Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution.
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~658 records
Curve from 1,046 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 Caspian Tern is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,045 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Caspian Tern
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,500 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Fish Eagle Loft
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,340 a night
Otter's Rest
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,370 a night
Kabeljou Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Stumpnose Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Blacktail Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,560 a night
Mvubu Bush Camp
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,380 a night
Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,580 a night
Buffalo Valley River Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,580 a night
Buffalo Valley Forest Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,410 a night
The Whale Trail (De Hoop)
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
From R 6,460 a night
Damara Trail (De Mond)
De Mond Nature Reserve
Caspian Tern recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 3,690 a night
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 14,985 a night
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 1,400 a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay
Forest biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,250 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 Caspian Tern
Hosts have recorded the Caspian Tern at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and De Hoop 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
Hydroprogne caspia
Records
1,045
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Caspian Tern on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Caspian Tern in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Caspian Tern at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, De Mond Nature Reserve, Keurbooms River Nature Reserve and Kogelberg 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 Caspian Tern in South Africa?
The Caspian Tern is most recorded in Western Cape (63% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (25% of records), Eastern Cape (5% of records), based on 1,045 iNaturalist observations. 21 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Caspian Tern on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Caspian Tern?
The Caspian Tern 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. 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; De Mond Nature Reserve: Summer for terns and waders, Oct-Mar. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Caspian Tern?
The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no accepted subspecies. The genus name is from Ancient Greek hudros, "water", and Latin progne, "swallow". The specific caspia is from Latin and, like the English name, refers to the Caspian Sea.