Limpopo
Kruger
Self-drive
Stays in LimpopoWhere to see
Where to see the Square-tailed Nightjar in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Square-tailed Nightjar at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Caprimulgus fossii
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Square-tailed Nightjar
Hosts have recorded the Square-tailed Nightjar at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Best hours of the day
- Dusk and after dark. Listen for calls; a torch at camp or a night drive works best.
- Daytime. Roosting, well hidden.
Where to base yourself
- Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Caprimulgus fossii
Records
189
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Square-tailed Nightjar on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Square-tailed Nightjar in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Square-tailed Nightjar at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and iSimangaliso Wetland 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 Square-tailed Nightjar in South Africa?
The Square-tailed Nightjar is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (38% of records), Limpopo (38% of records), Mpumalanga (24% of records), based on 189 iNaturalist observations. 8 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Square-tailed Nightjar on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Square-tailed Nightjar?
The Square-tailed Nightjar 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; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Square-tailed Nightjar?
The square-tailed nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae which is native to tropical and subtropical woodlands of the Afrotropics. It has an extensive range south of the African equator. Despite not having a completely "square tail", its naming highlights a distinguishing field mark.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Square-tailed Nightjar
Every stay on the Square-tailed Nightjar 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