uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
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Cape Vulture
Gyps coprotheresVulnerable
The Cape griffon or Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), also known as Kolbe's vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae.
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
Records1,179 records
Curve from 1,179 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
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Cape Vulture is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,179 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Vulture
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,120 a night
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · African elephant · Cape buffalo
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,000 a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 8,380 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Spotted hyena
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Jaci's Lodge Trust
From R 31,500 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · 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
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Cape Vulture recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to Lessons in Conservation (LiC)
From R 600 a night
Greystone Lodge
Dullstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 1,200 a night
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Cape Vulture Lodge
Hoedspruit
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 4,000 a night
The Whale Trail (De Hoop)
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Cape Vulture recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
From R 6,460 a night
Orpen Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · Delagoa thorn · Knobthorn
From R 1,815 a night
Satara Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · Blue wildebeest · Cheetah
From R 331 a night
Motswedi Camp Site
Mokala National Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · African elephant · Brown hyena
From R 628 a night
Maroela Satellite Camp
Kruger National Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · Delagoa thorn · Knobthorn
From R 390 a night
Tlopi Tented Camp
Marakele National Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · African elephant · Leopard
From R 1,866 a night
Bontle Rest Camp
Marakele National Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome
From R 391 a night
Tamboti Satellite Camp
Kruger National Park
Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · Cheetah · Delagoa thorn
From R 771 a night
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cape Vulture
Hosts have recorded the Cape Vulture at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kruger National Park and De Hoop Nature Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Where to base yourself
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Giants Castle · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalSelf-driveStays in KwaZulu-NatalLimpopo
Kruger · Marakele
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoWestern Cape
De Hoop · Marloth
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeNorth West
Madikwe
North WestStays in North West
Ways to look
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Gyps coprotheres
Records
1,179
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Vulture on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Vulture in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Vulture at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kruger National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Marakele National Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 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 Vulture in South Africa?
The Cape Vulture is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (24% of records), Western Cape (17% of records), Limpopo (15% of records), based on 1,179 iNaturalist observations. 38 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Cape Vulture on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Vulture?
The Cape Vulture 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; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Marakele National Park: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Cape Vulture?
The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Cape Vulture?
The Cape griffon or Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), also known as Kolbe's vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to southern Africa, and is found mainly in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and in some parts of northern Namibia. It nests on cliffs and lays one egg per year. Since 2015, it has been classified as Endangered.