iSimangaliso Wetland Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
2 places
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Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution.
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~261 records
Curve from 1,046 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
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Caspian Tern is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,045 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Caspian Tern
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Ndumo
Ndumo Game Reserve · From R 190 a night
Caspian Tern recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park · Price on request
Caspian Tern recorded here
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park · Price on request
Caspian Tern recorded here
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
More stays nearby
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Berghouse & Cottages
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Montusi Mountain Lodge
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Qambathi Mountain Lodge
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&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
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&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
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Biweda Nguni Lodge
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&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge
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Zululand Lodge
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Birder friendly
Bonamanzi Game Reserve
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Birder friendly
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 Caspian Tern
Hosts have recorded the Caspian Tern at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Ndumo 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.
Species
Hydroprogne caspia
Records
1,045
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Caspian Tern on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Caspian Tern in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Caspian Tern at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Ndumo 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 Caspian Tern in South Africa?
The Caspian Tern is most recorded in Western Cape (63% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (25% of records), Eastern Cape (5% of records), based on 1,045 iNaturalist observations. 4 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Caspian Tern on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Caspian Tern?
The Caspian Tern 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. iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ndumo Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Caspian Tern?
The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no accepted subspecies. The genus name is from Ancient Greek hudros, "water", and Latin progne, "swallow". The specific caspia is from Latin and, like the English name, refers to the Caspian Sea.