uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Wildlife
African Wild Cat
Felis lybica
The African wildcat (Felis lybica), also called Near Eastern wildcat is a wildcat species that lives in Northern Africa, the Near East and around the periphery of the Arabian Peninsula.
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
Records498 records
Curve from 498 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Northern Cape and beyond
Provinces where African Wild Cat is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
498 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Wild Cat
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
African Wild Cat recorded here
Mount Currie
Mount Currie Nature Reserve
From R 230a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 130a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 840a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 270a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Spioenkop
Spioenkop Resort
From R 240a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 200a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Chelmsford
Chelmsford Resort
From R 190a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 360a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
From R 1,420a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
From R 900a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
From R 130a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 170a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,070a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,150a night
African Wild Cat recorded here
More stays nearby
Beach Forest Lodge
Ballito
From R 1,150a night
Sungubala Eco Camp
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 1,140a night
Biweda Nguni Lodge
Mkuze
From R 1,840a night
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
From R 5,400a night
Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat
Richmond
From R 5,990a night
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
Drakensberg, Bergville
From R 4,280a night
Makongo Hills Lodge
Magudu
From R 1,280a 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 African Wild Cat
Hosts have recorded the African Wild Cat at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam).
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Hluhluwe-Imfolozi | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Felis lybica
Records
498
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Wild Cat on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Wild Cat in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Wild Cat at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam), Giants Castle Game Reserve, 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 African Wild Cat in South Africa?
The African Wild Cat is most recorded in Northern Cape (36% of records), Mpumalanga (24% of records), Western Cape (22% of records), based on 498 iNaturalist observations. 17 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the African Wild Cat on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Wild Cat?
The African Wild Cat 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; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam): year-round; Giants Castle Game 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 African Wild Cat?
The African Wild Cat (Felis lybica) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the African Wild Cat?
The African wildcat (Felis lybica), also called Near Eastern wildcat is a wildcat species that lives in Northern Africa, the Near East and around the periphery of the Arabian Peninsula. The status Least Concern on the IUCN Red List is attributed to the species, including all subspecies of wildcats.