Addo Elephant National Park
Eastern Cape · Year-round
5 places
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Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNear threatened
The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) is a large wader in the family Scolopacidae.
Species insights
When to visit
Most records Oct to Dec
When Bar-tailed Godwit sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Best monthsOct to Dec
Records224 records
Curve from 224 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 Bar-tailed Godwit is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
224 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Bar-tailed Godwit
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Damara Trail (De Mond)
De Mond Nature Reserve
From R 3,690a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 965a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Slangkop Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 770a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,859a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,093a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 1,490a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Nyathi Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,901a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
West Coast National Park
West Coast National Park
From R 1,646a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Matyholweni Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,426a night
Bar-tailed Godwit recorded here
Addo Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 461a night
Bar-tailed Godwit 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 Bar-tailed Godwit
Hosts have recorded the Bar-tailed Godwit at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park and De Mond 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
Table Mountain · De Mond · Keurbooms River
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeEastern Cape
Addo Elephant
Eastern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Eastern CapeKwaZulu-Natal
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
IUCN Red List
Near Threatened
Species
Limosa lapponica
Records
224
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Bar-tailed Godwit on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Bar-tailed Godwit in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Bar-tailed Godwit at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park, De Mond Nature Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Keurbooms River Nature Reserve 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 Bar-tailed Godwit in South Africa?
The Bar-tailed Godwit is most recorded in Western Cape (60% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (24% of records), Eastern Cape (15% of records), based on 224 iNaturalist observations. 13 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Bar-tailed Godwit on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Bar-tailed Godwit?
Sightings of the Bar-tailed Godwit peak from Oct to Dec, based on 224 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the conservation status of the Bar-tailed Godwit?
The Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Bar-tailed Godwit?
The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) is a large wader in the family Scolopacidae. The genus name Limosa is from Latin and means "muddy", from limus, "mud". The specific lapponica refers to Lapland. The English term "godwit" was first recorded in about 1416-7 and is believed to imitate the bird's call.