Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Cape Sparrow
Passer melanurus
The Cape sparrow or mossie (Passer melanurus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae found in southern 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
Records6,961 records
Curve from 6,961 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 Cape Sparrow is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
6,960 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Sparrow
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
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
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
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
From R 350a night
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Frog Mountain Getaway
Swellendam
From R 1,950a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Cape Sparrow 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
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
From R 680a night
Cape Sparrow recorded here
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Cape Sparrow recorded here
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 Cape Sparrow
Hosts have recorded the Cape Sparrow at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Anysberg 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
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Goukamma · Anysberg
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Ways to look
Species
Passer melanurus
Records
6,960
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Sparrow on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Sparrow in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Sparrow at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kwandwe Private 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 Cape Sparrow in South Africa?
The Cape Sparrow is most recorded in Western Cape (55% of records), Gauteng (18% of records), Eastern Cape (12% of records), based on 6,960 iNaturalist observations. 89 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Cape Sparrow on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Sparrow?
The Cape Sparrow 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. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Cape Sparrow?
The Cape sparrow or mossie (Passer melanurus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae found in southern Africa. A medium-sized sparrow at 14-16 centimetres (5.5-6.3 in), it has distinctive plumage, including large pale head stripes in both sexes. Its plumage is mostly coloured grey, brown, and chestnut, and the male has some bold black and white markings on its head and neck.