Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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Sombre Greenbul
Andropadus importunus
The sombre greenbul (Andropadus importunus) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds.
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~1,137 records
Curve from 2,230 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 Sombre Greenbul is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,230 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Sombre Greenbul
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
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
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome
From R 630 a night
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
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
Gamkaberg Campsite
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 230 a night
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Mbali Collection
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,590 a night
Oudebosch Eco Cabins
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,730 a night
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Stable Rooms
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 320 a night
Ou Kraal
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,600 a night
Xami Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,520 a night
Fossil Ridge Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Sombre Greenbul recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 1,320 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 Sombre Greenbul
Hosts have recorded the Sombre Greenbul at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve and De Hoop 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
Andropadus importunus
Records
2,230
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Sombre Greenbul on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Sombre Greenbul in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Sombre Greenbul at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Kogelberg Nature Reserve and Vrolijkheid 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 Sombre Greenbul in South Africa?
The Sombre Greenbul is most recorded in Western Cape (51% of records), Eastern Cape (20% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (19% of records), based on 2,230 iNaturalist observations. 42 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Sombre Greenbul on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Sombre Greenbul?
The Sombre Greenbul 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. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; 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. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Sombre Greenbul?
The sombre greenbul (Andropadus importunus) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in coastal bush, evergreen forest and dry shrub land in eastern and southern Africa. It is the only member of the genus Andropadus.