Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae.
Species insights
When to visit
Most records Nov to Jan
When European Bee-eater sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Best monthsNov to Jan
Recorded in Western Cape~230 records
Curve from 1,536 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
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where European Bee-eater is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,536 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the European Bee-eater
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu · From R 350 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson · From R 1,155 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West · From R 5,636 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn · From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu · From R 1,500 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve
Western Cape · Price on request
European Bee-eater recorded here
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 180 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,990 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 1,990 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,500 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,430 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,430 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,430 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Rietdak Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 1,580 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Waenhuis Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 960 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Garskraal Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 2,310 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Uitkyk Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 1,510 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Peerboom
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 1,490 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Sas se Werf
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 1,490 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Prik se Werf
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 1,490 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Tapfontein
Anysberg Nature Reserve · From R 250 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Anysberg Campsites
Anysberg Nature Reserve · From R 250 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Chameleon Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve · From R 1,520 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
Leguaan Cottage
Anysberg Nature Reserve · From R 1,520 a night
European Bee-eater recorded here
The Cape Winelands
Next stop
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek vineyards, an hour up the N1
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the European Bee-eater
Hosts have recorded the European Bee-eater 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
Merops apiaster
Records
1,536
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the European Bee-eater on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the European Bee-eater in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the European Bee-eater at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve and Rocherpan 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 European Bee-eater in South Africa?
The European Bee-eater is most recorded in Mpumalanga (21% of records), Limpopo (19% of records), Western Cape (15% of records), based on 1,536 iNaturalist observations. 36 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the European Bee-eater on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the European Bee-eater?
Sightings of the European Bee-eater peak from Nov to Jan, based on 1,536 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the European Bee-eater?
The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. The genus name Merops is Ancient Greek for "bee-eater", and apiaster is Latin, also meaning "bee-eater", from apis, "bee". It breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa.