Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Tsitsikamma
Self-drive
Stays in Eastern CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Little Tern in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Little Tern at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park and De Mond Nature Reserve.
Sternula albifrons · Least Concern
Planning 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
Western Cape
De Mond · Garden Route · West Coast
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in 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
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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Little Tern
Every stay on the Little 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