Western Cape
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Goukamma · Anysberg
Self-driveMalaria-free
Stays in Western CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Rock Kestrel in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Rock Kestrel at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Anysberg Nature Reserve.
Falco rupicolus
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Rock Kestrel
Hosts have recorded the Rock Kestrel at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Anysberg Nature Reserve.
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
- Western Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Limpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Ways to look
Species
Falco rupicolus
Records
2,950
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Rock Kestrel on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Rock Kestrel in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Rock Kestrel at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kwandwe Private 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 Rock Kestrel in South Africa?
The Rock Kestrel is most recorded in Western Cape (84% of records), Eastern Cape (7% of records), Northern Cape (5% of records), based on 2,950 iNaturalist observations. 94 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Rock Kestrel on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Rock Kestrel?
The Rock Kestrel 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. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Rock Kestrel?
The rock kestrel (Falco rupicolus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common kestrel.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Rock Kestrel
Every stay on the Rock Kestrel 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