Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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African Spoonbill
Platalea alba
The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae.
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~1,162 records
Curve from 2,583 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 Spoonbill is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,583 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the African Spoonbill
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
In Toto Retreat
Sedgefield
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,200 a night
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 350 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
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Outeniqua yellowwood
Gives back to Revive Knysna
From R 2,310 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 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 Spoonbill recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,500 a night
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Ichelesi Cottage
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,950 a night
Tapfontein
Anysberg Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 250 a night
Anysberg Campsites
Anysberg Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 250 a night
Chameleon Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve
African Spoonbill recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 1,520 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 Spoonbill
Hosts have recorded the African Spoonbill at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve and Rocherpan 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
Platalea alba
Records
2,583
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the African Spoonbill on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the African Spoonbill in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Spoonbill at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Vrolijkheid 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 Spoonbill in South Africa?
The African Spoonbill is most recorded in Western Cape (45% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (17% of records), Mpumalanga (12% of records), based on 2,583 iNaturalist observations. 40 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the African Spoonbill on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the African Spoonbill?
The African Spoonbill 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; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the African Spoonbill?
The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.