Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
The little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds.
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~1,872 records
Curve from 3,465 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 Little Grebe is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,466 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Little Grebe
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
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
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
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
De Hoop Collection
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
Little Grebe recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 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
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,500 a night
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 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 Little Grebe
Hosts have recorded the Little Grebe 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
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Records
3,466
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Little Grebe on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Little Grebe in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Little Grebe at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Grootvadersbosch 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 Little Grebe in South Africa?
The Little Grebe is most recorded in Western Cape (54% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (15% of records), Gauteng (9% of records), based on 3,466 iNaturalist observations. 51 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Little Grebe on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Little Grebe?
The Little Grebe 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; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Little Grebe?
The little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The genus name is from Ancient Greek takhus "fast" and bapto "to sink under". The specific ruficollis is from Latin rufus "red" and Modern Latin -collis, "-necked", itself derived from Latin collum "neck".