Few birds are as impressive – or as interesting – as the southern ground hornbill. Whether you see them striding through the grass, or perched on the branches of a dead tree, they are unmistakable with their coloured faces, heavy wattles and wicked-looking beaks. Their all-black plumage makes them look like mourners at a funeral – and the flash of white when they spread their wings will surprise you!

Southern ground hornbills have a unique lifestyle –they live in groups that include an alpha male and female, along with other related and unrelated members. The offspring take many years to mature, and will remain with their native group until this time. Your Guide and Tracker can help you tell them all apart.

Because ground hornbills breed extremely slowly, they are particularly vulnerable to threats including habitat loss (the grasslands they feed in, and forests with large trees for nesting). They are also sometimes killed for traditional medicine (they are believed to have magical rain-bringing powers), and poisoned either accidentally or deliberately. They are often persecuted for their habit of breaking windows – they seem to see their reflections as rivals, which they then attack.

These factors mean that – outside of protected areas – ground hornbills are sadly now a very rare sight. There’s an urgent need to conserve this iconic species, and this begins with research.

This is in no small part due to the work of the researchers – and to the generous support of guests of The Royal Portfolio through their donations to the Foundation. As a guest at Royal Malewane, you can join the expert ornithologists in the field as they monitor active ground hornbill nest sites, and listen to an informative talk about these intriguing birds in the comfort of the lodge.

Follow this link to learn more about this vital conservation initiative.