Western Cape
Table Mountain
Self-driveMalaria-free
Stays in Western CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Lesser Crested Tern in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Lesser Crested Tern at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Thalasseus bengalensis · Least Concern
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Lesser Crested Tern
Hosts have recorded the Lesser Crested Tern at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland 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
KwaZulu-Natal
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
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Thalasseus bengalensis
Records
122
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Lesser Crested Tern on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Lesser Crested Tern in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Lesser Crested Tern at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland 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 Lesser Crested Tern in South Africa?
The Lesser Crested Tern is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (96% of records), based on 122 iNaturalist observations. 5 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Lesser Crested Tern on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Lesser Crested Tern?
Sightings of the Lesser Crested Tern peak from Mar to Apr, based on 122 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the conservation status of the Lesser Crested Tern?
The Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Lesser Crested Tern?
The lesser crested tern (Thalasseus bengalensis) is a tern in the family, Laridae.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Lesser Crested Tern
Every stay on the Lesser Crested Tern 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