Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Common Waxbill
Estrilda astrild
The common waxbill (Estrilda astrild), also known as the St Helena waxbill, is a small passerine bird belonging to the estrildid finch family.
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
Records2,573 records
Curve from 2,573 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 Waxbill is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,573 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Common Waxbill
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Mbizane Escarpment Retreat
Mbombela
From R 3,800a 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 Waxbill 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
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
From R 2,310a 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
Common Waxbill recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Common Waxbill recorded here
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Common Waxbill recorded here
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Common Waxbill recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Common Waxbill recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Common Waxbill recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Common Waxbill recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Common Waxbill recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Common Waxbill recorded here
The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Common Waxbill
Hosts have recorded the Common Waxbill at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park.
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-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Species
Estrilda astrild
Records
2,573
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Common Waxbill on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Common Waxbill in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Common Waxbill at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve 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 Common Waxbill in South Africa?
The Common Waxbill is most recorded in Western Cape (59% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (16% of records), Gauteng (6% of records), based on 2,573 iNaturalist observations. 95 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Common Waxbill on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Common Waxbill?
The Common Waxbill 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; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; 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 Waxbill?
The common waxbill (Estrilda astrild), also known as the St Helena waxbill, is a small passerine bird belonging to the estrildid finch family. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa but has been introduced to many other regions of the world and now has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10,000,000 km2. It is popular and easy to keep in captivity.