Kori Bustard

The Kori Bustard is one of the most sought-after species to track on an African safari, and knowing its habits turns a hopeful search into a confident one. This field guide breaks down how to recognise the Kori Bustard at a glance, the habitats and times of day that reward patient searching, and the practical tracking craft guides rely on. Read it before you set out and you will spend less time scanning empty bush and more time watching the animal itself.

Africa's largest flying bird; coloration mainly gray-brown, with black and white stripes on the chest; distinct black crest on the head; long neck, broad and thick chest; walks with a steady gait and large body size.

Concentrate your search for the Kori Bustard in Open woodland savanna, open grasslands, shrublands, and semi-arid areas, the habitat where it feels most secure and finds its food. It is most active Diurnal, primarily active during the day, especially in early morning and late afternoon, so plan your game drives around those hours rather than the heat of midday. Across the continent the species ranges through Mainly distributed in southern and eastern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana; commonly seen in Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, and within that range the richest sightings come where prime habitat meets low human disturbance.

Finding the Kori Bustard starts long before you see it. Learn the habitat it depends on — Open woodland savanna, open grasslands, shrublands, and semi-arid areas — and you narrow the search from an entire landscape to a handful of promising corners. Animals are not scattered at random; they sit where food, water, cover and safety overlap, and the Kori Bustard is no exception.