Table Mountain National Park
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
4 places
Marine life
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), or Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, is the most well-known species from the family Delphinidae.
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
Records105 records
Curve from 105 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 Common Bottlenose Dolphin is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
105 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 965a night
Common Bottlenose Dolphin recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
Common Bottlenose Dolphin recorded here
Slangkop Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 770a night
Common Bottlenose Dolphin recorded here
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,859a night
Common Bottlenose Dolphin recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
Common Bottlenose Dolphin recorded here
More stays nearby
Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Voëlklip, Hermanus
From R 2,235a night
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam
From R 4,355a night
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 8,380a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Price on request
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a night
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
From R 31,500a night
Thonga Beach Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Price on request
Sasi Bush Lodge
Bergville
From R 5,400a night
Phelwana Game Lodge
Hoedspruit
From R 1,100a night
La Clé Lodge & Villas
Franschhoek
Price on request
Bitou River Lodge
Wittedrift, Plettenberg Bay
From R 2,250a night
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Hosts have recorded the Common Bottlenose Dolphin at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park and Garden Route National Park.
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Species
Tursiops truncatus
Records
105
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Common Bottlenose Dolphin on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Common Bottlenose Dolphin in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Common Bottlenose Dolphin at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park and Garden Route 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 Common Bottlenose Dolphin in South Africa?
The Common Bottlenose Dolphin is most recorded in Western Cape (70% of records), Eastern Cape (19% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (11% of records), based on 105 iNaturalist observations. 5 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Common Bottlenose Dolphin on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Common Bottlenose Dolphin?
The Common Bottlenose Dolphin 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; 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 conservation status of the Common Bottlenose Dolphin?
The Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Common Bottlenose Dolphin?
The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), or Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, is the most well-known species from the family Delphinidae.