Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
8 places
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Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Campethera abingoni
The golden-tailed woodpecker (Campethera abingoni) is a species of bird in the family Picidae.
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
Records1,015 records
Curve from 1,015 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 Golden-tailed Woodpecker is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,015 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Golden-tailed Woodpecker
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
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,120 a night
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 8,380 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Spotted hyena
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Mbizane Escarpment Retreat
Mbombela
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,800 a night
Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris
Mpumalanga
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Aardvark · African elephant
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 10,670 a night
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,400 a night
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Impala · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 11,980 a night
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,500 a night
Makulu Birders Cottage at Wilds Uitvlugt
Rust de Winter
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Chacma baboon · Vervet monkey
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,550 a night
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to Lessons in Conservation (LiC)
From R 600 a night
Birdsong Cottage
Howick
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Vervet monkey
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 795 a night
Tomjachu Bush Retreat
Mbombela
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Giraffe · Plains zebra
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,300 a night
Zvakanaka Farm
Louis Trichardt
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 650 a night
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 2,634 a night
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Camel thorn
From R 2,634 a night
Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Camel thorn · Gemsbok
From R 2,634 a night
Gharagab Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Golden-tailed Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Giraffe
From R 2,634 a night
Kruger Lowveld
Next stop
Bushveld game country and the southern gates of the Kruger
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Hosts have recorded the Golden-tailed Woodpecker at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 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
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoNorthern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Campethera abingoni
Records
1,015
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Golden-tailed Woodpecker on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Golden-tailed Woodpecker in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Golden-tailed Woodpecker at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 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 Golden-tailed Woodpecker in South Africa?
The Golden-tailed Woodpecker is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (45% of records), Limpopo (20% of records), Mpumalanga (18% of records), based on 1,015 iNaturalist observations. 26 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Golden-tailed Woodpecker on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Golden-tailed Woodpecker?
The Golden-tailed Woodpecker 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; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Golden-tailed Woodpecker?
The golden-tailed woodpecker (Campethera abingoni) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. Its specific name commemorates the 5th Earl of Abingdon. It belongs to a species complex that includes the Knysna woodpecker to the south of its range, and the mostly allopatric Mombasa woodpecker to the northeast, with which it perhaps hybridizes.