Limpopo
Kruger
Self-drive
Stays in LimpopoWhere to see
Where to see the Bearded Woodpecker in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Bearded Woodpecker at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Chloropicus namaquus
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Bearded Woodpecker
Hosts have recorded the Bearded Woodpecker at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and iSimangaliso Wetland 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
- Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland · Ithala
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Chloropicus namaquus
Records
463
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Bearded Woodpecker on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Bearded Woodpecker in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Bearded Woodpecker at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ithala Game Reserve. 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 Bearded Woodpecker in South Africa?
The Bearded Woodpecker is most recorded in Mpumalanga (45% of records), Limpopo (33% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (10% of records), based on 463 iNaturalist observations. 21 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Bearded Woodpecker on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Bearded Woodpecker?
The Bearded Woodpecker 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; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Bearded Woodpecker?
The bearded woodpecker (Chloropicus namaquus) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It has a distinctive black and white head and brownish barred body. It is native to tropical central Africa. It has an extremely wide range and is a fairly common species, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Bearded Woodpecker
Every stay on the Bearded Woodpecker page lists the species its host has recorded on or near the property. A record is a sighting, never a promise.
See where to stay