Addo Elephant National Park
Eastern Cape · Year-round
5 places
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Little Tern
Sternula albifrons
The little tern (Sternula albifrons) is a seabird of the family, Laridae.
Species insights
When to visit
Most records Nov to Mar
When Little Tern sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Best monthsNov to Mar
Records155 records
Curve from 155 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
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Little Tern is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
155 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Little Tern
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Damara Trail (De Mond)
De Mond Nature Reserve
From R 3,690a night
Little Tern recorded here
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 457a night
Little Tern recorded here
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,093a night
Little Tern recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
Little Tern recorded here
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 1,490a night
Little Tern recorded here
Nyathi Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,901a night
Little Tern recorded here
West Coast National Park
West Coast National Park
From R 1,646a night
Little Tern recorded here
Nature’s Valley Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 294a night
Little Tern recorded here
Matyholweni Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,426a night
Little Tern recorded here
Addo Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 461a night
Little Tern recorded here
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
From R 26,450a night
Birder friendly
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
From R 5,400a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Birder friendly
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Birder friendly
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Birder friendly
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Little Tern
Hosts have recorded the Little Tern at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park and De Mond Nature 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
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Tsitsikamma
Eastern CapeSelf-driveStays in Eastern CapeWestern Cape
De Mond · Garden Route · West Coast
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeKwaZulu-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
Sternula albifrons
Records
155
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Little Tern on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Little Tern in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Little Tern at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, De Mond Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and West Coast National 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 Little Tern in South Africa?
The Little Tern is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (68% of records), Western Cape (18% of records), Eastern Cape (14% of records), based on 155 iNaturalist observations. 11 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Little Tern on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Little Tern?
Sightings of the Little Tern peak from Nov to Mar, based on 155 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the conservation status of the Little Tern?
The Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Little Tern?
The little tern (Sternula albifrons) is a seabird of the family, Laridae. It was formerly placed into the genus Sterna, which now is restricted to the large white terns. The genus name is a diminutive of Sterna, "tern". The specific albifrons is from Latin albus, "white", and "frons", forehead.