What is the Black Wildebeest?

The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of the two closely related wildebeest species. It is a member of the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae. It was first described in 1780 by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann. The black wildebeest is typically between 170-220 cm (67-87 in) in head-and-body length, and the average weight is 110-180 kg (240-400 lb).

Wildlife

Black Wildebeest

Connochaetes gnou

The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of the two closely related wildebeest species.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordBlack Wildebeest9 stays list it on site or nearby

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

Recorded in Eastern Cape~268 records

Curve from 1,115 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.

Where you'll find it

Gauteng and beyond

Provinces where Black Wildebeest is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

1,115 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Black Wildebeest

Places to stay

9 results in the Eastern Cape

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Hlosi Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Lion, Spekboom · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 4,000 per night

Mountain Zebra National Park

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Grassland biome · Black wildebeest, Springbok · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 449 per night

Woodall Country House & Spa

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black wildebeest, Blue wildebeest · Spa, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 7,500 per night

Bukela Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

Black Wildebeest recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Giraffe, Cheetah · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

More stays nearby

Lupus Den Country House

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal, Bushbuck

From R 2,600 per night

Cycads On Sea

St Francis Bay

Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Surfing, Kitesurfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 2,460 per night

Forest Hall Guest House

Walmer, Port Elizabeth

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Surfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 1,050 per night

Karoo Cottage - Sneeuberg Nature Reserve

Sneeuberg Nature Reserve, Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom · Horse riding, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 3,100 per night

Hitgeheim Country Lodge Addo

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Vineyards, Safaris

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 2,000 per night

Karoo Secret Farm Stay

Aberdeen

Nama-Karoo biome · 209 birds recorded · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 per night

Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping

Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · 221 birds recorded · Stargazing, Canoeing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,760 per night

Pabala Private Nature Reserve

Hankey

Fynbos biome · 10 birds recorded · Giraffe, Impala · Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 485 per night

Walkerbouts Inn - Rhodes

Rhodes

Grassland biome · 6 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 600 per night

Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)

Garden Route National Park

Forest biome · 1 bird recorded · Snorkelling, Diving

From R 457 per night

Langebos Huts

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Hiking

From R 2,093 per night

Spekboom Tented Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · 18 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Spotted hyena · Game drives

From R 1,490 per night

Camdeboo Rest Camp

Camdeboo National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Blesbok, Springbok

From R 345 per night

Nyathi Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Leopard, Lion

From R 2,901 per night

Matyholweni Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Bushbuck, Warthog

From R 2,426 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Black Wildebeest

Hosts have recorded the Black Wildebeest at stays in or beside Amakhala Game Reserve and Mountain Zebra National Park.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Black Wildebeest
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Amakhala	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here
Mountain Zebra	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

Early morning and late afternoon. The Black Wildebeest is out through the day, and easiest to watch before the heat.
Midday heat. Often resting in shade or near water.

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Mountain Zebra

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

Amakhala

Species

Connochaetes gnou

Records

1 115

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Black Wildebeest on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Black Wildebeest in Eastern Cape?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black Wildebeest at stays in or beside Amakhala Game Reserve and Mountain Zebra 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 Black Wildebeest in South Africa?

The Black Wildebeest is most recorded in Gauteng (33% of records), Eastern Cape (24% of records), Free State (18% of records), based on 1 115 iNaturalist observations. 9 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Black Wildebeest on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Black Wildebeest?

The Black Wildebeest 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. Amakhala Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Mountain Zebra National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.