What is the Denham's Bustard?

Denham's bustard, Stanley bustard or Stanley's bustard (Neotis denhami) is a large bird in the bustard family. It breeds in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species of open ground, including agricultural land, grassland, flood-plains and burnt fynbos. It is resident, but some inland populations move to lower altitudes in winter.

Go Birding

Denham's Bustard

Q: What is the conservation status of the Denham's Bustard?

The Denham's Bustard (Neotis denhami) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Neotis denhamiNear threatened

Denham's bustard, Stanley bustard or Stanley's bustard (Neotis denhami) is a large bird in the bustard family.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordDenham's Bustard8 stays list it on site or nearby

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~392 records

Curve from 769 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 Denham's Bustard is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

769 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Denham's Bustard

2 places
Gondwana Game ReserveWestern Cape · Best Sep to Apr
2 places

Places to stay

8 results in the Western Cape

Frog Mountain Getaway

Swellendam

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 20 birds recorded · Boomslang, Bushbuck · Hiking, Canoeing

Supports Cape Leopard Trust

From R 1,950 per night

Grootvadersbosch Campsites

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve

Denham's Bustard recorded here · Fynbos biome · 180 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 300 per night

Grootvadersbosch Cabins

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve

Denham's Bustard recorded here · Fynbos biome · 180 birds recorded · Spekboom · Photography

From R 1,460 per night

Scolopia Cottage

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve

Denham's Bustard recorded here · Fynbos biome · 180 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,780 per night

The Whale Trail (De Hoop)

De Hoop Nature Reserve

Denham's Bustard recorded here · Fynbos biome · 185 birds recorded · Bontebok, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Cycling

From R 6,460 per night

Damara Trail (De Mond)

De Mond Nature Reserve

Denham's Bustard recorded here · Fynbos biome · 163 birds recorded · Fishing

From R 3,690 per night

Lehele Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve

Gondwana Game Reserve, Mossel Bay

Denham's Bustard recorded here · Fynbos biome · 33 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Spa, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Kwena Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve

Gondwana Game Reserve, Mossel Bay

Denham's Bustard recorded here · Fynbos biome · 33 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Spa, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

More stays nearby

Babylonstoren

Klapmuts, Simondium

12 birds recorded · Angulate tortoise, Wild olive · Spa, Vineyards

Price on request

La Clé Lodge & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · Cycling

Price on request

Coot Club

Stanford

Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 8 birds recorded · White milkwood, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Canoeing

Price on request

Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa

Somerset West

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Vineyards, Wine tasting

Price on request

Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse

Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West

Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 26 birds recorded · Black wildebeest, Bontebok · Horse riding, Hiking

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 5,636 per night

Franschhoek Country House & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Spa, Mountain biking

Supports Cape Leopard Trust

From R 6,195 per night

Tintswalo at Boulders

Simon's Town, Cape Town

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Surfing, Scenic drives

Supports Friends of Table Mountain

From R 4,060 per night

Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa

Gardens, Cape Town

Fynbos biome

From R 2,800 per night

An African Story by RETURN Africa

Bakoven, Cape Town

Fynbos biome

From R 9,900 per night

The Kohling

Gardens, Cape Town

Fynbos biome

Supports Streetscapes

Price on request

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat

Western Cape

Fynbos biome · 4 birds recorded · Cape fox, Caracal · Stargazing, Spa

Price on request

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate

Benguela Cove, Hermanus

Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 24 birds recorded · Whale watching, Surfing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

The Manor House at Colmant

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · Hot air ballooning

Price on request

Schoone Oordt Country House

Swellendam

Fynbos biome

From R 4,355 per night

MOSAIC Lagoon Lodge

Stanford

Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Southern right whale · Spa, Canoeing

Price on request

Buffelsdrift Farm

Ladismith

Fynbos biome · Spekboom

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Denham's Bustard

Hosts have recorded the Denham's Bustard at stays in or beside Gondwana Game 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

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Gondwana

IUCN Red List

Near Threatened

Species

Neotis denhami

Records

769

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Denham's Bustard on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Denham's Bustard in Western Cape?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Denham's Bustard at stays in or beside Gondwana Game 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 Denham's Bustard in South Africa?

The Denham's Bustard is most recorded in Western Cape (51% of records), Eastern Cape (30% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (11% of records), based on 769 iNaturalist observations. 8 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Denham's Bustard on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Denham's Bustard?

The Denham's Bustard 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. Gondwana Game 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 Denham's Bustard?