
Western Cattle Egret
The cattle egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones.
Species insights
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.
Curve from 3,980 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Western Cattle Egret is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,980 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Western Cattle Egret
Stays that give back
Across the Eastern Cape
Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping
Nieu Bethesda · From R 1,760 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Karoo Secret Farm Stay
Aberdeen · From R 1,200 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve · Price on request
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve · Price on request
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Kwandwe Uplands Homestead
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve · Price on request
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Kwandwe Fort House
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve · Price on request
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve · Price on request
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Cycads On Sea
St Francis Bay · From R 2,460 a night
Pabala Private Nature Reserve
Hankey · From R 485 a night
Birder friendly
Lupus Den Country House
Sundays River Valley, Addo · From R 2,600 a night

Forest Hall Guest House
Walmer, Port Elizabeth · From R 1,050 a night
GweGwe Beach Lodge
Mkambati Nature Reserve · From R 12,950 a night
Quatermain's Camp
Paterson · From R 11,592 a night
Karoo Cottage - Sneeuberg Nature Reserve
Sneeuberg Nature Reserve, Nieu Bethesda · From R 3,100 a night
Hlosi Game Lodge
Amakhala Game Reserve · From R 4,000 a night
Hitgeheim Country Lodge Addo
Sundays River Valley, Addo · From R 2,000 a night
Walkerbouts Inn - Rhodes
Rhodes · From R 600 a night
Birder friendly
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park · From R 457 a night
Mountain Zebra National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park · From R 449 a night
Langebos Huts
Addo Elephant National Park · From R 2,093 a night
Bo-kloof Guest Farm
Baviaanskloof · Price on request

Birder friendly
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park · From R 1,490 a night
Camdeboo Rest Camp
Camdeboo National Park · From R 345 a night
Gordonville Manor - Sneeuberg Nature Reserve
Sneeuberg Nature Reserve, Nieu Bethesda · Price on request

Forests, lagoons, and Knysna's sheltered bay
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Western Cattle Egret
Hosts have recorded the Western Cattle Egret at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game 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
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
Species
Ardea ibis
Records
3,980
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Western Cattle Egret on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Western Cattle Egret in Eastern Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Western Cattle Egret at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. 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 Western Cattle Egret in South Africa?
The Western Cattle Egret is most recorded in Western Cape (46% of records), Gauteng (14% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (13% of records), based on 3,980 iNaturalist observations. 7 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Western Cattle Egret on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Western Cattle Egret?
The Western Cattle Egret 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. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Western Cattle Egret?
The cattle egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard two of its subspecies as full species, the western cattle egret and the eastern cattle egret.
























