Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Lemon Dove
Aplopelia larvata
The lemon dove or cinnamon dove is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae found in montane forests of sub-Saharan Africa.
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
Records512 records
Curve from 512 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 Lemon Dove is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
512 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Lemon Dove
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Verkijken Cottage
Haenertsburg
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Tomjachu Bush Retreat
Mbombela
From R 3,300a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Cussonia Cottage
Haenertsburg
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Zvakanaka Farm
Louis Trichardt
From R 650a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Lemon Dove recorded here
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
From R 300a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
From R 1,460a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
From R 1,780a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Fish Eagle Loft
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,340a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Otter's Rest
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,370a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Kabeljou Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Stumpnose Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Blacktail Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Mvubu Bush Camp
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,380a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,580a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Buffalo Valley River Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,580a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Buffalo Valley Forest Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
From R 1,410a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
Katrinasrust Country Estate
Dullstroom
From R 2,200a night
Lemon Dove recorded here
More stays nearby
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus
From R 2,235a night
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam
From R 4,355a night
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 Lemon Dove
Hosts have recorded the Lemon Dove at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Garden Route National 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
Western Cape
Goukamma · Grootvadersbosch · Garden Route
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
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
Aplopelia larvata
Records
512
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Lemon Dove on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Lemon Dove in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Lemon Dove at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Robberg 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 Lemon Dove in South Africa?
The Lemon Dove is most recorded in Western Cape (69% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (20% of records), Eastern Cape (6% of records), based on 512 iNaturalist observations. 22 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Lemon Dove on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Lemon Dove?
The Lemon Dove 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. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Garden Route National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Lemon Dove?
The lemon dove or cinnamon dove is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae found in montane forests of sub-Saharan Africa. The São Tomé lemon dove is usually treated as a subspecies. The lemon dove has a generally brownish-grey plumage with a cinnamon brown breast.