Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
15 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
White-backed Vulture
Gyps africanusCritically endangered
The white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.
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
Records3,501 records
Curve from 3,501 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 White-backed Vulture is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,502 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the White-backed Vulture
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze
From R 14,000a 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
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
From R 31,500a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
From R 28,990a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Singita Ebony Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Price on request
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Singita Boulders Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Price on request
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Bonamanzi Game Reserve
Hluhluwe
From R 240a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Orpen Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 1,815a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
From R 2,634a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Satara Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 331a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Maroela Satellite Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 390a night
White-backed Vulture recorded here
Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris
Mpumalanga
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
The Elephant Coast
Next stop
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the White-backed Vulture
Hosts have recorded the White-backed Vulture at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Timbavati
LimpopoSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeMpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaGuided drivesStays in MpumalangaKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · iSimangaliso Wetland · Ithala
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
IUCN Red List
Critically Endangered
Species
Gyps africanus
Records
3,502
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the White-backed Vulture on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the White-backed Vulture in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the White-backed Vulture at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Timbavati Private 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 White-backed Vulture in South Africa?
The White-backed Vulture is most recorded in Mpumalanga (48% of records), Limpopo (25% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (17% of records), based on 3,502 iNaturalist observations. 41 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the White-backed Vulture on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the White-backed Vulture?
The White-backed Vulture 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; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 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 White-backed Vulture?
The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is the White-backed Vulture?
The white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is closely related to the European griffon vulture, G. fulvus.