logo

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Take 20,000 hectares of farmland. Restore it and restock it with wildlife. Overlap it with six biomes. Place it in an area that is malaria free and within a two-hour drive of a major airport, sun drenched coastline, and fun family attractions. Add the intrigue of a frontier land and wars between Dutch farmers, English settlers and Xhosa people. The result? A small gem. Kwandwe or place of the blue crane in Xhosa is an ideal safari destination for families that want more from their holiday that birding and wildlife viewing.

Fun Facts about Blue Cranes

There are lots of fun facts about Blue Cranes. Did you know that?

The Blue Crane, Anthropoides paradiseus, is a tall, ground-dwelling bird that gets its name from its blue-gray feathers. It is a member of the Gruidae family and one of fifteen crane species.
Blue Crane, Stanley Crane and Paradise Crane are three names for the same bird. The Xhosa word for Blue Crane is indwe. The Zulu word is iNdwa.
Blue Cranes are easily identified by their blue-gray color and white, feathered head. They have a short bill and two black legs. Blue Cranes have a large head, long, thin neck and long, downward curving tail feathers.
The Blue Crane is one of the smallest species of crane. It stands just 4 feet (117 cm) tall and weighs only 11 pounds (5.1 kg).
Blue Cranes are gregarious omnivores meaning they are social birds that eat different kinds of food. They feed on insects and seeds and even eat small vertebrates. Blue Cranes live and feed in flocks of up to 40 birds.
The Blue Crane inhabits grasslands and uplands. It is found in just two places in the world, South Africa and Namibia.
Blue Cranes, like all other cranes, call together with their mate and dance when they court.
The Blue Crane is the national bird of South Africa.