uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Greater Kestrel
Falco rupicoloides
The greater kestrel or white-eyed kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae.
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
Records390 records
Curve from 390 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
Northern Cape and beyond
Provinces where Greater Kestrel is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
390 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Greater Kestrel
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping
Nieu Bethesda
From R 1,760a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Karoo Secret Farm Stay
Aberdeen
From R 1,200a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 965a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Slangkop Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 770a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,859a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Sendelingsdrif Rest Camp
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 311a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Mountain Zebra National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park
From R 449a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Mata-Mata Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,093a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 1,490a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Kokerboomkloof Camp Site
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 311a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Golden Gate Hotel And Chalets
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
From R 1,741a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Skilpad Rest Camp
Namaqua National Park
From R 953a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Nyathi Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,901a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Glen Reenen Rest Camp
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
From R 339a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
Tankwa Karoo Rest Camp
Tankwa Karoo National Park
From R 192a night
Greater Kestrel recorded here
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 Greater Kestrel
Hosts have recorded the Greater Kestrel at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Addo Elephant National Park.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Where to base yourself
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Tankwa Karoo
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern CapeKwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Giants Castle · Kamberg
KwaZulu-NatalSelf-driveStays in KwaZulu-NatalEastern Cape
Addo Elephant
Eastern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Eastern CapeWestern Cape
Table Mountain · Karoo
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Falco rupicoloides
Records
390
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Greater Kestrel on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Greater Kestrel in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Greater Kestrel at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park and Golden Gate Highlands National Park 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 Greater Kestrel in South Africa?
The Greater Kestrel is most recorded in Northern Cape (54% of records), Western Cape (10% of records), North West (9% of records), based on 390 iNaturalist observations. 48 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Greater Kestrel on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Greater Kestrel?
The Greater Kestrel 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; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Table Mountain National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Greater Kestrel?
The greater kestrel or white-eyed kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is one of the largest kestrels and is found in open country in southern and eastern Africa.