
Western Cattle Egret
The cattle egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones.
Species insights
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.
Curve from 3,980 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.
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Western Cattle Egret is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,980 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Western Cattle Egret
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn · From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
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
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay · From R 4,640 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve · From R 1,180 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve · From R 2,170 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve · From R 680 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve · From R 1,560 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 180 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve · From R 300 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve · From R 1,460 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve · From R 1,750 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve · From R 1,750 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,990 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 1,990 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve · From R 1,780 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Kingfisher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,500 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Flamingo Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,430 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Oystercatcher Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,430 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Sandpiper Cottage
Rocherpan Nature Reserve · From R 1,430 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Rietdak Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area · From R 1,580 a night
Western Cattle Egret recorded here
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek vineyards, an hour up the N1
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Western Cattle Egret
Hosts have recorded the Western Cattle Egret at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Rocherpan 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
Ardea ibis
Records
3,980
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Western Cattle Egret on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Western Cattle Egret in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Western Cattle Egret at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch 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 Western Cattle Egret in South Africa?
The Western Cattle Egret is most recorded in Western Cape (46% of records), Gauteng (14% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (13% of records), based on 3,980 iNaturalist observations. 43 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Western Cattle Egret on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Western Cattle Egret?
The Western Cattle Egret 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; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Western Cattle Egret?
The cattle egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard two of its subspecies as full species, the western cattle egret and the eastern cattle egret.




























