uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
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Cardinal Woodpecker
Dendropicos fuscescens
The cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa.
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 KwaZulu-Natal~494 records
Curve from 1,645 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
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Cardinal Woodpecker is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,645 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cardinal Woodpecker
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 6,800a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Birdsong Cottage
Howick
From R 795a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Antbear Eco Lodge
Estcourt
From R 2,000a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Mount Currie
Mount Currie Nature Reserve
From R 230a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Weenen
Weenen Game Reserve
From R 130a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 130a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 840a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 270a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Spioenkop
Spioenkop Resort
From R 240a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 200a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 360a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
From R 130a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 170a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,070a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,150a night
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito
From R 13,000a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 4,280a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
From R 1,280a night
Birder friendly
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
From R 5,400a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
From R 5,990a night
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 Cardinal Woodpecker
Hosts have recorded the Cardinal Woodpecker at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve 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.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Dendropicos fuscescens
Records
1,645
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cardinal Woodpecker on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cardinal Woodpecker in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cardinal Woodpecker at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ithala Game Reserve and Kamberg Nature Reserve 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 Cardinal Woodpecker in South Africa?
The Cardinal Woodpecker is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (30% of records), Western Cape (18% of records), Mpumalanga (17% of records), based on 1,645 iNaturalist observations. 19 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Cardinal Woodpecker on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cardinal Woodpecker?
The Cardinal Woodpecker 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Giants Castle Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-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 Cardinal Woodpecker?
The cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, ranging from dense forest to thorn bush. It is fairly vocal and is easily identified by its call notes. The sexes are distinguishable by their head patterns.