Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Black Harrier
Circus maurusEndangered
The black harrier (Circus maurus) is a medium-sized African harrier whose range extends from South Africa to Botswana and Namibia.
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~595 records
Curve from 726 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 Black Harrier is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
726 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Black 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
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat
Western Cape
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fox · Caracal
Gives back to Saving Private Rhino
Price on request
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Lehele Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Kwena Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,500 a night
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Rietdak Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,580 a night
Waenhuis Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Black Harrier recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 960 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 Black Harrier
Hosts have recorded the Black Harrier at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and De Hoop 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
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Endangered
Species
Circus maurus
Records
726
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Black Harrier on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Black Harrier in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black Harrier at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve and Gondwana Game 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 Black Harrier in South Africa?
The Black Harrier is most recorded in Western Cape (82% of records), Eastern Cape (8% of records), Northern Cape (6% of records), based on 726 iNaturalist observations. 32 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Black Harrier on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Black Harrier?
The Black 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. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct; 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 conservation status of the Black Harrier?
The Black Harrier (Circus maurus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Black Harrier?
The black harrier (Circus maurus) is a medium-sized African harrier whose range extends from South Africa to Botswana and Namibia.