Western Cape
Goukamma · Grootvadersbosch · Garden Route
Self-driveMalaria-free
Stays in Western CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Forest Canary in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Forest Canary at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Crithagra scotops
Planning 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
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Giants Castle · Kamberg
KwaZulu-NatalSelf-driveStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern 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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Forest Canary
Every stay on the Forest Canary 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