Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Free State · Best Mar to May
3 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Euplectes axillaris
The fan-tailed widowbird (Euplectes axillaris), also known as the red-shouldered widowbird, is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae, which is native to grassy and swampy areas of the tropical and subtropical Afrotropics.
Species insights
When to visit
Most records Oct to Feb
When Fan-tailed Widowbird sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Best monthsOct to Feb
Records655 records
Curve from 655 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 Fan-tailed Widowbird is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
655 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Fan-tailed Widowbird
Stays that give back
Across the Free State
Golden Gate Hotel And Chalets
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
From R 1,741a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Glen Reenen Rest Camp
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
From R 339a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
Highlands Mountain Retreat
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
From R 2,160a night
Fan-tailed Widowbird recorded here
More stays nearby
Mvemve GrootPoort Lodge
Memel
From R 1,800a night
Birder friendly
Adamsview
Gariep Dam
From R 1,000a night
Highland Quarters
Clarens
From R 1,390a night
Kasteelkop Guest Farm
Frankfort
From R 640a night
Birder friendly
Monte Bello Estate
Vaalbank, Bloemfontein
From R 1,850a night
Mont d'Or Clarens
Clarens
From R 1,100a night
Liedjiesbos Urban Olive Farm
Bloemfontein
From R 1,700a night
Birder friendly
Camelroc Guest Farm
Caledonspoort, Fouriesburg
From R 1,000a night
Merino Guest Farm
Clarens
From R 900a night
The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Fan-tailed Widowbird
Hosts have recorded the Fan-tailed Widowbird at stays in or beside Golden Gate Highlands National 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.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Euplectes axillaris
Records
655
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Fan-tailed Widowbird on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Fan-tailed Widowbird in Free State?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Fan-tailed Widowbird at stays in or beside Golden Gate Highlands 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 Fan-tailed Widowbird in South Africa?
The Fan-tailed Widowbird is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (73% of records), Mpumalanga (12% of records), Gauteng (8% of records), based on 655 iNaturalist observations. 3 places to stay on Spekboom in Free State have recorded the Fan-tailed Widowbird on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Fan-tailed Widowbird?
Sightings of the Fan-tailed Widowbird peak from Oct to Feb, based on 655 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the Fan-tailed Widowbird?
The fan-tailed widowbird (Euplectes axillaris), also known as the red-shouldered widowbird, is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae, which is native to grassy and swampy areas of the tropical and subtropical Afrotropics.