Mafia Island Raptors: Four Species, One 13-Acre Garden
We have never filmed Mafia Island raptors like this before: an African Fish Eagle, mid-meal on a barracuda, perched right above our garden path.
And it is not even the most surprising raptor in this garden.
Four raptors share the 13 acres of Eco Shamba Kilole Lodge, inside the Mafia Island Marine Park. Here they are.
African Fish Eagle: the voice of Africa
Its ringing call is the soundtrack of the African coast. We often see it perched on top of the mangroves along our trail, scanning the water. On this stretch of Mafia Island, it rules the shoreline.
Palm-nut Vulture: the vulture that breaks the stereotype
A striking white-and-black raptor, often seen patrolling the tall palms. It is named for its taste for oil-palm fruit, yet in the shamba it also hunts chicks, small mammals and reptiles.
Yellow-billed Black Kite: master of the thermals
Our resident raptor. Look for the deeply forked tail and the bright yellow bill as it rides the island’s thermals, a constant presence above the canopy.
Lizard Buzzard: the patient one
Small, grey and easy to miss. It sits motionless on a branch, sometimes balanced on one leg, and waits for a lizard to move.
Where to watch Mafia Island Raptors
You don’t need a hide or a guide. They live in the garden, along the mangrove trail and over the palms. Bring binoculars and log what you see on eBird. We publish our own checklists every month, and every sighting adds to the record of the island’s wildlife. Beyond the Mafia Island raptors, there are more than 44 resident species: Meet all our resident birds
Want to see them for yourself?
Six bungalows, 13 acres, four Mafia Island Raptors overhead.
Not ready to decide? Get our free Honest Mafia Island Trip Planner: six pages on whether Mafia suits you, when to go, how to get here, and sample itineraries, including a post-safari stay.