Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
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Rock Martin
Ptyonoprogne fuligula
The rock martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family that is resident in central and southern 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~865 records
Curve from 1,442 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 Martin is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,442 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Rock Martin
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
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
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Outeniqua yellowwood
Gives back to Revive Knysna
From R 2,310 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 220 a night
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Rock Martin 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
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Gamkaberg Campsite
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 230 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,590 a night
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,730 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Rock Martin recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a 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 Rock Martin
Hosts have recorded the Rock Martin 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
Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Records
1,442
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Rock Martin on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Rock Martin in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Rock Martin at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve and De Hoop 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 Rock Martin in South Africa?
The Rock Martin is most recorded in Western Cape (60% of records), Northern Cape (17% of records), Eastern Cape (6% of records), based on 1,442 iNaturalist observations. 65 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Rock Martin on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Rock Martin?
The Rock Martin 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 Martin?
The rock martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family that is resident in central and southern Africa. It breeds mainly in the mountains, but also at lower altitudes, especially in rocky areas and around towns, and, unlike most swallows, it is often found far from water.