Addo Elephant National Park
Eastern Cape · Year-round
5 places
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Antarctic Tern
Sterna vittata
The Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) is a typical tern.
Species insights
When to visit
Most records Jun to Sep
When Antarctic Tern sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Best monthsJun to Sep
Records78 records
Curve from 78 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 Antarctic Tern is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
78 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Antarctic Tern
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 965a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Slangkop Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 770a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,859a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 457a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,093a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 1,490a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Nyathi Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,901a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
West Coast National Park
West Coast National Park
From R 1,646a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Nature’s Valley Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 294a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Matyholweni Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,426a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
Addo Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 461a night
Antarctic Tern recorded here
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
From R 26,450a night
Birder friendly
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
From R 5,400a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Birder friendly
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Birder friendly
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Birder friendly
The Klein Karoo
Next stop
Dry mountains, ostriches, and Calitzdorp's port wines
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Antarctic Tern
Hosts have recorded the Antarctic Tern at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park and Tsitsikamma National Park.
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
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Tsitsikamma
Eastern CapeSelf-driveStays in Eastern CapeWestern Cape
Table Mountain · Garden Route · West Coast
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Sterna vittata
Records
78
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Antarctic Tern on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Antarctic Tern in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Antarctic Tern at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Garden Route National Park and West Coast National Park. 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 Antarctic Tern in South Africa?
The Antarctic Tern is most recorded in Western Cape (94% of records), Eastern Cape (6% of records), based on 78 iNaturalist observations. 13 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Antarctic Tern on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Antarctic Tern?
Sightings of the Antarctic Tern peak from Jun to Sep, based on 78 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the conservation status of the Antarctic Tern?
The Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Antarctic Tern?
The Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) is a typical tern. It ranges throughout the southern oceans. It is very similar in appearance to the closely related Arctic tern, but is stockier, and the wing tips are grey instead of blackish in flight.