Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Black-headed Heron
Ardea melanocephala
The black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
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~2,638 records
Curve from 5,384 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-headed Heron is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
5,384 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Black-headed Heron
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
Black-headed Heron 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
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
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Succulent Karoo biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 350 a night
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Black-headed Heron recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,500 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 Black-headed Heron
Hosts have recorded the Black-headed Heron at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma 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
Ardea melanocephala
Records
5,384
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Black-headed Heron on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Black-headed Heron in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black-headed Heron at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Table Mountain 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 Black-headed Heron in South Africa?
The Black-headed Heron is most recorded in Western Cape (49% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (17% of records), Eastern Cape (13% of records), based on 5,384 iNaturalist observations. 50 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Black-headed Heron on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Black-headed Heron?
The Black-headed Heron 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; 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 Black-headed Heron?
The black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is mainly resident, but some west African birds move further north in the rainy season.