Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Giant Kingfisher
Megaceryle maxima
The giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest.
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~439 records
Curve from 1,684 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 Giant Kingfisher is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,688 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Giant Kingfisher
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
In Toto Retreat
Sedgefield
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 2,200 a night
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
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
Coot Club
Stanford
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · White milkwood · Southern right whale
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy
Price on request
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
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
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,590 a night
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,730 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Rietdak Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,580 a night
Waenhuis Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 960 a night
Garskraal Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 2,310 a night
Uitkyk Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Giant Kingfisher recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,510 a night
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 Giant Kingfisher
Hosts have recorded the Giant Kingfisher at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma 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
Megaceryle maxima
Records
1,688
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Giant Kingfisher on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Giant Kingfisher in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Giant Kingfisher at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Kogelberg Nature Reserve and Vrolijkheid 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 Giant Kingfisher in South Africa?
The Giant Kingfisher is most recorded in Mpumalanga (27% of records), Western Cape (26% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (18% of records), based on 1,688 iNaturalist observations. 40 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Giant Kingfisher on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Giant Kingfisher?
The Giant Kingfisher 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; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Giant Kingfisher?
The giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest.