Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Northern Cape · Best Aug to Oct
9 places
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Ludwig's Bustard
Neotis ludwigiiEndangered
The Ludwig's bustard (Neotis ludwigii) is a species of bird in the bustard family, and named after Baron von Ludwig.
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
Records444 records
Curve from 444 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
Northern Cape and beyond
Provinces where Ludwig's Bustard is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
444 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Ludwig's Bustard
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Karoo Secret Farm Stay
Aberdeen
From R 1,200a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping
Nieu Bethesda
From R 1,760a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,990a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,500a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Tapfontein
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 250a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Anysberg Campsites
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 250a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Chameleon Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,520a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Leguaan Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,520a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Gecko Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,060a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Seps Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 930a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Agama Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,340a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Sendelingsdrif Rest Camp
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
From R 311a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Mountain Zebra National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park
From R 449a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
Mata-Mata Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Ludwig's Bustard recorded here
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 Ludwig's Bustard
Hosts have recorded the Ludwig's Bustard at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve and Addo Elephant 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
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld · Tankwa Karoo
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern CapeWestern Cape
Anysberg · Rocherpan · Karoo
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Kwandwe · Camdeboo
Eastern CapeSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
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
IUCN Red List
Endangered
Species
Neotis ludwigii
Records
444
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Ludwig's Bustard on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Ludwig's Bustard in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Ludwig's Bustard at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park 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 Ludwig's Bustard in South Africa?
The Ludwig's Bustard is most recorded in Northern Cape (44% of records), Western Cape (28% of records), Eastern Cape (26% of records), based on 444 iNaturalist observations. 45 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Ludwig's Bustard on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Ludwig's Bustard?
The Ludwig's Bustard 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. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Ludwig's Bustard?
The Ludwig's Bustard (Neotis ludwigii) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Ludwig's Bustard?
The Ludwig's bustard (Neotis ludwigii) is a species of bird in the bustard family, and named after Baron von Ludwig. It is a medium-to-large sized species. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. Its habitats include semi-arid grasslands.