
Eurasian Curlew
The Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae.
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 121 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 Eurasian Curlew is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
121 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Eurasian Curlew
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 13,000 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust
From R 1,280 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 2 others
From R 5,400 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 5,990 a night
Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Grassland biome · Spotted hyena · Leopard
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,140 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,691 a night
Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Blesbok · Serval
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 3 others
From R 1,200 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,950 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Serval
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,100 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 3,995 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Vervet monkey
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 795 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 2 others
From R 1,840 a night
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · African elephant · Cape buffalo
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,000 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Giraffe · Nyala
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,280 a night
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Giraffe
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 240 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Eurasian Curlew
Hosts have recorded the Eurasian Curlew at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland 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.
IUCN Red List
Near Threatened
Species
Numenius arquata
Records
121
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Eurasian Curlew on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Eurasian Curlew in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Eurasian Curlew at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland 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 Eurasian Curlew in South Africa?
The Eurasian Curlew is most recorded in Western Cape (77% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (15% of records), Eastern Cape (8% of records), based on 121 iNaturalist observations. 1 place to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal has recorded the Eurasian Curlew on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Eurasian Curlew?
The Eurasian Curlew 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. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Eurasian Curlew?
The Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Eurasian Curlew?
The Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia. In Europe, this species is often referred to just as the "curlew", and in Scotland known as the "whaup" in Scots.
























