uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
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Forest Canary
Crithagra scotops
The forest canary (Crithagra scotops) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.
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
Records1,068 records
Curve from 1,068 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 Forest Canary is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,068 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Forest Canary
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,550 a night
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Mbizane Escarpment Retreat
Mbombela
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,800 a night
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Outeniqua yellowwood
Gives back to Revive Knysna
From R 2,310 a night
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 220 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Fish Eagle Loft
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,340 a night
Otter's Rest
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,370 a night
Kabeljou Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Stumpnose Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Blacktail Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Mvubu Bush Camp
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Forest Canary recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,380 a night
The Klein Karoo
Next stop
Dry mountains, ostriches, and Calitzdorp's port wines
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Forest Canary
Hosts have recorded the Forest Canary at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
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
Goukamma · Grootvadersbosch · Garden Route
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeKwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Giants Castle · Kamberg
KwaZulu-NatalSelf-driveStays in KwaZulu-NatalEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided 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
Species
Crithagra scotops
Records
1,068
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Forest Canary on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Forest Canary in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Forest Canary at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park and Giants Castle 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 Forest Canary in South Africa?
The Forest Canary is most recorded in Western Cape (85% of records), Eastern Cape (7% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (7% of records), based on 1,068 iNaturalist observations. 40 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Forest Canary on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Forest Canary?
The Forest Canary 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Forest Canary?
The forest canary (Crithagra scotops) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in South Africa and Swaziland. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.