Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
10 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Black-headed Heron
Ardea melanocephala
The black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
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
Records5,384 records
Curve from 5,384 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-headed Heron is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
5,384 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Black-headed 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
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
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-headed Heron recorded here
Hutwini Walking 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
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
From R 2,310a 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
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
From R 350a night
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
From R 630a night
Black-headed Heron recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Black-headed 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-headed Heron
Hosts have recorded the Black-headed Heron at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Cederberg Wilderness Area.
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
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Goukamma · Rocherpan
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-NatalLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoEastern Cape
Kwandwe · Addo Elephant
Eastern CapeSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Species
Ardea melanocephala
Records
5,384
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Black-headed Heron on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Black-headed Heron in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black-headed Heron at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Rocherpan 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 Black-headed Heron in South Africa?
The Black-headed Heron is most recorded in Western Cape (49% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (17% of records), Eastern Cape (13% of records), based on 5,384 iNaturalist observations. 89 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Black-headed Heron on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Black-headed Heron?
The Black-headed 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; uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Black-headed Heron?
The black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is mainly resident, but some west African birds move further north in the rainy season.