
Wildlife
Chacma Baboon
The Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family.
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 7,919 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.
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 the Northern Cape
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Chacma Baboon recorded here
South Africa's vast inland heart: silence, stars, and wide horizons
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 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park and Mokala National Park.
When to go, park by park
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kgalagadi | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here |
| Ai-Ais/Richtersveld | 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 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 Northern Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Chacma Baboon at stays in or beside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Mokala National Park and Augrabies Falls 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. 16 places to stay on Spekboom in Northern Cape 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. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Mokala National Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Augrabies Falls National Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. 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.

























