uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Ground Woodpecker
Geocolaptes olivaceusNear threatened
The ground woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus) is one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world (the others are the Andean and Campo flickers).
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~123 records
Curve from 585 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 Ground Woodpecker is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
585 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Ground Woodpecker
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Tree fuchsia
From R 190 a night
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Cape heath
From R 190 a night
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 130 a night
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Tree fuchsia · Black wildebeest
From R 840 a night
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Common eland
From R 270 a night
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 200 a night
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Chacma baboon · Bushbuck
From R 360 a night
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 130 a night
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 170 a night
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Tree fuchsia
From R 1,070 a night
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 1,150 a night
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 13,000 a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust
From R 1,280 a night
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 2 others
From R 5,400 a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 5,990 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Sungubala Eco Camp
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome · Spotted hyena · Leopard
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,140 a night
Drakensberg Vultures View
Cathkin Park
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,691 a night
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Penwarn Farm
Underberg
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Blesbok · Serval
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 3 others
From R 1,200 a night
Berghouse & Cottages
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,950 a night
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Birder friendly · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
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 Ground Woodpecker
Hosts have recorded the Ground Woodpecker at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve and Ithala 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.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Near Threatened
Species
Geocolaptes olivaceus
Records
585
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Ground Woodpecker on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Ground Woodpecker in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Ground Woodpecker at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Giants Castle Game Reserve, Ithala Game Reserve, Kamberg Nature Reserve and Royal Natal 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 Ground Woodpecker in South Africa?
The Ground Woodpecker is most recorded in Western Cape (60% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (21% of records), Eastern Cape (8% of records), based on 585 iNaturalist observations. 11 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Ground Woodpecker on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Ground Woodpecker?
The Ground 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; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kamberg Nature Reserve: 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 Ground Woodpecker?
The Ground Woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Ground Woodpecker?
The ground woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus) is one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world (the others are the Andean and Campo flickers). It inhabits rather barren, steep, boulder-strewn slopes in relatively cool hilly and mountainous areas of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland and has yet to be recorded outside of Southern Africa.