Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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African Marsh Harrier
Circus ranivorus
The African marsh harrier (Circus ranivorus) is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier genus Circus.
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~342 records
Curve from 621 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 Marsh Harrier is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
621 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Marsh Harrier
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 1,155 a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,500 a night
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Fish Eagle Loft
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,340 a night
Otter's Rest
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,370 a night
Kabeljou Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Stumpnose Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Blacktail Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Mvubu Bush Camp
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,380 a night
Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,580 a night
Buffalo Valley River Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,580 a night
Buffalo Valley Forest Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,410 a night
Damara Trail (De Mond)
De Mond Nature Reserve
African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 3,690 a night
The Overberg
Next stop
Whale coast and rolling farm country
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Marsh Harrier
Hosts have recorded the African Marsh Harrier at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Circus ranivorus
Records
621
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Marsh Harrier on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Marsh Harrier in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Marsh Harrier at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, De Mond Nature Reserve, Keurbooms River Nature Reserve and Kogelberg 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 Marsh Harrier in South Africa?
The African Marsh Harrier is most recorded in Western Cape (55% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (23% of records), Eastern Cape (9% of records), based on 621 iNaturalist observations. 24 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the African Marsh Harrier on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Marsh Harrier?
The African Marsh Harrier 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; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct; Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; De Mond Nature Reserve: Summer for terns and waders, Oct-Mar. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Marsh Harrier?
The African marsh harrier (Circus ranivorus) is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier genus Circus. It is largely resident in wetland habitats in southern, central and eastern Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan.