I have always intended to write about guineafowls, but I was waiting to have reasonable pictures as I find them notoriously difficult to photograph. Like most ground birds, they are always foraging on the move and, in addition, you take the pictures from the car above them and the angle often spoils the shots.

I googled “guineafowls” and learnt that there are six main species. Two, the White-breasted and the Black guineafowls (Agelastes spp.) inhabit West Africa and the Plumed guineafowl (Guttera spp.) live in the humid forests of Central Africa. The remaining three species are found in the areas we have spent part of our lives: East and Southern Africa.

The Helmeted guineafowl (Numida spp.) is the most common of all the species and it inhabits all of Africa. This is the species that people are keeping in their homes all over the world but that still are not completely domesticated as they nest wherever they see fit. They are also the easiest to see while on safari as they are one of the common birds spotted in most wildlife areas. The occur in large flocks and they are predated upon by several carnivores, both birds and mammals.

(Pics by Patricia Ruiz Teixidor)

The Vulturine guineafowls (Acryllium spp.) inhabits Central and East Africa. They are the largest and they also live in flocks. They have strong beaks, and they look truly powerful, particularly when standing erect and they can be aggressive. They look superb with a bunch of long neck feathers striped black, white, and blue. They have red eyes and their head is bare blue and resembles that of a vulture.

We have been fortunate to see them in Kenya, at the north in the Samburu National Park and, more recently in Tsavo West National Park.

The Crested guineafowl (Guttera spp.) is found in East and Southern Africa (and probably other places). We have spotted them in the Chitake area of Mana Pools National Park (Zimbabwe) and near the Maputo Elephant Reserve in Mozambique. They also live in flocks and have a beautiful dark plumage with an interesting head feather arrangement.

This was the species I did not have good pictures of until were visited Punda Maria Rest Camp at the Kruger National Park recently. As usual, Mabel spotted a group resting under some bushes while walking through the camp and she promised to take me there.

We failed to find them and my hope of taking a few pictures of them was dimming when, luckily, on the last day, while walking towards the waterhole viewing platform, we found a group of about a dozen calmly walking through the campsite adjacent to it! I took my chance and managed a few pictures and a video of these.

So, that completed the guineafowl trilogy so I can now focus on other birds!