uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Wildlife
Chacma Baboon
Papio ursinus
The Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family.
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~713 records
Curve from 7,919 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 Chacma Baboon is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
7,918 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Chacma Baboon
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Zululand Lodge
Hluhluwe
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Savanna biome · Giraffe · Nyala
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 3,280 a night
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Tree fuchsia
From R 190 a night
Garden Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Cape heath
From R 190 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 130 a night
Kamberg
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Tree fuchsia · Black wildebeest
From R 840 a night
Lotheni
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Southern rock agama · Common eland
From R 270 a night
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 200 a night
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Chacma baboon · Bushbuck
From R 360 a night
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 1,420 a night
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 900 a night
Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 130 a night
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Chacma baboon
From R 170 a night
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon recorded here · Grassland biome · Real yellowwood · Tree fuchsia
From R 1,070 a night
Giant's Castle
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Chacma Baboon 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
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
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
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 Chacma Baboon
Hosts have recorded the Chacma Baboon at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Giants Castle Game 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 |
| 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.
Best hours of the day
- Early morning and late afternoon. The Chacma Baboon 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
Papio ursinus
Records
7,918
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Chacma Baboon on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Chacma Baboon in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Chacma Baboon at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 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 Chacma Baboon in South Africa?
The Chacma Baboon is most recorded in Western Cape (49% of records), Mpumalanga (17% of records), Limpopo (11% of records), based on 7,918 iNaturalist observations. 15 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Chacma Baboon on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Chacma Baboon?
The Chacma Baboon 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; Giants Castle Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Chacma Baboon?
The Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family. It is one of the largest of all monkeys.