Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
10 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (also known as the waterhen and as the swamp chicken) is a bird species in the family Rallidae.
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
Records4,167 records
Curve from 4,167 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 Common Moorhen is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
4,167 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Common Moorhen
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
Common Moorhen 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
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
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
Common Moorhen recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Common Moorhen recorded here
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Common Moorhen recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Common Moorhen recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Common Moorhen recorded here
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Common Moorhen 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
Common Moorhen recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Common Moorhen recorded here
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
Common Moorhen recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
Common Moorhen recorded here
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Common Moorhen recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Common Moorhen
Hosts have recorded the Common Moorhen at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area and Goukamma 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 CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern CapeKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Gallinula chloropus
Records
4,167
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Common Moorhen on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Common Moorhen in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Common Moorhen at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg 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 Common Moorhen in South Africa?
The Common Moorhen is most recorded in Western Cape (62% of records), Gauteng (19% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (8% of records), based on 4,167 iNaturalist observations. 75 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Common Moorhen on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Common Moorhen?
The Common Moorhen 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; 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. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Common Moorhen?
The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (also known as the waterhen and as the swamp chicken) is a bird species in the family Rallidae. It is distributed across many parts of the Old World.