Table Mountain National Park
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
4 places
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Shy Albatross
Thalassarche cautaNear threatened
The shy albatross, also known as shy mollymawk, (Thalassarche cauta, formerly Diomedea cauta), is a medium-sized albatross that breeds on three remote islands off the coast of Tasmania, Australia, in the southern Indian Ocean.
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~52 records
Curve from 58 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 Shy Albatross is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
58 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Shy Albatross
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,560a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,590a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,730a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 965a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Slangkop Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 770a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,859a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
West Coast National Park
West Coast National Park
From R 1,646a night
Shy Albatross recorded here
Nature’s Valley Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 294a night
Shy Albatross 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
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 Shy Albatross
Hosts have recorded the Shy Albatross at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park, Kogelberg Nature Reserve and Garden Route 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
Table Mountain · Kogelberg · Garden Route
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
Near Threatened
Species
Thalassarche cauta
Records
58
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Shy Albatross on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Shy Albatross in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Shy Albatross at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park, Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park, Robberg Nature Reserve, 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 Shy Albatross in South Africa?
The Shy Albatross is most recorded in Western Cape (90% of records), Eastern Cape (10% of records), based on 58 iNaturalist observations. 10 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Shy Albatross on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Shy Albatross?
The Shy Albatross 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. Table Mountain National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Kogelberg Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Garden Route National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Robberg 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 Shy Albatross?
The Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Shy Albatross?
The shy albatross, also known as shy mollymawk, (Thalassarche cauta, formerly Diomedea cauta), is a medium-sized albatross that breeds on three remote islands off the coast of Tasmania, Australia, in the southern Indian Ocean. Its lifespan is about 60 years, and it has been seen as far afield as South Africa and the Pacific coast of the United States.