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Common Ostrich
Showing stays that recordCommon Ostrich50+ stays list it on site or nearby
Species insights

Parks where hosts record the Common Ostrich

Stays that give back

Across South Africa

Common Ostrich recorded here

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Reliably seen · Birder friendly

De Hoop Collection

Common Ostrich recorded here

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Common Ostrich recorded here

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Common Ostrich recorded here

Hlosi Game Lodge

Common Ostrich recorded here

Marloth Nature Reserve

Common Ostrich recorded here

Kwandwe Fort House

Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air

See places that give back
The Drakensberg

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Common Ostrich

Hosts have recorded the Common Ostrich at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

How and when to see the Common Ostrich

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

  • Self-driveGuided drivesMalaria-free
    Stays in Western Cape
    Western Cape
  • Self-driveGuided drives
    Stays in Limpopo
    Limpopo
  • Guided drivesMalaria-free
    Stays in Eastern Cape
    Eastern Cape
  • Self-driveMalaria-free
    Stays in Northern Cape
    Northern Cape

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Species

Struthio camelus

Records

5,139

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Common Ostrich on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Common Ostrich in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Common Ostrich at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and De Hoop 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 Ostrich in South Africa?

The Common Ostrich is most recorded in Western Cape (49% of records), Gauteng (12% of records), Eastern Cape (10% of records), based on 5,139 iNaturalist observations. 70 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Common Ostrich on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Common Ostrich?

The Common Ostrich 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; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Common Ostrich?

The ostrich or common ostrich (Struthio camelus) is either one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member(s) of the genus Struthio, which is in the ratite family. In 2014, the Somali ostrich was recognized as a distinct species.