Ground Hornbills in Botswana. They’re large, loud, unmistakable—and increasingly rare. The southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) is one of Africa’s most striking birds. With black plumage, vivid red facial skin, and a booming call that echoes across the savanna at dawn, they are hard to miss when present. But despite their bold appearance and unique behaviour, ground hornbills are quietly disappearing from much of their historic range.
In Botswana, however, these extraordinary birds still persist. We were lucky enough to encounter ground hornbills during our recent travels—most memorably in Khwai, where a pair strode purposefully through the grass, scanning the ground for prey. It was one of those magical moments that makes you pause: we were watching one of southern Africa’s most endangered large birds, completely wild and utterly absorbed in their own world.
So yes, there are ground hornbills in Botswana. But like wild dogs, they are few and far between, and their future is uncertain.
What Makes Ground Hornbills So Unique?
Ground hornbills are members of the Bucerotidae family but stand apart from their tree-dwelling cousins. As the name suggests, they spend most of their lives on the ground, walking long distances in search of insects, reptiles, frogs, and even small mammals. They use their large bills to dig and probe, and they’ve even been seen working cooperatively to flush out prey.
A single adult ground hornbill stands over a metre tall, with an impressive wingspan and a dinosaur-like presence. Their deep, resonant call—like a distant drum roll—can be heard for kilometres and is often one of the first signs that a group is nearby.
Socially, ground hornbills live in small family groups, usually made up of a dominant breeding pair and several helpers (typically previous offspring). Breeding success is slow: they only raise one chick every 3–9 years, and depend on large, old trees or rocky cavities for nesting.
This slow breeding rate, combined with habitat loss and persecution, makes Ground Hornbills in Botswana extremely vulnerable.
How Rare Are They?
Although once widespread across southern and eastern Africa, ground hornbills are now in steep decline. They are classed as Vulnerable globally by the IUCN and are considered regionally Endangered in South Africa and Namibia. Estimates suggest the population is decreasing by around 5% per year in some areas.
In Botswana, ground hornbills fare slightly better thanks to larger protected areas and less habitat fragmentation, but they are still nowhere near common. Sightings are occasional and typically involve either a pair or a small group, often in the Okavango, Savuti, Khwai and Makgadikgadi regions. We saw them just once during our trip, and every guide we spoke to confirmed how unusual and special that encounter was.
Why Are They Declining?
Ground Hornbills in Botswana face a number of threats, most of them linked to human activity:
- Habitat loss and degradation: Their need for large nesting cavities means they rely on mature trees or rocky hills, which are being cleared for farming or firewood in some parts of southern Africa.
- Electrocution and poisoning: In agricultural areas, ground hornbills sometimes scavenge poisoned carcasses left out for predators or come into contact with power lines.
- Persecution: In some traditions, the birds are killed for use in rituals or traditional medicine, believed to bring rain or protect against lightning. In other areas, they are wrongly blamed for crop damage and persecuted by farmers.
- Slow reproduction: Their long parental care period (over a year) and low breeding success mean that population recovery is very slow—even under ideal conditions.
Cultural and Ecological Significance
Despite threats, ground hornbills hold deep cultural resonance. In many southern African traditions, they are considered sacred birds, associated with ancestral spirits, omens, and seasonal cycles. The Tswana name for the bird is kgorokgoro, echoing the deep sound of its call. In parts of Botswana, it’s said their voice brings the rains—and to kill one is bad luck.
Ecologically, ground hornbills play an important role as top-level insect predators, keeping ecosystems in balance. Their preference for large prey (like lizards, scorpions, and snakes) means they help control populations that would otherwise go unchecked.
Who’s Protecting Ground Hornbills in Botswana?
Several conservation efforts are under way in southern Africa to study and protect ground hornbills. While Botswana doesn’t have a national programme dedicated solely to the species, transboundary collaborations and monitoring efforts are helping fill the gaps. Key players include:
- Mabula Ground Hornbill Project (South Africa): Focused on artificial nest provision, hand-rearing abandoned chicks, and education to reduce ritual killings.
- BirdLife Botswana: Supports ground hornbill monitoring and awareness campaigns, particularly through bird counts and eco-tourism networks.
- Research teams working in the Okavango and Savuti regions who report sightings, nest success, and group dynamics as part of broader avian studies.
Some hornbills in Botswana may be included in long-term bird banding and telemetry projects, but the coverage remains patchy due to their large range and low density.
What’s It Like to See One?
Seeing a ground hornbill is not like seeing any other bird. When you spot them—usually walking slowly across open ground—they demand attention. We saw a pair in Khwai, one with a huge centipede dangling from its bill. They were focused, deliberate, and completely unbothered by our presence. Their movements were dinosaurian: a glimpse into a deeper evolutionary past.
The guide told us the pair had been seen in that region on and off for a few years, but no known nest site had been located. That’s the challenge with hornbills—unless you know where they nest, you’re tracking ghosts.
What Can You Do?
Travellers play an important role in protecting ground hornbills. Here’s how:
- Record and report sightings: Your guide will usually know if your hornbill sighting is important to local researchers. Share photos, times, and locations.
- Support lodges and operators that back conservation: Some contribute to bird monitoring or environmental education.
- Avoid disturbing nesting areas: If your guide mentions a known nest site, admire from a distance—ground hornbills can abandon nests if disturbed too often.
- Spread awareness: Many travellers are still unaware of how endangered this species is. Telling their story helps.
Final Thoughts: A Symbol of Wilderness
Ground Hornbills in Botswana. The southern ground hornbill is a species that epitomises wilderness—not just in its appearance and behaviour, but in its need for space, old trees, and intact ecosystems. That we still see them in Botswana is a testament to the country’s relatively successful conservation ethos.
Check out our other Safari Botswana blogs –
- Safari Botswana – A Tourist Heaven of Wildlife, Wilderness and Wonder
- Visiting the Okavango Delta – What You Need to Know Before You Go
- Nxai Pan National Park – Salt, Stars and Safari Stories in the Sands
- Makgadikgadi Pans National Park – Zebra, Rivers and the Silence of the Salt
- Savuti – Wild Dogs, Lions and Rock Outcrops in Chobe’s Wild Heart
- Moremi Game Reserve – Flooded Forests, Wild Dogs and the Pulse of the Okavango
- Khwai Game Reserve – Wild Dogs, Community Conservation and the Spirit of the Delta
- What to Expect on a Mokoro Ride in the Okavango Delta
- Walking Safari in the Okavango Delta – What to Expect
- Ancient Voices on Stone: Bushman Rock Art at Savuti, Chobe National Park
- Mobile Safari Camp or Self-Drive?
- Why Do Hunting Safaris Still Exist in Botswana?
- Are There African Wild Dogs in Botswana? Tracking One of Africa’s Rarest Predators
- Dr Livingstone in Botswana: Footsteps Across the Kalahari
- Is the Hippo the Most Dangerous Animal in Africa? It Might Just Be
- Sunset Safari on the Zambezi: An Evening Boat Ride from Kasane, Botswana