
African Jacana
The African jacana (Actophilornis africanus) is a wader in the family Jacanidae, identifiable by long toes and long claws that enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, their preferred habitat.
Species insights
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.
Curve from 2,090 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.
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where African Jacana is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,090 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Jacana
Stays that give back
Across Limpopo
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 17,120 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Makalani palm · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 8,380 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Spotted hyena
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · Blue wildebeest · Bushbuck
From R 2,820 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Chacma baboon · Vervet monkey
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · Cheetah · Impala lily
From R 1,634 a night
African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · Bushbuck · Cheetah
From R 378 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Birder friendly · Forest biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,512 a night
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Savanna biome · Giraffe · Cheetah
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 1,100 a night
Savanna biome · Giraffe · African elephant
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School and 1 other
Price on request
Savanna biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 2,000 a night
Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 1,500 a night
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Ana tree
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 4,000 a night
Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 650 a night
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Savanna biome
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 6,400 a night
Savanna biome · Ana tree
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 3,278 a night
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Savanna biome · Flaky bark thorn · Leadwood
From R 379 a night
Savanna biome · Blue wildebeest · Cheetah
From R 331 a night
iSimangaliso wetlands, sand forest, and Sodwana reefs
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Jacana
Hosts have recorded the African Jacana at stays in or beside Kruger National Park.
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
Species
Actophilornis africanus
Records
2,090
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Jacana on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Jacana in Limpopo?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Jacana at stays in or beside Kruger 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 African Jacana in South Africa?
The African Jacana is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (44% of records), Mpumalanga (29% of records), Limpopo (15% of records), based on 2,090 iNaturalist observations. 8 places to stay on Spekboom in Limpopo have recorded the African Jacana on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Jacana?
The African Jacana 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Jacana?
The African jacana (Actophilornis africanus) is a wader in the family Jacanidae, identifiable by long toes and long claws that enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, their preferred habitat. Jacanas are found worldwide within the tropical zone, and this species is found in sub-saharan Africa. For the origin and pronunciation of the name, see jacana.
























