Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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African Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus moquini
The African oystercatcher or African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini), is a large charismatic wader resident to the mainland coasts and offshore islands of southern Africa.
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 Western Cape~3,626 records
Curve from 4,317 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 African Black Oystercatcher is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
4,317 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Black Oystercatcher
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Oceans Away
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 34,972 a night
Swallows Rest
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale · Caracal
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 29,981 a night
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 14,985 a night
Lagoon Ocean Lodge
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 24,990 a night
Vine & Vale
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 34,972 a night
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
Price on request
Lavender Dreams
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 24,990 a night
Azure Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 17,492 a night
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Milk & Honey
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 17,492 a night
Tidesong
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 34,972 a night
Oceanique
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 24,990 a night
Sea Whisper
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 17,492 a night
Utopia
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 31,223 a night
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
African Black Oystercatcher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
African Black Oystercatcher recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
African Black Oystercatcher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
Avian Leisure
Simon's Town, Cape Town
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,100 a night
In Toto Retreat
Sedgefield
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,200 a night
Fish Eagle Loft
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Black Oystercatcher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,340 a night
Otter's Rest
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Black Oystercatcher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,370 a night
Kabeljou Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Black Oystercatcher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Stumpnose Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Black Oystercatcher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Blacktail Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Black Oystercatcher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
The Whale Coast
Next stop
Southern right whales, sea cliffs, and Hermanus's harbour town
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Black Oystercatcher
Hosts have recorded the African Black Oystercatcher at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park and Garden Route 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.
Where to base yourself
Western Cape
Goukamma · Table Mountain · Garden Route
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Eastern Cape
Tsitsikamma
Eastern CapeSelf-driveStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Haematopus moquini
Records
4,317
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Black Oystercatcher on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Black Oystercatcher in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Black Oystercatcher at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park, Garden Route National Park, Keurbooms River Nature Reserve, Kogelberg Nature Reserve and Robberg 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 Black Oystercatcher in South Africa?
The African Black Oystercatcher is most recorded in Western Cape (84% of records), Eastern Cape (11% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (5% of records), based on 4,317 iNaturalist observations. 33 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the African Black Oystercatcher on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Black Oystercatcher?
The African Black Oystercatcher 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. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Table Mountain National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Garden Route National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Keurbooms River Nature Reserve: year-round. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Black Oystercatcher?
The African oystercatcher or African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini), is a large charismatic wader resident to the mainland coasts and offshore islands of southern Africa. This near-threatened oystercatcher has a population of over 6,000 adults, which breed between November and April.