Table Mountain National Park
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
1 place
Plants & flora
Cape Restio
Elegia capensis
Elegia capensis, called the horsetail restio, is a species of grass‑like flowering plant in the genus Elegia, native to the Cape Provinces of 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
Records725 records
Curve from 725 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
Provinces where Cape Restio is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
725 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Cape Restio
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park · From R 4,009 a night
Cape Restio recorded here
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Lauradale
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The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Cape Restio
Hosts have recorded the Cape Restio at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park.
Species
Elegia capensis
Records
725
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Cape Restio on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Cape Restio in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Restio at stays in or beside Table Mountain 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 Restio in South Africa?
The Cape Restio is most recorded in Western Cape (98% of records), based on 725 iNaturalist observations. 1 place to stay on Spekboom in South Africa has recorded the Cape Restio on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Cape Restio?
The Cape Restio 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. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Cape Restio?
Elegia capensis, called the horsetail restio, is a species of grass‑like flowering plant in the genus Elegia, native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.