Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
8 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia (where it is replaced by the closely related rufous night heron, with which it has hybridized in the area of contact).
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
Records1,012 records
Curve from 1,012 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 Black-crowned Night Heron is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,012 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Black-crowned Night Heron
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
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
From R 1,155a 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
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
Karoo Secret Farm Stay
Aberdeen
From R 1,200a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Black-crowned Night Heron recorded here
The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Black-crowned Night Heron
Hosts have recorded the Black-crowned Night Heron at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Dusk and after dark. Listen for calls; a torch at camp or a night drive works best.
- Daytime. Roosting, well hidden.
Where to base yourself
Western Cape
Rocherpan · De Hoop · Gondwana
Western CapeSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
Phinda · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalGuided drivesStays in KwaZulu-NatalEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Species
Nycticorax nycticorax
Records
1,012
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Black-crowned Night Heron on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Black-crowned Night Heron in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black-crowned Night Heron at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Gondwana Game 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 Black-crowned Night Heron in South Africa?
The Black-crowned Night Heron is most recorded in Western Cape (58% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (11% of records), Mpumalanga (9% of records), based on 1,012 iNaturalist observations. 44 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Black-crowned Night Heron on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Black-crowned Night Heron?
The Black-crowned Night Heron 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; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Black-crowned Night Heron?
The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia (where it is replaced by the closely related rufous night heron, with which it has hybridized in the area of contact).