Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution.
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
Records1,046 records
Curve from 1,046 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 Caspian Tern is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,045 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Caspian Tern
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Caspian Tern recorded here
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,990a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,500a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Caspian Tern recorded here
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Fish Eagle Loft
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,340a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Otter's Rest
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,370a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Kabeljou Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Stumpnose Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Blacktail Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mvubu Bush Camp
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,380a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,580a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Lekkerwater
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Caspian Tern 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 Caspian Tern
Hosts have recorded the Caspian Tern at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park 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
Goukamma · Rocherpan · De Hoop
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Tsitsikamma
Eastern CapeSelf-driveStays in Eastern CapeKwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Hydroprogne caspia
Records
1,045
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Caspian Tern on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Caspian Tern in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Caspian Tern at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland 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 Caspian Tern in South Africa?
The Caspian Tern is most recorded in Western Cape (63% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (25% of records), Eastern Cape (5% of records), based on 1,045 iNaturalist observations. 43 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Caspian Tern on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Caspian Tern?
The Caspian Tern 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. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Addo Elephant National Park: 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 Caspian Tern?
The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no accepted subspecies. The genus name is from Ancient Greek hudros, "water", and Latin progne, "swallow". The specific caspia is from Latin and, like the English name, refers to the Caspian Sea.