of bird species in the world, whilst the DRC is home to the most bird species in Africa, followed by Kenya and Tanzania.
Top birding destinations in Africa
New World Wealth has been rating Africa’s top luxury lodges for almost a decade. Their top picks for birders in 2026 are:
- Gorilla Forest Lodge – Uganda
- Nyungwe House – Rwanda
- Zambezi Queen – Namibia & Botswana
- Chobe Game Lodge – Botswana
- Xigera – Botswana
Note: These top picks score strongly when it comes to number of bird species, as well as their location, views and scenery.
Top picture: Beulah is a Lappet-faced Vulture at the Dullstroom Bird of Prey Centre
