KwaZulu-Natal
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg · Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · Giants Castle
Big Five
Stays in KwaZulu-NatalWhere to see
Where to see the Chacma Baboon in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Chacma Baboon at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
Papio ursinus
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Chacma Baboon
Hosts have recorded the Chacma Baboon at stays in or beside uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg | Here | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | 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
- KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Kruger · Welgevonden
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Western Cape
Table Mountain · De Hoop · Gondwana
Western CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Mpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaBig FiveGuided drivesStays in Mpumalanga
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 uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Table Mountain National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and De Hoop 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 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. 51 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. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; 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 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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Chacma Baboon
Every stay on the Chacma Baboon 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