Eastern Cape
Kwandwe · Amakhala · Mountain Zebra
Big FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-free
Stays in Eastern CapeWhere to see
Where to see the Black Wildebeest in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Black Wildebeest at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Amakhala Game Reserve.
Connochaetes gnou
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Black Wildebeest
Hosts have recorded the Black Wildebeest at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Amakhala Game Reserve.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwandwe | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here |
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | 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
- Early morning and late afternoon. The Black Wildebeest is out through the day, and easiest to watch before the heat.
- Midday heat. Often resting in shade or near water.
Where to base yourself
- Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam) · Kamberg
KwaZulu-NatalSelf-driveStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Free State
Golden Gate Highlands
Free StateSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Free State
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Species
Connochaetes gnou
Records
1,115
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Black Wildebeest on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Black Wildebeest in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black Wildebeest at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Amakhala Game Reserve, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Chelmsford Nature Reserve (Ntshingwayo Dam) and Kamberg 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 Wildebeest in South Africa?
The Black Wildebeest is most recorded in Gauteng (33% of records), Eastern Cape (24% of records), Free State (18% of records), based on 1,115 iNaturalist observations. 24 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Black Wildebeest on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Black Wildebeest?
The Black Wildebeest 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. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Amakhala Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Golden Gate Highlands National Park: Mar-May, Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Black Wildebeest?
The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou) is one of the two closely related wildebeest species. It is a member of the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae. It was first described in 1780 by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann. The black wildebeest is typically between 170-220 cm (67-87 in) in head-and-body length, and the average weight is 110-180 kg (240-400 lb).
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Black Wildebeest
Every stay on the Black Wildebeest page lists the species its host has recorded on or near the property. A record is a sighting, never a promise.
See where to stay