Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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White-breasted Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus
The white-breasted cormorant is much like the widespread great cormorant and if not a regional variant of the same species, is at least very closely related.
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~2,989 records
Curve from 4,459 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 White-breasted Cormorant is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
4,461 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the White-breasted Cormorant
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Oceans Away
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 34,972 a night
Swallows Rest
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale · Caracal
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 29,981 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
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 14,985 a night
Lagoon Ocean Lodge
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 24,990 a night
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Vine & Vale
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 34,972 a night
Lavender Dreams
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 24,990 a night
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
Price on request
Azure Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 17,492 a night
Milk & Honey
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 17,492 a night
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Tidesong
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 34,972 a night
Oceanique
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 24,990 a night
Sea Whisper
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 17,492 a night
Utopia
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 31,223 a night
Bliss on the Bay (Pringle Bay)
Pringle Bay
White-breasted Cormorant recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
White-breasted Cormorant recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
White-breasted Cormorant recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
White-breasted Cormorant recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
White-breasted Cormorant recorded here · Fynbos biome · Cape fur seal
From R 1,560 a night
The Cape Winelands
Next stop
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek vineyards, an hour up the N1
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the White-breasted Cormorant
Hosts have recorded the White-breasted Cormorant at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg 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
Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus
Records
4,461
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the White-breasted Cormorant on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the White-breasted Cormorant in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the White-breasted Cormorant at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Kogelberg 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 White-breasted Cormorant in South Africa?
The White-breasted Cormorant is most recorded in Western Cape (67% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (10% of records), Eastern Cape (8% of records), based on 4,461 iNaturalist observations. 55 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the White-breasted Cormorant on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the White-breasted Cormorant?
The White-breasted Cormorant 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; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; 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 White-breasted Cormorant?
The white-breasted cormorant is much like the widespread great cormorant and if not a regional variant of the same species, is at least very closely related. It is distinguished from other forms of the great cormorant by its white breast and by the fact that subpopulations are freshwater birds.