De Mond Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Best Summer for terns and waders
1 place
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Little Tern
Sternula albifrons
The little tern (Sternula albifrons) is a seabird of the family, Laridae.
Species insights
When to visit
Most records Nov to Mar
When Little Tern sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Best monthsNov to Mar
Recorded in Western Cape~28 records
Curve from 155 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 Little Tern is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
155 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Little Tern
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Damara Trail (De Mond)
De Mond Nature Reserve
From R 3,690a night
Little Tern recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
Little Tern recorded here
West Coast National Park
West Coast National Park
From R 1,646a night
Little Tern recorded here
Nature’s Valley Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 294a night
Little Tern 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 Little Tern
Hosts have recorded the Little Tern at stays in or beside De Mond Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park and Tsitsikamma National Park.
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.
Where to base yourself
Western Cape
De Mond · Garden Route · West Coast
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western CapeEastern Cape
Tsitsikamma
Eastern CapeSelf-driveStays in Eastern Cape
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Sternula albifrons
Records
155
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Little Tern on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Little Tern in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Little Tern at stays in or beside De Mond Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park and West Coast National Park. 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 Tern in South Africa?
The Little Tern is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (68% of records), Western Cape (18% of records), Eastern Cape (14% of records), based on 155 iNaturalist observations. 4 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Little Tern on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Little Tern?
Sightings of the Little Tern peak from Nov to Mar, based on 155 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the conservation status of the Little Tern?
The Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Little Tern?
The little tern (Sternula albifrons) is a seabird of the family, Laridae. It was formerly placed into the genus Sterna, which now is restricted to the large white terns. The genus name is a diminutive of Sterna, "tern". The specific albifrons is from Latin albus, "white", and "frons", forehead.