Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
1 place
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Goliath Heron
Ardea goliath
The Goliath heron (Ardea goliath), also known as the giant heron, is a very large wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae.
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~194 records
Curve from 1,760 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 Goliath Heron is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,763 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Goliath Heron
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
In Toto Retreat
Sedgefield · From R 2,200 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn · From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve · From R 2,170 a night
Goliath Heron recorded here
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus · From R 17,630 a night
Birder friendly
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn · From R 1,400 a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay · From R 2,250 a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West · From R 5,636 a night
Birder friendly
Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Franschhoek · From R 6,195 a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium · Price on request
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town · From R 2,800 a night
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town · From R 9,900 a night
La Clé Lodge & Villas
Franschhoek · Price on request
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam · From R 4,355 a night
Plumbago Cottage - Stanford Country Cottages
Stanford · From R 2,850 a night
Coot Club
Stanford · Price on request
Birder friendly
Lauradale
Stellenbosch · From R 1,465 a night
Moonshine on Whiskey Creek
The Crags, Plettenberg Bay · From R 1,950 a night
Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa
Somerset West · Price on request
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus · From R 2,235 a night
Assendelft Lodge
Prince Albert · From R 1,200 a night
Tintswalo at Boulders
Simon's Town, Cape Town · Price on request
Klein Waterval Riverside Lodge
Franschhoek · From R 3,425 a night
Devonport House
Constantia, Cape Town · From R 3,500 a night
Grande Roche Hotel
Paarl · Price on request
The Whale Coast
Next stop
Southern right whales, sea cliffs, and Hermanus's harbour town
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Goliath Heron
Hosts have recorded the Goliath Heron at stays in or beside Keurbooms River 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
Ardea goliath
Records
1,763
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Goliath Heron on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Goliath Heron in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Goliath Heron at stays in or beside Keurbooms River 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 Goliath Heron in South Africa?
The Goliath Heron is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (28% of records), Mpumalanga (24% of records), Limpopo (16% of records), based on 1,763 iNaturalist observations. 3 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Goliath Heron on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Goliath Heron?
The Goliath Heron 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. Keurbooms River Nature Reserve: year-round. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Goliath Heron?
The Goliath heron (Ardea goliath), also known as the giant heron, is a very large wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia.