Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Cardinal Woodpecker
Dendropicos fuscescens
The cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa.
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~296 records
Curve from 1,645 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 Cardinal Woodpecker is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,645 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cardinal Woodpecker
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
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
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
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 220 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
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 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
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Gamkaberg Campsite
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 230 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Stable Rooms
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 320 a night
Ou Kraal
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,600 a night
Xami Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,520 a night
Fossil Ridge Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,320 a night
Sweetthorn Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,320 a night
Tierkloof Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Cardinal Woodpecker recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,320 a night
The Overberg
Next stop
Whale coast and rolling farm country
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cardinal Woodpecker
Hosts have recorded the Cardinal Woodpecker at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Gamkaberg 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
Dendropicos fuscescens
Records
1,645
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cardinal Woodpecker on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cardinal Woodpecker in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cardinal Woodpecker at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve and De Mond 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 Cardinal Woodpecker in South Africa?
The Cardinal Woodpecker is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (30% of records), Western Cape (18% of records), Mpumalanga (17% of records), based on 1,645 iNaturalist observations. 38 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Cardinal Woodpecker on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cardinal Woodpecker?
The Cardinal Woodpecker 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; Gamkaberg 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 Cardinal Woodpecker?
The cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, ranging from dense forest to thorn bush. It is fairly vocal and is easily identified by its call notes. The sexes are distinguishable by their head patterns.