Goliath Heron

Ardea goliath Cretzschmar, 1829

Ardeidae — Herons, Bitterns

Goliath Heron, Ardea goliath, is a heron of the Ardeidae family found across Africa south of the Sahara, with its breeding range also extending into Iran and Iraq and on to India. It is a very large wading bird and the largest living heron. It is strongly tied to water, using lakes, swamps, mangrove wetlands, river deltas and shallow margins, and it also occurs at small watering holes. It usually keeps to pristine wetlands and avoids places with regular human disturbance. Its breeding sites are often on islands or vegetation islands, sometimes in colonies on large bodies of water.

Order
Pelecaniformes
Family
Ardeidae — Herons, Bitterns
Breeding range
Africa, Palearctic: widespread in Africa s of the Sahara, Iran and Iraq to India
Goliath Heron

Tours where you can spot this bird

19 tours in The Gambia 9, Kenya 5, Uganda 2, Senegal 1, Tanzania 1, Namibia 1

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-...

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
Uganda Budget Birding tour
Uganda Budget Birding tour
Uganda / Kampala Group tour 6 days

A six-day Uganda budget birding concept spanning rainforest, wetland, savanna and highland habitats, with the detailed daily route available...

17 Days Tanzania Birding Tour
17 Days Tanzania Birding Tour
Tanzania / Arusha Group tour 17 days

A 17-day Southern Tanzania birding and wildlife route linking Dar es Salaam, Saadani, Mikumi, Ruaha, Udzungwa, Kilombero and Nyerere....

20 Days Kenya Birding Tour
20 Days Kenya Birding Tour
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 20 days

A 20-day comprehensive Kenya birding circuit from Nairobi and Maasai Mara through Rift Valley lakes, western forest, northern reserves, Tsav...

6 Days Kenya Budget Birding
6 Days Kenya Budget Birding
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 6 days

A six-day private budget birding circuit linking Nairobi National Park, Manguo, Gatamaiyu, Lake Elementeita and two days around Lake Baringo...

Saiwa National Park
Saiwa National Park
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private walking birding day in Saiwa Swamp National Park, using forest trails, a raised boardwalk and observation hides for wetland birds ...

Nairobi National Park Birding
Nairobi National Park Birding
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A full birding day in Nairobi National Park, moving through grassland, riverine forest and wetlands only a short drive from the city center....

Lake Baringo
Lake Baringo
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private Rift Valley birding day at Lake Baringo, combining lakeshore and dry-country habitats during the cooler morning and late-afternoon...

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
7 Day Classic Nature Adventure Birding - Gambia
7 Day Classic Nature Adventure Birding - Gambia
The Gambia Group tour 7 days

Discover the rich birdlife of The Gambia on a week-long journey through wetlands, savannahs, mangroves, forests, and rivers. Guided by exper...

From EUR 550
5 Day Gambia birdwatching Tour
5 Day Gambia birdwatching Tour
The Gambia / Coastal Gambia Group tour 5 days

Experience the highlights of West Africa’s birdlife with a 5-day Gambia birdwatching tour – perfect for nature enthusiasts and avid bird...

From EUR 450