Limpopo
Kruger · Welgevonden
Self-driveGuided drives
Stays in LimpopoWhere to see
Where to see the Pel's Fishing Owl in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Pel's Fishing Owl at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Scotopelia peli
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Pel's Fishing Owl
Hosts have recorded the Pel's Fishing Owl at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Best hours of the day
- Dusk and after dark. Listen for calls; a torch at camp or a night drive works best.
- Daytime. Roosting, well hidden.
Where to base yourself
- Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
Phinda · iSimangaliso Wetland · Ndumo
KwaZulu-NatalGuided drivesStays in KwaZulu-Natal
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
Scotopelia peli
Records
92
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Pel's Fishing Owl on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Pel's Fishing Owl in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Pel's Fishing Owl at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ndumo Game Reserve and Welgevonden Game 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 Pel's Fishing Owl in South Africa?
The Pel's Fishing Owl is most recorded in Limpopo (54% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (33% of records), Mpumalanga (11% of records), based on 92 iNaturalist observations. 23 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Pel's Fishing Owl on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Pel's Fishing Owl?
Sightings of the Pel's Fishing Owl peak from Oct to Nov, based on 92 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the Pel's Fishing Owl?
The Pel's fishing owl (Scotopelia peli) is a large species of owl in the family Strigidae. The species is found in Africa and lives near rivers and lakes. It feeds nocturnally on fish and frogs snatched from the surface of lakes and rivers. The species prefers slow moving rivers with large overhanging trees to roost and forage from. It nests in hollows and the forks of large trees.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Pel's Fishing Owl
Every stay on the Pel's Fishing Owl 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