Western Cape
Anysberg · De Hoop · Grootvadersbosch
Self-driveMalaria-free
Stays in Western CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Hamerkop in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Hamerkop at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Scopus umbretta
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Hamerkop
Hosts have recorded the Hamerkop at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Anysberg 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
Limpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Eastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Scopus umbretta
Records
2,465
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Hamerkop on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Hamerkop in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Hamerkop at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Vrolijkheid Nature 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 Hamerkop in South Africa?
The Hamerkop is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (26% of records), Mpumalanga (25% of records), Limpopo (19% of records), based on 2,465 iNaturalist observations. 61 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Hamerkop on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Hamerkop?
The Hamerkop 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; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Hamerkop?
The hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), is a medium-sized wading bird. It is the only living species in the genus Scopus and the family Scopidae. The shape of its head with a long bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, which has given this species its name.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Hamerkop
Every stay on the Hamerkop 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