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Hi was hoping some of you birders out there could help me out. I will be back in KNP in September, cant wait My girlfriend and I will be doing pretty much north to south and we would love to see the Bat Hawk - has anyone got any ideas where I could catch a sight of this awesome Bird - I've heard the Pafuri and Shingwedzi areas are good for spotting them. Is this correct and are there any other areas we could try?

'Ello Bok bok!

I still have to get lucky myself, but I've been told that the high water bridge north of Shingwedzi is a good place to start. Same for high water bridge N of Letaba.
Let us know, if and when you find them.

More relevant info here.

Good luck!!

Bok Bok I will also be in Kruger next September and a reliable place to see Bat Hawk is the High water Bridge over the Shingwedzi River going North South. Be there as its getting dark...seen it a few times including this trip.

Thanks for that Boulder I will be there looking for them do you have any pics of them - Will be Kruger September 07th to 22nd might see you there.

Skukuza infront of the restaurant seems to be a good spot for seeing them @ dusk. Will try and locate it in Feb.

Also Shingwedzi Bridge

To me this is the best spot. You are in camp and stay as long as you like, no rushing to get back to the gate.

Are Bat Hawks permanent residents or are they just there during the summer???

From what I know (Sasol) they are resident, but rare.

Jose is correct. They are resident but very uncommon.

Thanks for the info. I will let you know if we see one. We will look around the bridges near Letaba and Shingwedzi, as well as around Skukuza. If anyone knows of other good possibilites, I would appreciate some tips.

Your best chance of finding these birds would be the Magoebaskloof nearby Tzaneen. There are known breeding pairs.

Wildtuinman's advice is good. The Magoebaskloof area has a couple of resident pairs, including one at the Agatha Plantation which can be viewed on the nest. The Soutpansberg foothills and surrounding valley are also good spots and one of the local farmers often has them hunting bats above his tennis court.

However if you are wanting to see them during your Kruger trip, there are a pair (presumably resident) often seen from Punda Maria Camp. The safari tents that look outwards over the surrounding valley yield the best results. Just scan the sky at dusk and look out for an awkward heavy wingbeat intermittently breaking their gliding. If you are not staying in the tents, looking up from the camping area can also yield reap reward.

Super stuff! Thanks Owl!