Cederberg Wilderness Area
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
9 places
Wildlife
Cape Cobra
Naja nivea
The Cape cobra (Naja nivea), also called the yellow cobra, is a moderate-sized, highly venomous species of cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa including arid savanna, fynbos, bushveld, desert and semi-desert regions.
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
Records1,396 records
Curve from 1,396 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 Cobra is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,397 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Cobra
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
De Hoop Cottages
Robertson
From R 620a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Frog Mountain Getaway
Swellendam
From R 1,950a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu
From R 350a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Cederberg - Kliphuis
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 180a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Lehele Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve
Price on request
Cape Cobra recorded here
Gamkaberg Campsite
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 230a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Algeria Cottages
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 1,990a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Kwena Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve
Price on request
Cape Cobra recorded here
Stable Rooms
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 320a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Ou Kraal
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,600a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Xami Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,520a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Fossil Ridge Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,320a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Sweetthorn Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,320a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Tierkloof Eco Lodge
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
From R 1,320a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Rietdak Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 1,580a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Waenhuis Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 960a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Garskraal Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 2,310a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Uitkyk Cottage
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 1,510a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Peerboom
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 1,490a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Sas se Werf
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 1,490a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Prik se Werf
Cederberg Wilderness Area
From R 1,490a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Tapfontein
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 250a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
Anysberg Campsites
Anysberg Nature Reserve
From R 250a night
Cape Cobra recorded here
The Overberg
Next stop
Whale coast and rolling farm country
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cape Cobra
Hosts have recorded the Cape Cobra at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Anysberg Nature Reserve and Gamkaberg Nature Reserve.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cederberg Wilderness Area | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing |
| Anysberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | 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
- The warm hours of the day. The Cape Cobra needs the sun's warmth before it moves.
- Cold mornings and nights. Tucked away until the day warms up.
Where to base yourself
Western Cape
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Anysberg · Gamkaberg
Western CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Augrabies Falls · Namaqua
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant
Eastern CapeBig FiveSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
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
Naja nivea
Records
1,397
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Cobra on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Cobra in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Cobra at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Anysberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Addo Elephant National Park and Table Mountain National Park 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 Cape Cobra in South Africa?
The Cape Cobra is most recorded in Western Cape (74% of records), Northern Cape (14% of records), Eastern Cape (9% of records), based on 1,397 iNaturalist observations. 48 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Cape Cobra on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Cobra?
The Cape Cobra 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. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Anysberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Gamkaberg Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Cape Cobra?
The Cape cobra (Naja nivea), also called the yellow cobra, is a moderate-sized, highly venomous species of cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa including arid savanna, fynbos, bushveld, desert and semi-desert regions. The species is diurnal and is a feeding generalist, preying on a number of different species and carrion.
