iSimangaliso Wetland Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
1 place
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Lesser Spotted Eagle
Clanga pomarina
The lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina) is a large Eastern European bird of prey.
Species insights
When to visit
Most records Nov to Feb
When Lesser Spotted Eagle sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Best monthsNov to Feb
Recorded in KwaZulu-Natal~34 records
Curve from 258 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
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Lesser Spotted Eagle is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
258 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Lesser Spotted Eagle
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Kosi Forest Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
More stays nearby
Kingfisher Cove Umdloti
Umdloti, Ballito · From R 13,000 a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville · From R 4,280 a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu · From R 1,280 a night
Birder friendly
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville · From R 5,400 a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond · From R 5,990 a night
Birder friendly
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park · Price on request
Sungubala Eco Camp
Drakensberg, Bergville · From R 1,140 a night
Drakensberg Vultures View
Cathkin Park · From R 1,691 a night
Birder friendly
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park · Price on request
Penwarn Farm
Underberg · From R 1,200 a night
Birder friendly
Berghouse & Cottages
Drakensberg, Bergville · From R 1,950 a night
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville · From R 6,800 a night
Birder friendly
Qambathi Mountain Lodge
Nottingham Road · From R 4,100 a night
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve · Price on request
3 Driftwood Ballito
Ballito · From R 3,995 a night
Birdsong Cottage
Howick · From R 795 a night
Birder friendly
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve · Price on request
Biweda Nguni Lodge
Mkuze · From R 1,840 a night
Birder friendly
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze · From R 14,000 a night
Birder friendly
&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve · Price on request
Zululand Lodge
Hluhluwe · From R 3,280 a night
Birder friendly
Bonamanzi Game Reserve
Hluhluwe · From R 240 a night
Birder friendly
&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve · Price on request
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 Lesser Spotted Eagle
Hosts have recorded the Lesser Spotted Eagle at stays in or beside iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Species
Clanga pomarina
Records
258
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Lesser Spotted Eagle on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Lesser Spotted Eagle in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Lesser Spotted Eagle 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 Lesser Spotted Eagle in South Africa?
The Lesser Spotted Eagle is most recorded in Mpumalanga (53% of records), Limpopo (32% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (13% of records), based on 258 iNaturalist observations. 1 place to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal has recorded the Lesser Spotted Eagle on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Lesser Spotted Eagle?
Sightings of the Lesser Spotted Eagle peak from Nov to Feb, based on 258 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the Lesser Spotted Eagle?
The lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina) is a large Eastern European bird of prey. Like all typical eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. The typical eagles are often united with the buteos, sea eagles, and other more heavy-set Accipitridae, but more recently it appears as if they are less distinct from the more slender accipitrine hawks than believed.