Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
41 places
Wildlife
Chacma Baboon
Papio ursinus
The Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family.
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
Records7,919 records
Curve from 7,919 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 Chacma Baboon is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
7,918 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Chacma Baboon
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu
From R 1,500a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
From R 10,670a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
The Orpen Kruger
Kruger National Park
From R 9,024a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
From R 17,400a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
From R 28,990a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Quatermain's Camp
Paterson
From R 11,592a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 11,980a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
From R 17,500a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Swartberg Nature Reserve (Die Hel)
Swartberg Nature Reserve
From R 630a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Marataba Safari Lodge
Marakele National Park
Price on request
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
From R 1,180a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Limietberg Nature Reserve
Limietberg Nature Reserve
From R 220a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
From R 2,170a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu
From R 350a night
Chacma Baboon recorded here
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Price on request
Chacma Baboon recorded here
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Chacma Baboon
Hosts have recorded the Chacma Baboon at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Cederberg Wilderness Area.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | 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 Chacma Baboon 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
Limpopo
Kruger · Marakele
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveStays in Limpopo
Western Cape
Cederberg Wilderness Area · Gamkaberg · De Hoop
Western CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi · Ai-Ais/Richtersveld
Northern CapeSelf-driveStays in Northern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg
KwaZulu-NatalStays in KwaZulu-Natal
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
Papio ursinus
Records
7,918
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Chacma Baboon on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Chacma Baboon in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Chacma Baboon at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve and Addo Elephant 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 Chacma Baboon in South Africa?
The Chacma Baboon is most recorded in Western Cape (49% of records), Mpumalanga (17% of records), Limpopo (11% of records), based on 7,918 iNaturalist observations. 148 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Chacma Baboon on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Chacma Baboon?
The Chacma Baboon 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. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Chacma Baboon?
The Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family. It is one of the largest of all monkeys.
