Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
10 places
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Water Thick-knee
Burhinus vermiculatus
The water thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus), or water dikkop is a species of bird in the family Burhinidae.
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
Records2,090 records
Curve from 2,090 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
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Water Thick-knee is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,090 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Water Thick-knee
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 5,060a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a 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
Water Thick-knee 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
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
From R 350a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
From R 4,640a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
From R 1,750a night
Water Thick-knee recorded here
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Price on request
Water Thick-knee 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 Water Thick-knee
Hosts have recorded the Water Thick-knee at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
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
Western Cape
Goukamma · De Hoop · Vrolijkheid
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoEastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Burhinus vermiculatus
Records
2,090
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Water Thick-knee on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Water Thick-knee in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Water Thick-knee at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland Park 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 Water Thick-knee in South Africa?
The Water Thick-knee is most recorded in Mpumalanga (32% of records), Western Cape (28% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (19% of records), based on 2,090 iNaturalist observations. 44 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Water Thick-knee on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Water Thick-knee?
The Water Thick-knee 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; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Water Thick-knee?
The water thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus), or water dikkop is a species of bird in the family Burhinidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Swaz...