Birdwatchers have a new travel bucket list.
Image used for illustrative purposes/Patrice Bouchard/Unsplash
A new global study has ranked the world’s best birdwatching destinations, with Peru claiming the top two spots and South Africa’s Kruger National Park securing a place among the world’s leading birding hotspots.
The research, conducted by travel insurance provider AllClear, analysed internationally recognised birdwatching destinations using eight different factors. These included bird species diversity, the number of notable species, the likelihood of spotting standout birds, climate, accessibility, rainfall, wind conditions and estimated daily travel costs.
Peru leads the flock
Topping the rankings is Manú National Park in Peru, which earned an overall score of 83.1 out of 100. Widely regarded as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to as many as 776 bird species, including the elusive harpy eagle and Peru’s vibrant national bird, the Andean cock-of-the-rock.
Tambopata National Reserve also placed highly, taking second position with a score of 67.5. Located in the Peruvian Amazon, the reserve is renowned for its colourful clay licks, where hundreds of parrots and macaws gather in one of the rainforest’s most spectacular wildlife displays.
Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park completed the top three with a score of 59.8. One of Africa’s largest protected areas, the park offers birdwatchers the chance to spot species such as the lilac-breasted roller and Von der Decken’s hornbill across its vast savannahs and riverine forests.
South America dominates the rankings
South America emerged as the leading region for birdwatching, claiming six places in the global top 20. Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia all feature on the list, highlighting the continent’s extraordinary biodiversity.
Africa also performed strongly, with Kenya appearing twice alongside South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Botswana’s Chobe National Park.
Costa Rica secured two places through Carara National Park and Corcovado National Park, while India, Panama, Sri Lanka, Sweden and England also made the rankings.
Kruger flies the South African flag
South Africa’s Kruger National Park ranked tenth overall with a birding score of 53.3 out of 100.
Already celebrated for its Big Five safaris, Kruger is equally impressive for bird enthusiasts, with more than 500 recorded bird species ranging from colourful bee-eaters and rollers to martial eagles, saddle-billed storks and the sought-after Pel’s fishing owl.
Its inclusion highlights South Africa’s appeal as a destination where world-class wildlife viewing extends far beyond mammals.
The world’s top 10 birdwatching destinations
- Manú National Park, Peru
- Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
- Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
- The Pantanal, Porto Jofre, Brazil
- Milpe Bird Sanctuary, Ecuador (joint)
- Carara National Park, Costa Rica (joint)
- Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
- Keoladeo National Park, India
- Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, Argentina
- Kruger National Park, South Africa
According to AllClear travel insurance expert Letitia Smith, birdwatching continues to attract more travellers looking for slower, immersive nature experiences.
“There are few experiences quite like spotting a rare or iconic species in its natural habitat,” she said, adding that climate, accessibility and travel costs remain important considerations when planning birding trips, particularly for travellers visiting remote destinations.
Whether you’re chasing the harpy eagle in Peru, photographing hornbills in Kenya or ticking off lifers in the Kruger, the new rankings offer plenty of inspiration for your next birdwatching adventure.
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