Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
8 places
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Dark-capped Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
The common bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds.
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
Records5,416 records
Curve from 5,416 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
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Dark-capped Bulbul is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
5,416 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Dark-capped Bulbul
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
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a 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
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Remote Corner
Parkview, Johannesburg
From R 850a night
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Dark-capped Bulbul 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
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Greystone Lodge
Dullstroom
From R 1,200a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Dark-capped Bulbul recorded here
Birdsong Cottage
Howick
From R 795a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Tomjachu Bush Retreat
Mbombela
From R 3,300a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Dark-capped Bulbul 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 Dark-capped Bulbul
Hosts have recorded the Dark-capped Bulbul at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland 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 · Marakele
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Pycnonotus barbatus
Records
5,416
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Dark-capped Bulbul on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Dark-capped Bulbul in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Dark-capped Bulbul at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Marakele National Park. 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 Dark-capped Bulbul in South Africa?
The Dark-capped Bulbul is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (35% of records), Gauteng (27% of records), Mpumalanga (16% of records), based on 5,416 iNaturalist observations. 30 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Dark-capped Bulbul on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Dark-capped Bulbul?
The Dark-capped Bulbul 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; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Dark-capped Bulbul?
The common bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in north-eastern, northern, western and central Africa.