Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Ground Woodpecker
Geocolaptes olivaceusNear threatened
The ground woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus) is one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world (the others are the Andean and Campo flickers).
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~351 records
Curve from 585 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 Ground Woodpecker is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
585 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Ground Woodpecker
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 350 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
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 220 a night
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Succulent Karoo biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 350 a night
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,590 a night
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,730 a night
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Rietdak Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,580 a night
Waenhuis Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 960 a night
Garskraal Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 2,310 a night
Uitkyk Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,510 a night
Peerboom
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,490 a night
Sas se Werf
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,490 a night
Prik se Werf
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,490 a night
Tapfontein
Anysberg Nature Reserve
Ground Woodpecker recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 250 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 Ground Woodpecker
Hosts have recorded the Ground Woodpecker at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Anysberg Nature Reserve and Grootvadersbosch 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
IUCN Red List
Near Threatened
Species
Geocolaptes olivaceus
Records
585
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Ground Woodpecker on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Ground Woodpecker in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Ground Woodpecker at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park and Hottentots Holland 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 Ground Woodpecker in South Africa?
The Ground Woodpecker is most recorded in Western Cape (60% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (21% of records), Eastern Cape (8% of records), based on 585 iNaturalist observations. 32 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Ground Woodpecker on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Ground Woodpecker?
The Ground Woodpecker 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; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Kogelberg Nature 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 Ground Woodpecker?
The Ground Woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Ground Woodpecker?
The ground woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus) is one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world (the others are the Andean and Campo flickers). It inhabits rather barren, steep, boulder-strewn slopes in relatively cool hilly and mountainous areas of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland and has yet to be recorded outside of Southern Africa.