Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
The purple heron (Ardea purpurea) is a wide ranging species of wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae.
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
Records1,647 records
Curve from 1,647 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
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Purple Heron is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,647 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Purple Heron
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
In Toto Retreat
Sedgefield
From R 2,200a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
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
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Purple Heron recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
From R 1,155a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Purple Heron recorded here
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Purple Heron recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Purple Heron recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Purple Heron recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Purple Heron recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Purple Heron recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Purple Heron recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Purple Heron recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Purple Heron recorded here
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
From R 630a night
Purple Heron recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Purple Heron recorded here
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
Purple Heron recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
Purple Heron recorded here
Singita Lebombo Villa
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Purple Heron 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 Purple Heron
Hosts have recorded the Purple Heron at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Goukamma 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
Limpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Western Cape
Goukamma · Anysberg · Gamkaberg
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Phinda
KwaZulu-NatalGuided drivesStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern Cape
Ways to look
Species
Ardea purpurea
Records
1,647
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Purple Heron on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Purple Heron in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Purple Heron at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Anysberg Nature Reserve and Gamkaberg 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 Purple Heron in South Africa?
The Purple Heron is most recorded in Western Cape (59% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (18% of records), Mpumalanga (9% of records), based on 1,647 iNaturalist observations. 143 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Purple Heron on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Purple Heron?
The Purple Heron 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; uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Purple Heron?
The purple heron (Ardea purpurea) is a wide ranging species of wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. The scientific name comes from Latin ardea "heron", and purpureus, "coloured purple". It breeds in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia.