Addo Elephant National Park
Eastern Cape · Year-round
5 places
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Shy Albatross
Thalassarche cautaNear threatened
The shy albatross, also known as shy mollymawk, (Thalassarche cauta, formerly Diomedea cauta), is a medium-sized albatross that breeds on three remote islands off the coast of Tasmania, Australia, in the southern Indian Ocean.
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
Records58 records
Curve from 58 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 Shy Albatross is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
58 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Shy Albatross
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,590a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,730a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 965a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Slangkop Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 770a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,859a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 457a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,093a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 1,490a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Nyathi Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,901a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
West Coast National Park
West Coast National Park
From R 1,646a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Nature’s Valley Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 294a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Matyholweni Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 2,426a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Addo Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
From R 461a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
From R 26,450a night
Birder friendly
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
From R 5,400a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Birder friendly
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
The Overberg
Next stop
Whale coast and rolling farm country
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Shy Albatross
Hosts have recorded the Shy Albatross at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park and Kogelberg 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
Western Cape
Table Mountain · Kogelberg · Garden Route
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeEastern Cape
Addo Elephant · Tsitsikamma
Eastern CapeSelf-driveStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Near Threatened
Species
Thalassarche cauta
Records
58
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Shy Albatross on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Shy Albatross in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Shy Albatross at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma National Park, Garden Route National Park and Robberg 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 Shy Albatross in South Africa?
The Shy Albatross is most recorded in Western Cape (90% of records), Eastern Cape (10% of records), based on 58 iNaturalist observations. 16 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Shy Albatross on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Shy Albatross?
The Shy Albatross 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. Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Table Mountain National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Kogelberg Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Tsitsikamma National Park: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Shy Albatross?
The Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Shy Albatross?
The shy albatross, also known as shy mollymawk, (Thalassarche cauta, formerly Diomedea cauta), is a medium-sized albatross that breeds on three remote islands off the coast of Tasmania, Australia, in the southern Indian Ocean. Its lifespan is about 60 years, and it has been seen as far afield as South Africa and the Pacific coast of the United States.