De Hoop Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
4 places
Go Birdingfrom Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
Lappet-faced Vulture
Torgos tracheliotosEndangered
The lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is an Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.
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
Records682 records
Curve from 682 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. 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 Lappet-faced Vulture is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
682 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Lappet-faced Vulture
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
The Whale Trail (De Hoop)
De Hoop Nature Reserve
From R 6,460a night
Lappet-faced Vulture recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Lekkerwater
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Price on request
Lappet-faced Vulture recorded here
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
From R 26,450a night
Birder friendly
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 1,400a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay
From R 2,250a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Birder friendly
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam
From R 4,355a night
La Clé Lodge & Villas
Franschhoek
Price on request
Plumbago Cottage - Stanford Country Cottages
Stanford
From R 2,850a night
Lauradale
Stellenbosch
From R 1,465a night
Coot Club
Stanford
Price on request
Birder friendly
Moonshine on Whiskey Creek
The Crags, Plettenberg Bay
From R 1,950a night
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus
From R 2,235a night
Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa
Somerset West
Price on request
Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Franschhoek
From R 6,195a night
Assendelft Lodge
Prince Albert
From R 1,200a night
Tintswalo at Boulders
Simon's Town, Cape Town
Price on request
Klein Waterval Riverside Lodge
Franschhoek
From R 3,425a night
Devonport House
Constantia, Cape Town
From R 3,500a night
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 Lappet-faced Vulture
Hosts have recorded the Lappet-faced Vulture at stays in or beside De Hoop Nature Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Endangered
Species
Torgos tracheliotos
Records
682
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Lappet-faced Vulture on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Lappet-faced Vulture in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Lappet-faced Vulture at stays in or beside De Hoop 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 Lappet-faced Vulture in South Africa?
The Lappet-faced Vulture is most recorded in Mpumalanga (53% of records), Limpopo (24% of records), Northern Cape (14% of records), based on 682 iNaturalist observations. 4 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Lappet-faced Vulture on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Lappet-faced Vulture?
The Lappet-faced Vulture 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. De Hoop 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 Lappet-faced Vulture?
The Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Lappet-faced Vulture?
The lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is an Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Torgos. It is not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures, and does not share the good sense of smell of some members of that group.