A World of Wings

NEW for 2012 - Hiking with Hornbills

A World of Wings are the pioneers of this amazing experience.

Hiking with Hornbills is a chance to literally walk with dinosaurs. You will learn the ways of these prehistoric birds as they walk beside you and fly overhead on an expedition of fun and frolics. Guided by the birds Trainer you will venture into the forests and climb hills with these birds, witnessing their curious ways.

An Experience you will be sure never to forget!

What to Expect - You will be greeted by one of our bird trainers, they will be your guide for the duration of the three hour experience. Climbing aboard our 4x4 you will venture into the forest. After arriving at the Camp you will be briefed on the daily expedition with our Hornbills. You will be then introduced to Nando & Zumba – our precious Southern Ground Hornbills. Their playful ways will be quickly noticed as you will get to know each other before setting off into the countryside with them. The surroundings of nature and the company of Nando & Zumba will make you feel a thousand miles from home. Along the way you will encounter them flying from the trees gliding down with their parachute shaped wings, spanning five feet across! The trek will take us back to the camp, where the Hornbills will rest with us and refreshments will be waiting for you.

Hiking with Hornbills takes place at various locations throughout the
South East of England - Contact us to find out where is nearest to you.


Hiking with Hornbills watch the video

Supporting Conservation -During your experience you will be alerted to the problems that Ground Hornbills face in South Africa and a donation will be made by A World of Wings for every participant that walk with Nando & Zumba to the Mabula Ground Hornbill Conservation Project. This Donation will help the Southern Ground Hornbill to return to areas in the Wild where it has become extinct.

*The Trainers at A World of Wings are qualified professionals, and be assured our animals are kept to the best possible standards and are treated with the upmost respect.

*All of our Birds are part of captive breeding programmes and are flown free until they are the appropriate ages to breed, then they will be given time to raise their own family

Find out more - Read why Nando & Zumba are such special birds..........
The Southern Ground Hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri, is the largest of the 58 Hornbill species distributed mainly in Asia, India and Africa. Southern Ground Hornbills are charismatic birds, easily identifiable by their appearance and signature call. Unfortunately, less than 1500 Ground Hornbills are left in South Africa. The species is classified as vulnerable in the wild.

Ground Hornbills live in family groups of between two and eleven birds, comprising a dominant alpha breeding pair, a variable number of juveniles and adult male helpers. The species’ vulnerability is increased due to this social structure, and by the fact that only one out of two or three chicks can fledge. Ground Hornbills are extremely long-lived birds. The dominant pair only breeds on average every 2. 5 years and successful fledglings only occur on average every 9 years.

The stronghold for the species is primarily within formal conservation areas. With territories of over 100 km2, the birds forage over wide areas, but cannot survive and breed in areas without suitable natural holes in either trees or rock faces.Disturbance at cliff sites and the removal of large trees, pose a threat to the survival of these birds. Other threats include deforestation, poisoning and the use of the species in local cultural practices, like rain-making. Another threat is direct persecution as a result of their habit of attacking their reflection in windows that can cause property damage.Ground Hornbills are large, conspicuous, turkey-sized birds with black plumage and very characteristic red facial skin.

The Southern Ground Hornbill is a long-lived bird, and is the largest co-operative breeding bird in the world (and as such, is of great interest to science and scientists)Groups can either consist of a single breeding pair or a large group with a dominant breeding pair and helpers of various ages.

Sexes look alike, but once they are fully mature, the males have fully red facial skin, while the female has a patch of violet blue below the bill, which in some cases can cover most of the lower parts of the facial skin.

A Southern ground hornbill can live up to 50 or even 60 years.A juvenile has beige facial skin up to about two years old. The skin then becomes mottled with red and blue spots. The facial skin will be entirely colored at about fouryears old.

They are strong flyers but are seldom seen as they fly low, and quite noisily, through the trees. They do not soar like other large birds.Southern ground hornbills occur throughout the African savannas south of the Equator, in a continuous swathe from the East coast of South Africa through Zimbabwe, and across to Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania.