uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
4 places
Wildlife
Black Wildebeest
Connochaetes gnou
The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of the two closely related wildebeest species.
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
Records1,115 records
Curve from 1,115 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
Gauteng and beyond
Provinces where Black Wildebeest is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,115 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Black Wildebeest
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Black Wildebeest recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 130 a night
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Black Wildebeest recorded here · Grassland biome · Tree fuchsia · Black wildebeest
From R 840 a night
Midmar
Midmar Resort
Black Wildebeest recorded here · Grassland biome · Plains zebra · Black wildebeest
From R 220 a night
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Black Wildebeest recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 200 a night
Chelmsford
Chelmsford Resort
Black Wildebeest recorded here · Grassland biome · Black wildebeest · Springbok
From R 190 a night
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Black Wildebeest recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 170 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
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
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
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
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
Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Qambathi Mountain Lodge
Nottingham Road
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Serval
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,100 a night
&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
3 Driftwood Ballito
Ballito
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 3,995 a night
Birdsong Cottage
Howick
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Vervet monkey
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 795 a night
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
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 Black Wildebeest
Hosts have recorded the Black Wildebeest at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam) and Kamberg Nature Reserve.
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 |
| Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam) | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Best hours of the day
- Early morning and late afternoon. The Black Wildebeest is out through the day, and easiest to watch before the heat.
- Midday heat. Often resting in shade or near water.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Connochaetes gnou
Records
1,115
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Black Wildebeest on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Black Wildebeest in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black Wildebeest at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam), Kamberg Nature Reserve and Midmar Dam Nature 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 Black Wildebeest in South Africa?
The Black Wildebeest is most recorded in Gauteng (33% of records), Eastern Cape (24% of records), Free State (18% of records), based on 1,115 iNaturalist observations. 6 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Black Wildebeest on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Black Wildebeest?
The Black Wildebeest 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; Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam): year-round; Kamberg Nature Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Midmar Dam Nature Reserve: year-round, summer for water sports. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Black Wildebeest?
The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of the two closely related wildebeest species. It is a member of the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae. It was first described in 1780 by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann. The black wildebeest is typically between 170-220 cm (67-87 in) in head-and-body length, and the average weight is 110-180 kg (240-400 lb).