Table Mountain National Park
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
3 places
Wildlife
Cape Genet
Genetta tigrina
The Cape genet (Genetta tigrina), also known as the South African large-spotted genet, is a genet species endemic to South 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~573 records
Curve from 682 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 Cape Genet is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
682 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Genet
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
Cape Genet recorded here · Fynbos biome · King protea · Sugarbush
From R 965 a night
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
Cape Genet recorded here · Fynbos biome · King protea · Sugarbush
From R 4,009 a night
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
Cape Genet recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · King protea
From R 4,859 a night
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
Cape Genet recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Outeniqua yellowwood
From R 287 a night
Nature’s Valley Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
Cape Genet recorded here · Forest biome · Arum lily · Krantz aloe
From R 294 a night
More stays nearby
Coastal Retreat
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 14,985 a night
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 1,400 a night
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay
Forest biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,250 a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Franschhoek
Fynbos biome · English oak
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 6,195 a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Angulate tortoise · Wild olive
Price on request
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
Fynbos biome · English oak
From R 2,800 a night
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
Fynbos biome
From R 9,900 a night
La Clé Lodge & Villas
Franschhoek
Fynbos biome · English oak
Price on request
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam
Fynbos biome
Gives back to Barrydale Hospice
From R 4,355 a night
Plumbago Cottage - Stanford Country Cottages
Stanford
Fynbos biome
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and 1 other
From R 2,850 a night
Coot Club
Stanford
Fynbos biome · White milkwood · Southern right whale
Gives back to Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy
Price on request
Lauradale
Stellenbosch
Fynbos biome · English oak
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 1,465 a night
Moonshine on Whiskey Creek
The Crags, Plettenberg Bay
Fynbos biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 1,950 a night
Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa
Somerset West
Fynbos biome
Gives back to Love to Give
Price on request
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus
Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
Gives back to Stanford Animal Welfare Society and 1 other
From R 2,235 a night
Assendelft Lodge
Prince Albert
Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 1,200 a night
Tintswalo at Boulders
Simon's Town, Cape Town
Fynbos biome
Gives back to SANCCOB and 4 others
Price on request
Klein Waterval Riverside Lodge
Franschhoek
Fynbos biome · English oak
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 3,425 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 Cape Genet
Hosts have recorded the Cape Genet at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park, Garden Route National Park and Tsitsikamma National Park.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table Mountain | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing |
| Garden Route | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Best hours of the day
- After dark and around dawn. The Cape Genet is mostly active at night, so a night drive gives the best chance.
- Daytime, resting. Usually out of sight in cover, a burrow or water.
Where to base yourself
Western Cape
Table Mountain · 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
Species
Genetta tigrina
Records
682
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Genet on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Genet in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Genet at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park, Garden Route National Park and Tsitsikamma 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 Cape Genet in South Africa?
The Cape Genet is most recorded in Western Cape (84% of records), Eastern Cape (10% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (6% of records), based on 682 iNaturalist observations. 5 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Cape Genet on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Genet?
The Cape Genet 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; Garden Route National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Tsitsikamma National Park: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Cape Genet?
The Cape genet (Genetta tigrina), also known as the South African large-spotted genet, is a genet species endemic to South Africa. As it is common and not threatened, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Like other genets, it is nocturnal and arboreal, preferring to live in the riparian zones of forests, as long as these are not marshy areas.