uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
KwaZulu-Natal · Year-round
6 places
Trees & flora
Cape Beech
Rapanea melanophloeos
Rapanea melanophloeos, commonly known as Cape Beech, Kaapse Boekenhout or IsiCalabi, is a dense, graceful, evergreen tree that is native to the afromontane forests of 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
Records3,175 records
Curve from 3,175 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
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Cape Beech is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,175 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Beech
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
De Hoop Cottages
Robertson
From R 620a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
From R 2,310a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 965a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
Cape Beech recorded here
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 457a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Nature’s Valley Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 294a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Cobham
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 190a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Vernon Crookes
Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve
From R 480a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Monk's Cowl
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 130a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Highmoor
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 200a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 360a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Injisuthi
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 170a night
Cape Beech recorded here
Didima (Cathedral Peak)
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From R 1,070a night
Cape Beech recorded here
More stays nearby
Oceans Away
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
From R 51,428a night
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 1,400a night
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
The Klein Karoo
Next stop
Dry mountains, ostriches, and Calitzdorp's port wines
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cape Beech
Hosts have recorded the Cape Beech at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Table Mountain National Park and Tsitsikamma National Park.
Species
Rapanea melanophloeos
Records
3,175
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Beech on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Beech in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Beech at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Table Mountain National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Garden Route National Park, Royal Natal National Park and Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve. 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 Beech in South Africa?
The Cape Beech is most recorded in Western Cape (65% of records), Eastern Cape (17% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (11% of records), based on 3,175 iNaturalist observations. 15 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Cape Beech on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Beech?
The Cape Beech 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; Table Mountain National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Tsitsikamma National Park: Apr-Sep; Garden Route National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Cape Beech?
Rapanea melanophloeos, commonly known as Cape Beech, Kaapse Boekenhout or IsiCalabi, is a dense, graceful, evergreen tree that is native to the afromontane forests of Southern Africa.
