African Jacana

Actophilornis africanus (Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Jacanidae — Jacanas

African Jacana, Actophilornis africanus, is a wader of inland sub-Saharan Africa, where it is widespread and breeds across the region. It is closely tied to shallow lakes with floating vegetation, which it uses as its main habitat. Its long toes and long claws let it move across that surface with ease. The species is a striking and unmistakable member of the jacana family. It is sedentary apart from seasonal dispersal, and it lays four brown eggs marked with black in a floating nest.

Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Jacanidae — Jacanas
Breeding range
Africa: widespread inland Sub-Saharan Africa
African Jacana
© Bernard DUPONT · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

49 tours in The Gambia 20, Uganda 15, Kenya 5, Senegal 3, Rwanda 2, Ethiopia 1, Mozambique 1, Tanzania 1, Namibia 1

16 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Tour
16 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Tour
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 16 days

Fixed-date Uganda birding and wildlife photography tour with Shoebill, Murchison Falls, Budongo, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mb...

From USD 5,492 Next: Sep 4, 2027
Birds and Wildlife of Uganda with Lawson's Safaris
Birds and Wildlife of Uganda with Lawson's Safaris
Uganda / Entebbe Group tour 15 days

Follow a 15-day Ugandan birding circuit from Lake Victoria through Nile, savanna and Albertine Rift forests to Bwindi and Lake Mburo....

From USD 5,350 Next: Aug 1, 2027
Birds and Wildlife of Kenya with Lawson's Safaris
Birds and Wildlife of Kenya with Lawson's Safaris
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 16 days

Cross Kenya over 16 days from Nairobi to Samburu, Rift Valley lakes, Kakamega, Lake Victoria and the Masai Mara for birds and wildlife....

From USD 7,390 Next: May 17, 2027
16-Day Ornithological Tour in Senegal – 2027
16-Day Ornithological Tour in Senegal – 2027
Senegal / Dakar Private tour 16 days

A 16-day ornithological journey through Senegal’s Sahel, wetlands, savannas and Atlantic coast for regional specialties and migratory bird...

From USD 3,520 Next: Mar 2, 2027
Private Lamin Lodge Birds and Breakfast Half-Day Tour
Private Lamin Lodge Birds and Breakfast Half-Day Tour
The Gambia / Lamin Private tour 7h

A private early-morning tour with breakfast at Lamin Lodge, mangrove birding by traditional canoe, and an extended session in the nearby ric...

From GBP 125
Private 15-Day Casamance, Southern Senegal and Rural Gambia Birding Tour
Private 15-Day Casamance, Southern Senegal and Rural Gambia Birding Tour
Senegal / Ziguinchor Private tour 15 days

A private 15-day cross-border route through Casamance, rural Gambia and the Saloum Delta, combining tropical forest, rice fields, river wetl...

Nine-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour
Nine-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 9 days

A nine-day private birding or photography journey through coastal Gambia, Tendaba and Kiang West with three boat trips and a choice of half-...

Fifteen-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour
Fifteen-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 15 days

A comprehensive fifteen-day birding or bird-photography journey from coastal Gambia to Tendaba, Kiang West, Morgan Kunda, Georgetown and Ban...

Eight-Day Coastal Gambia Birding and Photography Tour
Eight-Day Coastal Gambia Birding and Photography Tour
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 8 days

A private eight-day birding or bird-photography journey through Kotu, Kartong, Gunjur, Farasutu, Bonto, Penyem, Darsilami, Siffoe, Abuko, La...

5-Day Inland Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
5-Day Inland Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Tendaba Private tour 5 days

Spend four nights and five days birding inland Gambia’s river, wetland, woodland and savannah country on a private trip with JJ....

8-Day Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
8-Day Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 8 days

Sample coastal wetlands and woodland plus a shorter inland component on an eight-day private Gambia birding tour with JJ....

10-Day Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
10-Day Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 10 days

Balance well-known coastal sites with a selected inland extension on a private 10-day Gambia birding tour guided by Junkung Jadama....

14-Day Extended Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
14-Day Extended Gambia Birding Tour with JJ
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 14 days

Use 14 private birding days to range from western Gambia’s coastal habitats through river country to the far east with Junkung Jadama....

10-Day Ethiopian Birding Tour with Armaye Ethiopia Tours
10-Day Ethiopian Birding Tour with Armaye Ethiopia Tours
Ethiopia / Addis Ababa Private tour 10 days

A 10-day surface journey from Rift Valley wetlands to Bale and southern Ethiopia, with endemic birds, specialist larks and Yabelo dry-countr...

15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
Uganda / Entebbe Group tour 15 days

A 15-day Uganda birding circuit from Entebbe through Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Semliki for Sh...

From USD 4,685
Full-Day Coastal Gambia Birding Daytrip with Lamin Camara
Full-Day Coastal Gambia Birding Daytrip with Lamin Camara
The Gambia / Kotu Private tour 8h

A private full-day coastal birding and photography trip, with the wetland, rice-field, forest or coastal route agreed around current conditi...

From EUR 60
18-Day Gambia and Senegal West-Central Birding Tour with Lamin Camara
18-Day Gambia and Senegal West-Central Birding Tour with Lamin Camara
The Gambia / Mandinari Private tour 18 days

An 18-day private Gambia and west-central Senegal route through Tendaba, Kuntaur, Kaolack, Kousmar Island, the Saloum Delta and Kartong....

From EUR 1,900
18-Day Gambia and Senegal South-East Birding Tour with Lamin Camara
18-Day Gambia and Senegal South-East Birding Tour with Lamin Camara
The Gambia / Mandinari Private tour 18 days

An 18-day private birding and photography journey through The Gambia and south-east Senegal, including Tendaba, Wassadou, Niokolo-Koba and K...

From EUR 1,900
15-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour with Lamin Camara
15-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour with Lamin Camara
The Gambia / Mandinari Private tour 15 days

A private 15-day Gambia birding journey extending from the coast to Tendaba, Kudang, Kuntaur, Wassu, Jajari, Marakissa and Kartong....

From EUR 1,350
10-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour with Lamin Camara
10-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour with Lamin Camara
The Gambia / Mandinari Private tour 10 days

A private ten-day Gambia route combining Mandinari, Tendaba, Marakissa, Kartong, Tanji, Kotu and Lamin rice fields for birding and photograp...

From EUR 1,000
8-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour with Lamin Camara
8-Day Gambia Birding and Photography Tour with Lamin Camara
The Gambia / Mandinari Private tour 8 days

Eight private birding days linking Mandinari with Tendaba, Kartong, Tanji, Kotu and Lamin rice fields, combining coastal and up-river habita...

From EUR 850
8-Day Uganda Birding, Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking
8-Day Uganda Birding, Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 8 days

Eight private days combine Mabamba Shoebill birding with Kibale chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth wildlife and a permit-dependent Bwindi gorilla ...

15-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari
15-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 15 days

Across fifteen private days, explore Mabamba wetlands, the Nile at Murchison, western forests, Queen Elizabeth savannah and Lake Mburo....

Private Maputo Wetland Birding with Anthony Deligencio
Private Maputo Wetland Birding with Anthony Deligencio
Mozambique / Maputo Private tour 1 day

Private birding guidance around Maputo's wetland and Macaneta birding landscapes with local guide Anthony Deligencio, known as The Marsh War...

23-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Rare Birds Safari
23-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Rare Birds Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 23 days

A 23-day private Uganda expedition links Mabamba and Mabira with Pian Upe, Kidepo, Murchison, Semuliki, Kibale, Bwindi, Mgahinga and Lake Mb...

8-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Birding Safari
8-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Birding Safari
Uganda / Kampala Private tour 8 days

Across eight private days, explore Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi through birding, primate tracking, cruises and wildli...

10-Day Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife, Culture and Birding Tour
10-Day Uganda and Rwanda Wildlife, Culture and Birding Tour
Uganda / Kampala Private tour 10 days

Ten private days connect Uganda’s Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth with Lake Bunyonyi, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu and Kig...

4-Day Uganda Gorillas, Wildlife and Birding Safari
4-Day Uganda Gorillas, Wildlife and Birding Safari
Uganda / Kampala Private tour 4 days

A four-day private route from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi, combining Kazinga Channel wildlife, birding and gorilla t...

9-Day Uganda Big Five, Primates and Birding Safari
9-Day Uganda Big Five, Primates and Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 9 days

A nine-day private circuit pairs gorilla and chimpanzee tracking with Lake Mburo wildlife, the Kazinga Channel and Murchison Falls....

8-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Birding Safari
8-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Birding Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 8 days

Across eight private days in western Uganda, combine primate tracking with wildlife drives at Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Murchison ...

3-Day Entebbe Botanical Gardens and Mabamba Birding Weekend
3-Day Entebbe Botanical Gardens and Mabamba Birding Weekend
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 3 days

A short Entebbe birding break combining the Botanical Gardens, lakeshore habitats and a canoe search for Shoebill and papyrus birds in Mabam...

1-Day Mabamba and Entebbe Botanical Gardens Birding
1-Day Mabamba and Entebbe Botanical Gardens Birding
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 1 day

A one-day Uganda birding route pairing the papyrus wetlands of Mabamba Bay with the forest edge and lakeshore habitats of Entebbe Botanical ...

16 Days Central, Northern and Western Kenya Birding
16 Days Central, Northern and Western Kenya Birding
Kenya / Nairobi Private tour 16 days

Kenya birding route through Nairobi, Mount Kenya, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Kakamega, Kisumu, Masai Mara, Naivasha and Kinangop....

From USD 3,767
14 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Safari
14 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Safari
Uganda / Entebbe Private tour 14 days

Uganda western circuit birding and wildlife photography route with Mabamba, Budongo, Kibale, Semuliki, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mbur...

From USD 4,880
Kiguhu Wetlands Birding Tour with Roger Irakoze
Kiguhu Wetlands Birding Tour with Roger Irakoze
Rwanda / Musanze Private tour 5h

Affordable private wetland birding near northern Rwanda with Roger Irakoze....

From USD 25
Lake Karago and Bihinga Wetlands Birding with Roger Irakoze
Lake Karago and Bihinga Wetlands Birding with Roger Irakoze
Rwanda / Karago Private tour 5h

Relaxed private birding around Lake Karago and nearby Bihinga wetlands for waterbirds and marsh specialties....

From USD 35
Birds of Northern Tanzania Safari with Oluokos Signature
Birds of Northern Tanzania Safari with Oluokos Signature
Tanzania / Arusha Custom tour 7 days

A northern Tanzania birding tour for endemic and regional species across Arusha, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Serengeti-style hab...

From USD 4,600
Bird Watching at Impala Park and Dunga Boardwalk
Bird Watching at Impala Park and Dunga Boardwalk
Kenya / Kisumu Group tour 1 day

A Kisumu day trip combining Impala Park Sanctuary, Lake Victoria waterfront, Dunga Community Boardwalk and papyrus birding....

From USD 436
Kisumu and Lake Victoria Birding Day Trip
Kisumu and Lake Victoria Birding Day Trip
Kenya / Kisumu Group tour 1 day

A Lake Victoria birding day trip from Kisumu focused on papyrus, swamp, lakeshore, farmland and Impala Park birds....

From USD 436
Kenya Bird Watching Safari with Oluokos Signature
Kenya Bird Watching Safari with Oluokos Signature
Kenya / Nairobi Custom tour 14 days

A 14-day Kenya birdwatching safari linking Nairobi, Rift Valley lakes, Kakamega Forest, Western Kenya, Lake Victoria and the Maasai Mara....

From USD 14,229
14-Day Senegal and Gambia Combined Birdwatching Trip with Turaco Birding
14-Day Senegal and Gambia Combined Birdwatching Trip with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / Senegal and The Gambia Private tour 14 days

A combined 14-day Senegambia birdwatching trip linking Turaco Birding routes in The Gambia and Senegal....

10-Day Senegal Birdwatching Trip with Turaco Birding
10-Day Senegal Birdwatching Trip with Turaco Birding
Senegal / Senegal Private tour 10 days

An all-inclusive 10-day Senegal birdwatching trip operated by Turaco Birding from its Senegambia birding program....

10-Day Birdwatching Trip in The Gambia with Turaco Birding
10-Day Birdwatching Trip in The Gambia with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / The Gambia Private tour 10 days

An all-inclusive 10-day Turaco Birding trip through The Gambia for coastal, wetland, river and up-country birding....

Birds and Breakfast at Lamin Lodge with Abuko Birding
Birds and Breakfast at Lamin Lodge with Abuko Birding
The Gambia / Lamin and Abuko Private tour 7h

An early Birds and Breakfast outing with coffee at Lamin Lodge, rice-field birding and Abuko Nature Reserve....

Full-Day Gambia Birdwatching Trips with Turaco Birding
Full-Day Gambia Birdwatching Trips with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / Greater Banjul Coast Private tour 11h

A full-day Turaco Birding option from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM combining coastal forests, wetlands, creeks and woodland sites....

Half-Day Coastal Birdwatching Trips with Turaco Birding
Half-Day Coastal Birdwatching Trips with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / Greater Banjul Coast Private tour 5.5h

A half-day private birdwatching option covering Abuko, Farasutu, Brufut Woods, Pirang/Bonto, Kartong, Kotu Creek or Marakissa....

Tendaba and Basse 4-Day Birding Excursion with Turaco Birding
Tendaba and Basse 4-Day Birding Excursion with Turaco Birding
The Gambia / Tendaba and Basse Private tour 4 days

A four-day Turaco Birding route from the coast toward Tendaba and Basse for river, woodland and up-country birding....

Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls with Birding Ecotours
Southern Africa Birding Expedition: Namibia, Okavango & Victoria Falls with Birding Ecotours
Namibia / Walvis Bay Group tour 18 days

An 18-day birding expedition from Namibia's Atlantic coast through Etosha and the Okavango Panhandle to Victoria Falls, combining desert nea...

From USD 10,206
12 Days Uganda Birding Tour – Bird Watching in Uganda
12 Days Uganda Birding Tour – Bird Watching in Uganda
Uganda / Entebbe Group tour 12 days

This 12-day Uganda Birding Tour is a comprehensive birdwatching safari covering the country’s most important habitats — lowland rainfore...