uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Southern Bald Ibis
Geronticus calvusNear threatened
The southern bald ibis (Geronticus calvus) is a large bird found in open grassland or semi-desert in the mountains of southern Africa.Taxonomically, it is most closely related to its counterpart in the northern regions of Africa, the waldrapp.
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
Records605 records
Curve from 605 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 Southern Bald Ibis is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
605 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Southern Bald Ibis
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Antbear Eco Lodge
Estcourt
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 2,000 a night
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to Lessons in Conservation (LiC)
From R 600 a night
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,550 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Tree fuchsia
From R 190 a night
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Cape heath
From R 190 a night
Dunkeld Country & Equestrian Estate
Dullstroom
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
Price on request
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 130 a night
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Tree fuchsia · Black wildebeest
From R 840 a night
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Common eland
From R 270 a night
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 200 a night
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Chacma baboon · Bushbuck
From R 360 a night
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 1,420 a night
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 900 a night
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 130 a night
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 170 a night
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Tree fuchsia
From R 1,070 a night
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 1,150 a night
Katrinasrust Country Estate
Dullstroom
Southern Bald Ibis recorded here · Grassland biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 2,200 a night
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 14,985 a night
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 2 others
From R 5,400 a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Southern Bald Ibis
Hosts have recorded the Southern Bald Ibis at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Giants Castle Game 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.
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
Geronticus calvus
Records
605
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Southern Bald Ibis on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Southern Bald Ibis in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Southern Bald Ibis at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve, Ithala Game Reserve, Kamberg Nature Reserve and Royal Natal National Park. 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 Southern Bald Ibis in South Africa?
The Southern Bald Ibis is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (47% of records), Mpumalanga (32% of records), Free State (14% of records), based on 605 iNaturalist observations. 21 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Southern Bald Ibis on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Southern Bald Ibis?
The Southern Bald Ibis 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Giants Castle Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Southern Bald Ibis?
The Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Southern Bald Ibis?
The southern bald ibis (Geronticus calvus) is a large bird found in open grassland or semi-desert in the mountains of southern Africa.Taxonomically, it is most closely related to its counterpart in the northern regions of Africa, the waldrapp. As a species, it has a very restricted homerange, limited to the southern tips of South Africa in highland and mountainous regions.