Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
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Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaVulnerable
The grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), known as the black-bellied plover in North America, is a medium-sized plover breeding in Arctic regions.
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
Records639 records
Curve from 639 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 Grey Plover is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
639 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Grey Plover
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a 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
Grey Plover recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Grey Plover recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Grey Plover recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Grey Plover recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Fish Eagle Loft
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,340a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Grey Plover recorded here
Otter's Rest
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,370a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Kabeljou Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Singita Lebombo Villa
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Grey Plover recorded here
Stumpnose Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Blacktail Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Grey Plover recorded here
Mvubu Bush Camp
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,380a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,580a night
Grey Plover recorded here
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Grey Plover recorded here
The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Grey Plover
Hosts have recorded the Grey Plover at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Kgalagadi 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
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoWestern Cape
Goukamma · Table Mountain · De Mond
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Tsitsikamma
Eastern CapeSelf-driveStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Pluvialis squatarola
Records
639
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Grey Plover on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Grey Plover in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Grey Plover at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park and Tsitsikamma 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 Grey Plover in South Africa?
The Grey Plover is most recorded in Western Cape (60% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (24% of records), Eastern Cape (14% of records), based on 639 iNaturalist observations. 75 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Grey Plover on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Grey Plover?
The Grey Plover 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; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Grey Plover?
The Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Grey Plover?
The grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), known as the black-bellied plover in North America, is a medium-sized plover breeding in Arctic regions. It is a long-distance migrant, with a nearly worldwide coastal distribution when not breeding. The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from pluvia, "rain". It was believed that golden plovers flocked when rain was imminent.