Africa’s exotic mammals get a lot of attention — as they should, but the continent is also home to thousands upon thousands of lovely feathered creatures who also deserve a bit of the spotlight. Over 2,500 bird species can be found on the continent, often in the same places as their mammal brethren. The “green season” months (mid-November through March) are the best for birding in Africa. It’s this time of year when many local birds are in full breeding plumage.

As you dig into the following list, bear in mind that on a continent the size of Africa there are of course hundreds of other great bird watching locales, so consider this just the tip of the iceberg. So without further ado, here are our recommendations on where to go bird watching in Africa.