Limpopo
Kruger
Self-drive
Stays in LimpopoWhere to see
Where to see the European Nightjar in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the European Nightjar at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Caprimulgus europaeus
Planning a trip
When and where to find the European Nightjar
Hosts have recorded the European Nightjar at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Best hours of the day
- Dusk and after dark. Listen for calls; a torch at camp or a night drive works best.
- Daytime. Roosting, well hidden.
Where to base yourself
- Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Caprimulgus europaeus
Records
188
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the European Nightjar on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the European Nightjar in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the European Nightjar at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland 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 European Nightjar in South Africa?
The European Nightjar is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (39% of records), Limpopo (26% of records), Mpumalanga (17% of records), based on 188 iNaturalist observations. 10 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the European Nightjar on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the European Nightjar?
Sightings of the European Nightjar peak from Nov to Mar, based on 188 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the European Nightjar?
The European nightjar, Eurasian nightjar or just nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is a crepuscular and nocturnal bird in the nightjar family that breeds across most of Europe and temperate Asia. The Latin generic name refers to the old myth that the nocturnal nightjar suckled goats, causing them to cease to give milk.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the European Nightjar
Every stay on the European Nightjar page lists the species its host has recorded on or near the property. A record is a sighting, never a promise.
See where to stay