What is your favorite bird species?
This is a real hard one, but I would have to say the stunning Pel’s Fishing Owl as this was my Spark bird-it’s the bird that got me into birding. Also, a firm favorite is the prehistoric-looking Shoebill from Uganda.
Pel’s Fishing Owl
What is your name, and where do you live?
Marc Cronje. I am based in Nelspruit, South Africa. Very close to the Kruger National Park
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
I cover East Africa. So Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda. But also lead tours for Nature Travel Birding in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Madagascar, Zambia, and Angola and international trips to India, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica to name a few.
African Green Broadbill
How long have you been a bird guide?
10 years
How did you get into bird guiding?
I was a wildlife guide in the Kruger National Park, and gradually got interested in the birds and started learning about them and showing them to my guests- I then got bored of just looking for the big 5 and large mammals so started leading bird trips in the Kruger and grew from there.
Martial Eagle
What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best?
I love sharing my office with like-minded people and get a thrill of finding target birds for people. I enjoy sharing my passion for birding, wildlife, photography, and nature with people. I love the challenge of looking for hard-to-see species. I also enjoy learning about the birds, getting to know my local patch, and where exactly to see certain key species. I love traveling the world in search of birds.
Which aspects do you dislike most?
None.
What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that you think are the most interesting for visiting birders?
Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta, Martial Eagle, Congo Serpent Eagle, African Green Broadbill, Secretarybird, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Northern and Southern Ground Hornbill, and Blue Crane to name a few.
Green-breasted Pitta
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip
Uganda Birding Tour Overview – Home to an incredible 1 020 bird species and bucket-list primate experiences. Uganda boasts around half of the total number of bird species found in Africa! These include over 20 Albertine Rift endemics and many other truly iconic species, including the weird but wonderful Shoebill.
Our 14-day Uganda Birding Tour takes you to a top birding destination but also the home of Chimps and Gorillas chilling in the dense rainforests, photogenic scenery, a pleasant climate, excellent coffee, and very special general wildlife viewing. Over the last 25 years, Uganda has actually raced ahead to currently be one of Africa’s best birding destinations. It truly is an incredibly scenic place, and no other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats.
On this Uganda Birding tour, we will also go on three boat cruises and a canoe ride! You will eat like a king and see many other wonderful fauna and flora species. The optional Chimpanzee and Mountain Gorilla trekking experiences we offer on this tour are “once in a lifetime” opportunities not to be missed.
Top Birds: Shoebill, Congo Serpent Eagle, Nahan’s Partridge, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Grey Parrot, Great Blue Turaco, Grauer’s Broadbill, Papyrus Gonolek, Green-breasted Pitta, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
Secretarybird
Top Mammals: Eastern (Mountain) Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Guereza, L’Hoest’s Monkey, and many other primates, African Elephant, African Buffalo, Lion, Leopard
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
The best time to do Uganda is in July and Aug. Kenya is great in Aug and September especially if you want to see the migration in the Massai Mara. We have some great information on our website on all the countries we offer trips to, with trip reports, pictures, and info about the destination and what to expect.
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
Marc Cronje. Nature Travel Birding
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naturetravelbirding
Website: https://naturetravelbirding.com/
Marc was our wildlife guide during the Kruger portion of our South Africa birding trip several years ago. He was extraordinary. I’m glad to know he’s concentrating on birding now, and I’m sure he is just as extraordinary.