Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Best Autumn and spring
7 places
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Martial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosusEndangered
The martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa.
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~168 records
Curve from 2,095 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
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Martial Eagle is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,094 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Martial Eagle
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
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
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
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Gamkaberg Campsite
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 230 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Stable Rooms
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 320 a night
Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve
Western Cape
Martial Eagle recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Black wildebeest · Black backed jackal
Gives back to Saving Private Rhino
Price on request
Ou Kraal
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,600 a night
Xami Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,520 a night
Fossil Ridge Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,320 a night
Sweetthorn Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,320 a night
Tierkloof Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,320 a night
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
The Whale Trail (De Hoop)
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Martial Eagle recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
From R 6,460 a night
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 14,985 a night
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 1,400 a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay
Forest biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,250 a night
Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Franschhoek
Fynbos biome · English oak
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 6,195 a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Angulate tortoise · Wild olive
Price on request
The Overberg
Next stop
Whale coast and rolling farm country
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Martial Eagle
Hosts have recorded the Martial Eagle at stays in or beside Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Grootvadersbosch 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
Polemaetus bellicosus
Records
2,094
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Martial Eagle on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Martial Eagle in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Martial Eagle at stays in or beside Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Marloth Nature Reserve and Swartberg 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 Martial Eagle in South Africa?
The Martial Eagle is most recorded in Mpumalanga (38% of records), Limpopo (23% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (15% of records), based on 2,094 iNaturalist observations. 19 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Martial Eagle on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Martial Eagle?
The Martial Eagle 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. Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Marloth 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 Martial Eagle?
The Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Martial Eagle?
The martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only member of the genus Polemaetus. A species of the booted eagle subfamily (Aquillinae), it has feathering over its tarsus. One of the largest and most powerful species of booted eagle, it is a fairly opportunistic predator that varies its prey selection between mammals, birds and reptiles.