Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
17 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
African Spoonbill
Platalea alba
The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae.
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
Records2,583 records
Curve from 2,583 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 Spoonbill is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,583 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Spoonbill
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
In Toto Retreat
Sedgefield
From R 2,200a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
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
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
African Spoonbill recorded here
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
From R 1,155a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
From R 2,310a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
From R 350a night
African Spoonbill recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Spoonbill recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
African Spoonbill recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
African Spoonbill recorded here
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Spoonbill recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
African Spoonbill recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
African Spoonbill recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Spoonbill recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
African Spoonbill recorded here
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
African Spoonbill 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 Spoonbill
Hosts have recorded the African Spoonbill at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Anysberg Nature 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
Goukamma · Anysberg · Rocherpan
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern CapeKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Platalea alba
Records
2,583
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Spoonbill on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Spoonbill in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Spoonbill at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and De Hoop 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 Spoonbill in South Africa?
The African Spoonbill is most recorded in Western Cape (45% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (17% of records), Mpumalanga (12% of records), based on 2,583 iNaturalist observations. 74 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Spoonbill on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Spoonbill?
The African Spoonbill 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Spoonbill?
The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.