Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
African Olive Pigeon
Columba arquatrix
The African olive pigeon or Rameron pigeon (Columba arquatrix) is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in much of eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape.
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~583 records
Curve from 1,121 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 Olive Pigeon is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,121 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Olive Pigeon
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Eight Bells Mountain Inn
Ruiterbos, Mossel Bay
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,500 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
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
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,590 a night
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,730 a night
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Rietdak Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,580 a night
Waenhuis Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 960 a night
Garskraal Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 2,310 a night
Uitkyk Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,510 a night
Peerboom
Cederberg Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,490 a night
Sas se Werf
Cederberg Wilderness Area
African Olive Pigeon recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,490 a night
The Cape Winelands
Next stop
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek vineyards, an hour up the N1
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the African Olive Pigeon
Hosts have recorded the African Olive Pigeon at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and De Hoop Nature Reserve.
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
Columba arquatrix
Records
1,121
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Olive Pigeon on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Olive Pigeon in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Olive Pigeon at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Kogelberg Nature Reserve and Garden Route National Park 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 Olive Pigeon in South Africa?
The African Olive Pigeon is most recorded in Western Cape (52% of records), Gauteng (23% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (10% of records), based on 1,121 iNaturalist observations. 37 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the African Olive Pigeon on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Olive Pigeon?
The African Olive Pigeon 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. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Olive Pigeon?
The African olive pigeon or Rameron pigeon (Columba arquatrix) is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in much of eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape. Populations also are found in western Angola, southwestern Saudi Arabia and northern Yemen. It is locally common, although sizeable gaps in its distribution occur due to its habitat requirements.