uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
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African Marsh Harrier
Circus ranivorus
The African marsh harrier (Circus ranivorus) is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier genus Circus.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Records621 records
Curve from 621 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where African Marsh Harrier is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
621 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Marsh Harrier
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Hlosi Game Lodge
Amakhala Game Reserve
From R 4,000a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
From R 1,155a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
From R 300a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
From R 1,460a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,990a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
From R 1,780a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,500a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Marsh Harrier recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Marsh Harrier
Hosts have recorded the African Marsh Harrier at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Where to base yourself
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Phinda · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Western Cape
Goukamma · Rocherpan · Grootvadersbosch
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeEastern Cape
Amakhala
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Species
Circus ranivorus
Records
621
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Marsh Harrier on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Marsh Harrier in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Marsh Harrier at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the African Marsh Harrier in South Africa?
The African Marsh Harrier is most recorded in Western Cape (55% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (23% of records), Eastern Cape (9% of records), based on 621 iNaturalist observations. 50 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Marsh Harrier on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Marsh Harrier?
The African Marsh Harrier is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Marsh Harrier?
The African marsh harrier (Circus ranivorus) is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier genus Circus. It is largely resident in wetland habitats in southern, central and eastern Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan.