Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Best Winter and spring for birds and flowers
5 places
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White-backed Duck
Thalassornis leuconotus
The white-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) is a waterbird of the family Anatidae.
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
Records675 records
Curve from 675 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 White-backed Duck is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
675 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the White-backed Duck
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Heritage View Birding Retreat
Delareyville
From R 1,000a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Forellenhof Guest Farm
Wakkerstroom
From R 1,500a 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
White-backed Duck recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wetlands Country House & Sheds
Wakkerstroom
From R 2,550a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Wilge River Bush Camp
Bronkhorstspruit
From R 600a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,990a night
White-backed Duck recorded here
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,500a night
White-backed Duck recorded here
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
White-backed Duck recorded here
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
White-backed Duck recorded here
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
From R 1,430a night
White-backed Duck recorded here
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
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
From R 31,500a night
The Karoo
Next stop
South Africa's vast inland heart: silence, stars, and wide horizons
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the White-backed Duck
Hosts have recorded the White-backed Duck at stays in or beside Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
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
Rocherpan
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeLimpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in LimpopoKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Thalassornis leuconotus
Records
675
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the White-backed Duck on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the White-backed Duck in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the White-backed Duck at stays in or beside Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 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 White-backed Duck in South Africa?
The White-backed Duck is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (48% of records), Western Cape (34% of records), Gauteng (5% of records), based on 675 iNaturalist observations. 15 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the White-backed Duck on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the White-backed Duck?
The White-backed Duck 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. Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-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 White-backed Duck?
The white-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) is a waterbird of the family Anatidae. It is distinct from all other ducks, but most closely related to the whistling ducks in the subfamily Dendrocygninae, though also showing some similarities to the stiff-tailed ducks in the subfamily Oxyurinae. It is the only member of the genus Thalassornis.