Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Great Sparrow
Passer motitensis
The great sparrow, also known as the southern rufous sparrow or the rufous sparrow (Passer motitensis) is found in southern Africa in dry, wooded savannah and towns.
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
Records101 records
Curve from 101 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
North West and beyond
Provinces where Great Sparrow is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
101 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Great Sparrow
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Great Sparrow recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Great Sparrow recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Great Sparrow recorded here
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Great Sparrow recorded here
Sendelingsdrif Rest Camp
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 311a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Orpen Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 1,815a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Singita Lebombo Villa
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Great Sparrow recorded here
Mata-Mata Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Great Sparrow recorded here
Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 390a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Great Sparrow recorded here
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Great Sparrow recorded here
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 Great Sparrow
Hosts have recorded the Great Sparrow at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier 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 · Mapungubwe
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Passer motitensis
Records
101
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Great Sparrow on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Great Sparrow in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Great Sparrow at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park and Mapungubwe 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 Great Sparrow in South Africa?
The Great Sparrow is most recorded in North West (50% of records), Limpopo (32% of records), Northern Cape (10% of records), based on 101 iNaturalist observations. 57 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Great Sparrow on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Great Sparrow?
The Great Sparrow 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; Mapungubwe National Park: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Great Sparrow?
The Great Sparrow (Passer motitensis) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Great Sparrow?
The great sparrow, also known as the southern rufous sparrow or the rufous sparrow (Passer motitensis) is found in southern Africa in dry, wooded savannah and towns.