uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
10 places
Wildlife
Black-backed Jackal
Lupulella mesomelas
The black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) is a medium sized canine native to eastern and southern 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
Records2,953 records
Curve from 2,953 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Eastern Cape and beyond
Provinces where Black-backed Jackal is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,949 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Black-backed Jackal
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Jaci's Lodge Trust
From R 31,500 a night
Heritage View Birding Retreat
Delareyville
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Grassland biome · Brown hyena · Black backed jackal
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,000 a night
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 350 a night
Lupus Den Country House
Sundays River Valley, Addo
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal · Bushbuck
Gives back to Wilderness Foundation Africa
From R 2,600 a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 10,670 a night
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,400 a night
Singita Ebony Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Leadwood · Leopard
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 28,990 a night
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Impala · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 11,980 a night
Singita Boulders Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,500 a night
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 350 a night
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · African elephant · Cape buffalo
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,000 a night
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Pabala Private Nature Reserve
Hankey
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Fynbos biome · Giraffe · Impala
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 485 a night
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 2,634 a night
Kwandwe Melton Manor
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Camel thorn
From R 2,634 a night
Spekboom Tented Rest Camp
Addo Elephant National Park
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal · Spotted hyena
From R 1,490 a night
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Black-backed Jackal recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Black-backed Jackal
Hosts have recorded the Black-backed Jackal at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kruger 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Kgalagadi | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing |
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
- First and last hours of daylight. The Black-backed Jackal moves and hunts in the cool.
- Midday, resting. Usually lying up in shade and hard to spot.
- After dark, on a night drive. Where the reserve or park offers one.
Where to base yourself
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Giants Castle · Kamberg
KwaZulu-NatalSelf-driveStays in KwaZulu-NatalLimpopo
Kruger · Timbavati · Welgevonden
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeMpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaBig FiveGuided drivesStays in Mpumalanga
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
Species
Lupulella mesomelas
Records
2,949
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Black-backed Jackal on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Black-backed Jackal in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black-backed Jackal at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Timbavati Private 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 Black-backed Jackal in South Africa?
The Black-backed Jackal is most recorded in Eastern Cape (17% of records), Limpopo (17% of records), Northern Cape (16% of records), based on 2,949 iNaturalist observations. 55 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Black-backed Jackal on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Black-backed Jackal?
The Black-backed Jackal 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Black-backed Jackal?
The black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) is a medium sized canine native to eastern and southern Africa. These regions are separated by roughly 900 kilometers.