Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
25 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Martial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosusEndangered
The martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa.
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
Records2,095 records
Curve from 2,095 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
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Martial Eagle is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,094 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Martial Eagle
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Martial Eagle recorded here
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Martial Eagle recorded here
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Martial Eagle recorded here
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
From R 31,500a night
Martial Eagle recorded here
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
From R 1,155a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Martial Eagle recorded here
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
From R 5,990a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Maninghi Lodge
Welgevonden Game Reserve
Price on request
Martial Eagle recorded here
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Martial Eagle recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Martial Eagle recorded here
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
From R 28,990a night
Martial Eagle recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Martial Eagle recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Martial Eagle recorded here
Singita Ebony Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Price on request
Martial Eagle recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Martial Eagle
Hosts have recorded the Martial Eagle at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Timbavati
LimpopoSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Western Cape
Gamkaberg · De Hoop · Grootvadersbosch
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeMpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaGuided drivesStays in Mpumalanga
Ways to look
IUCN Red List
Endangered
Species
Polemaetus bellicosus
Records
2,094
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Martial Eagle on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Martial Eagle in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Martial Eagle at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and De Hoop Nature Reserve 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 Martial Eagle in South Africa?
The Martial Eagle is most recorded in Mpumalanga (38% of records), Limpopo (23% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (15% of records), based on 2,094 iNaturalist observations. 88 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Martial Eagle on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Martial Eagle?
The Martial Eagle 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Martial Eagle?
The Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Martial Eagle?
The martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only member of the genus Polemaetus. A species of the booted eagle subfamily (Aquillinae), it has feathering over its tarsus. One of the largest and most powerful species of booted eagle, it is a fairly opportunistic predator that varies its prey selection between mammals, birds and reptiles.