Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Rock Kestrel
Falco rupicolus
The rock kestrel (Falco rupicolus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae.
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~2,478 records
Curve from 2,951 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 Rock Kestrel is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,950 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Rock Kestrel
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu · From R 350 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson · From R 1,155 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West · From R 5,636 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn · From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve · From R 630 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay · From R 4,640 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve · From R 1,180 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Limietberg Nature Reserve · From R 220 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area · From R 680 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve · From R 680 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve · From R 1,560 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve
Western Cape · Price on request
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu · From R 350 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu · From R 1,500 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 180 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Gamkaberg Campsite
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve · From R 230 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve · From R 300 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve · From R 1,460 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve · From R 1,590 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve · From R 1,730 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve · From R 1,750 a night
Rock Kestrel recorded here
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 Rock Kestrel
Hosts have recorded the Rock Kestrel at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Anysberg 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
Species
Falco rupicolus
Records
2,950
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Rock Kestrel on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Rock Kestrel in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Rock Kestrel at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and Table Mountain National Park 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 Rock Kestrel in South Africa?
The Rock Kestrel is most recorded in Western Cape (84% of records), Eastern Cape (7% of records), Northern Cape (5% of records), based on 2,950 iNaturalist observations. 68 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Rock Kestrel on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Rock Kestrel?
The Rock Kestrel 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; Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Rock Kestrel?
The rock kestrel (Falco rupicolus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common kestrel.