Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
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Pink-backed Pelican
Pelecanus rufescens
The pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) is a bird of the pelican family.
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
Records434 records
Curve from 434 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 Pink-backed Pelican is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
434 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Pink-backed Pelican
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
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
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Orpen Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 1,815a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Mata-Mata Rest Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 450a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 390a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Singita Lebombo Villa
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Tsendze Rustic Camp Site
Kruger National Park
From R 379a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Satara Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 331a night
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Pink-backed Pelican recorded here
Kruger Lowveld
Next stop
Bushveld game country and the southern gates of the Kruger
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Pink-backed Pelican
Hosts have recorded the Pink-backed Pelican at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Mapungubwe 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
Limpopo
Kruger · Mapungubwe
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland · Ndumo
KwaZulu-NatalSelf-driveStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Pelecanus rufescens
Records
434
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Pink-backed Pelican on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Pink-backed Pelican in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Pink-backed Pelican at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Mapungubwe National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ndumo Game 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 Pink-backed Pelican in South Africa?
The Pink-backed Pelican is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (88% of records), Western Cape (6% of records), based on 434 iNaturalist observations. 57 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Pink-backed Pelican on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Pink-backed Pelican?
The Pink-backed Pelican 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; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Mapungubwe National Park: May-Sep, dry season; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Pink-backed Pelican?
The pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) is a bird of the pelican family. It is a resident breeder in the swamps and shallow lakes of Africa, southern Arabia, southern India and is apparently extirpated in Madagascar.