De Hoop Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
3 places
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Cape Vulture
Gyps coprotheresVulnerable
The Cape griffon or Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), also known as Kolbe's vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae.
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~200 records
Curve from 1,179 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
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Cape Vulture is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,179 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Vulture
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn · From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve · From R 1,180 a night
Cape Vulture recorded here
The Whale Trail (De Hoop)
De Hoop Nature Reserve · From R 6,460 a night
Cape Vulture recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus · From R 14,985 a night
Birder friendly
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn · From R 1,400 a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay · From R 2,250 a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West · From R 5,636 a night
Birder friendly
Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Franschhoek · From R 6,195 a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium · Price on request
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town · From R 2,800 a night
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town · From R 9,900 a night
La Clé Lodge & Villas
Franschhoek · Price on request
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam · From R 4,355 a night
Plumbago Cottage - Stanford Country Cottages
Stanford · From R 2,850 a night
Coot Club
Stanford · Price on request
Birder friendly
Lauradale
Stellenbosch · From R 1,465 a night
Moonshine on Whiskey Creek
The Crags, Plettenberg Bay · From R 1,950 a night
Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa
Somerset West · Price on request
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus · From R 2,235 a night
Assendelft Lodge
Prince Albert · From R 1,200 a night
Tintswalo at Boulders
Simon's Town, Cape Town · Price on request
Klein Waterval Riverside Lodge
Franschhoek · From R 3,425 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 Cape Vulture
Hosts have recorded the Cape Vulture at stays in or beside De Hoop Nature Reserve and Marloth 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
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
Species
Gyps coprotheres
Records
1,179
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Vulture on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Vulture in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Vulture at stays in or beside De Hoop Nature Reserve and Marloth Nature Reserve. 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 Cape Vulture in South Africa?
The Cape Vulture is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (24% of records), Western Cape (17% of records), Limpopo (15% of records), based on 1,179 iNaturalist observations. 5 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Cape Vulture on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Vulture?
The Cape Vulture 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. De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Marloth 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 Cape Vulture?
The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Cape Vulture?
The Cape griffon or Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), also known as Kolbe's vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to southern Africa, and is found mainly in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and in some parts of northern Namibia. It nests on cliffs and lays one egg per year. Since 2015, it has been classified as Endangered.