uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
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Wattled Crane
Grus carunculatusVulnerable
The wattled crane is a large bird found in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.
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
Records149 records
Curve from 149 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 Wattled Crane is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
149 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Wattled Crane
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Antbear Eco Lodge
Estcourt
From R 2,000a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 130a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 840a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 270a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 200a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 360a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 170a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,070a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,150a night
Wattled Crane recorded here
Ntsikeni Community Lodge
KwaZulu-Natal
From R 850a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
More stays nearby
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus
From R 2,235a night
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam
From R 4,355a night
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Birder friendly
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Birder friendly
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Birder friendly
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Wattled Crane
Hosts have recorded the Wattled Crane at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve and Kamberg 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.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Grus carunculatus
Records
149
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Wattled Crane on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Wattled Crane in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Wattled Crane at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle 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 Wattled Crane in South Africa?
The Wattled Crane is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (82% of records), Mpumalanga (9% of records), based on 149 iNaturalist observations. 14 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Wattled Crane on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Wattled Crane?
The Wattled Crane 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; Giants Castle Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kamberg Nature Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Royal Natal National Park: 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 Wattled Crane?
The Wattled Crane (Grus carunculatus) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Wattled Crane?
The wattled crane is a large bird found in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. It is sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Bugeranus.