Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Brown-throated Martin
Riparia paludicola
The brown-throated martin or brown-throated sand martin (Riparia paludicola) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family.
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~563 records
Curve from 908 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 Brown-throated Martin is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
908 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Brown-throated Martin
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
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 220 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Gamkaberg Campsite
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 230 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,590 a night
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,730 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Stable Rooms
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 320 a night
Ou Kraal
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,600 a night
Xami Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,520 a night
Fossil Ridge Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Brown-throated Martin recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,320 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 Brown-throated Martin
Hosts have recorded the Brown-throated Martin at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Anysberg 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
Riparia paludicola
Records
908
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Brown-throated Martin on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Brown-throated Martin in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Brown-throated Martin at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and De Hoop 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 Brown-throated Martin in South Africa?
The Brown-throated Martin is most recorded in Western Cape (62% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (12% of records), Gauteng (12% of records), based on 908 iNaturalist observations. 57 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Brown-throated Martin on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Brown-throated Martin?
The Brown-throated Martin 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; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Brown-throated Martin?
The brown-throated martin or brown-throated sand martin (Riparia paludicola) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It was first formally described as Hirundo paludicola by French ornithologist Louis Vieillot in 1817 in his Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle. It was formerly regarded as conspecific with the grey-throated martin (R. chinensis) under the name "plain martin".