uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Blue Crane
Grus paradiseusVulnerable
The blue crane, also known as the Stanley crane and the paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa.
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
Records3,264 records
Curve from 3,264 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 Blue Crane is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,264 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Blue Crane
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Oceans Away
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 34,972 a night
Swallows Rest
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale · Caracal
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 29,981 a night
Frog Mountain Getaway
Swellendam
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Boomslang · Bushbuck
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust and 1 other
From R 1,950 a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay
Blue Crane recorded here · Forest biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,250 a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Blue Crane recorded here · Angulate tortoise · Wild olive
Price on request
Plumbago Cottage - Stanford Country Cottages
Stanford
Blue Crane recorded here · Fynbos biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,850 a night
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 1,155 a night
Coot Club
Stanford
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · White milkwood · Southern right whale
Price on request
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,985 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Lagoon Ocean Lodge
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 24,990 a night
Vine & Vale
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 34,972 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Lavender Dreams
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 24,990 a night
Azure Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,492 a night
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Blue Crane recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Milk & Honey
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,492 a night
Tidesong
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 34,972 a night
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Blue Crane recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Oceanique
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 24,990 a night
Sea Whisper
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,492 a night
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Blue Crane recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
The Whale Coast
Next stop
Southern right whales, sea cliffs, and Hermanus's harbour town
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Blue Crane
Hosts have recorded the Blue Crane at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Rocherpan 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
Rocherpan · De Hoop · Grootvadersbosch
Western CapeSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeKwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Giants Castle
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-NatalEastern Cape
Kwandwe · Addo Elephant
Eastern CapeSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Limpopo
Welgevonden
LimpopoGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Grus paradiseus
Records
3,264
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Blue Crane on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Blue Crane in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Blue Crane at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Vrolijkheid 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 Blue Crane in South Africa?
The Blue Crane is most recorded in Western Cape (71% of records), Eastern Cape (12% of records), Northern Cape (5% of records), based on 3,264 iNaturalist observations. 83 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Blue Crane on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Blue Crane?
The Blue Crane 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Blue Crane?
The Blue Crane (Grus paradiseus) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Blue Crane?
The blue crane, also known as the Stanley crane and the paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.