Western Cape
Rocherpan · Vrolijkheid · Keurbooms River
Self-driveMalaria-free
Stays in Western CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Little Bittern in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Little Bittern at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park.
Botaurus minutus
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Little Bittern
Hosts have recorded the Little Bittern at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Kruger 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
KwaZulu-Natal
Phinda · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalGuided drivesStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
Species
Botaurus minutus
Records
338
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Little Bittern on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Little Bittern in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Little Bittern at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Keurbooms River Nature Reserve. 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 Little Bittern in South Africa?
The Little Bittern is most recorded in Western Cape (59% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (11% of records), Mpumalanga (11% of records), based on 338 iNaturalist observations. 25 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Little Bittern on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Little Bittern?
Sightings of the Little Bittern peak from Jan to Feb, based on 339 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the Little Bittern?
The little bittern (Botaurus minutus) is a wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. This species was formerly placed in the genus Ixobrychus.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Little Bittern
Every stay on the Little Bittern 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