Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
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Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaVulnerable
The curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is a small wader that breeds on the tundra of Arctic Siberia.
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
Records717 records
Curve from 717 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 Curlew Sandpiper is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
717 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Curlew Sandpiper
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Heritage View Birding Retreat
Delareyville
From R 1,000a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a 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
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,590a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,730a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,990a night
Curlew Sandpiper recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Curlew Sandpiper
Hosts have recorded the Curlew Sandpiper at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Addo Elephant 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
Limpopo
Kruger · Mapungubwe
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Tankwa Karoo
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern Cape
Western Cape
Rocherpan · Table Mountain · De Hoop
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Kwandwe
Eastern CapeSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Calidris ferruginea
Records
717
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Curlew Sandpiper on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Curlew Sandpiper in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Curlew Sandpiper at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Addo Elephant National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Table Mountain National 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 Curlew Sandpiper in South Africa?
The Curlew Sandpiper is most recorded in Western Cape (73% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (16% of records), Eastern Cape (6% of records), based on 717 iNaturalist observations. 98 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Curlew Sandpiper on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Curlew Sandpiper?
The Curlew Sandpiper 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; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; 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 conservation status of the Curlew Sandpiper?
The Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Curlew Sandpiper?
The curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is a small wader that breeds on the tundra of Arctic Siberia. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific ferruginea is from Latin ferrugo, ferruginis, "iron rust" referring to its colour in breeding plumage.