Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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African Olive Pigeon
Columba arquatrix
The African olive pigeon or Rameron pigeon (Columba arquatrix) is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in much of eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape.
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
Records1,121 records
Curve from 1,121 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 Olive Pigeon is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,121 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Olive Pigeon
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
From R 1,155a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
From R 630a night
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
From R 680a night
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Olive Pigeon recorded here
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Greystone Lodge
Dullstroom
From R 1,200a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Olive Pigeon 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 Olive Pigeon
Hosts have recorded the African Olive Pigeon at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Where to base yourself
Western Cape
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Goukamma · De Hoop
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
Species
Columba arquatrix
Records
1,121
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Olive Pigeon on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Olive Pigeon in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Olive Pigeon at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve 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 Olive Pigeon in South Africa?
The African Olive Pigeon is most recorded in Western Cape (52% of records), Gauteng (23% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (10% of records), based on 1,121 iNaturalist observations. 59 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Olive Pigeon on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Olive Pigeon?
The African Olive Pigeon 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. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Olive Pigeon?
The African olive pigeon or Rameron pigeon (Columba arquatrix) is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in much of eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape. Populations also are found in western Angola, southwestern Saudi Arabia and northern Yemen. It is locally common, although sizeable gaps in its distribution occur due to its habitat requirements.