A safari is about much more than the obvious zebras, giraffes, and elephants. A visit to sub-Saharan Africa will probably also include birds. Lots of birds, from yellow weaver birds crafting their impressive hanging nests to large, majestic eagles gliding high across the sky.

The most colourful of them all is the vibrant Lilac-breasted Roller, sometimes nicknamed the Rainbow Roller. This rainbow-coloured flying wonder is commonly seen in southern and eastern Africa. 

It is strikingly visible with its beautiful lilac breast, the clear blue tail feathers, the turquoise belly, the green crown, and touches of yellow, brown, orange, and white.

A fun fact about these colourful birds is that they are not dimorphic, meaning the male and female look just as stunning as each other, unlike many other species where the male and female can appear very different. 

Lilac-breasted Rollers prefer habitats like open savannas, grasslands, and sparse woodlands, and are known to be fearless little hunters. Unlike many other birds, they often show surprisingly little fear of humans. Their fearlessness is evident in the way they hunt. They sit quietly perched at the top of a tree or on a pole, or maybe on the back of a giraffe, before diving down to catch their prey, which they normally swallow whole.

The Lilac-breasted Roller is a monogamous bird. Its name comes from the dramatic rolling display performed during its mating ritual, where the male climbs high into the sky before diving in an impressive series of acrobatic rolls and swoops to win the female's heart.

It also features in African folklore. In some Zulu traditions, the Lilac-breasted Roller plays a role in wedding preparations. The bird's feathers are used to make bracelets worn in rituals to test whether the soon-to-be-married couple will make a good team.

If you're in Africa on safari, look beyond the giraffes and elephants. Somewhere nearby, a Lilac-breasted Roller is probably perched on a branch - fearless and colourful - waiting to show you that the smaller wonders are just as unforgettable.