Western Cape
Rocherpan
Self-driveMalaria-free
Stays in Western CapeWhere to see
Where to see the White-backed Duck in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the White-backed Duck at stays in or beside Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Thalassornis leuconotus
Planning 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
Limpopo
Kruger
LimpopoSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
KwaZulu-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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the White-backed Duck
Every stay on the White-backed Duck 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