Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
7 places
Wildlife
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
The honey badger (Mellivora capensis), also known as the ratel, is the only species in the mustelid subfamily Mellivorinae and its only genus Mellivora.
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
Records621 records
Curve from 621 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 Honey Badger is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
621 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Honey Badger
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve
Touws River
Honey Badger recorded here · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Aardvark
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 360 a night
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Jaci's Lodge Trust
From R 31,500 a night
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
Honey Badger recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 350 a night
Frog Mountain Getaway
Swellendam
Honey Badger recorded here · Fynbos biome · Boomslang · Bushbuck
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust and 1 other
From R 1,950 a night
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 10,670 a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,400 a night
Dulini Moya
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Leadwood · Leopard
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
From R 28,990 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Impala · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 11,980 a night
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,500 a night
Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point
Kruger National Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to DAKTARI Bush School
Price on request
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu
Honey Badger recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 350 a night
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu
Honey Badger recorded here · Fynbos biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Singita Ebony Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Mvubu Bush Camp
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Honey Badger recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,380 a night
Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Honey Badger recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,580 a night
Singita Boulders Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Buffalo Valley River Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Honey Badger recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,580 a night
Buffalo Valley Forest Lodge
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Honey Badger recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bushbuck · Bushpig
From R 1,410 a night
Singita Sweni Lodge
Kruger National Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 2,634 a night
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Camel thorn
From R 2,634 a night
Singita Lebombo Lodge
Kruger National Park
Honey Badger recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
The Drakensberg
Next stop
Sandstone amphitheatres and cool mountain air
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Honey Badger
Hosts have recorded the Honey Badger at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Kgalagadi | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | 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
- After dark and around dawn. The Honey Badger is mostly active at night, so a night drive gives the best chance.
- Daytime, resting. Usually out of sight in cover, a burrow or water.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Timbavati · Welgevonden
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeMpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaBig FiveGuided drivesStays in MpumalangaWestern Cape
Goukamma · Gondwana
Western CapeBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Western Cape
Ways to look
Species
Mellivora capensis
Records
621
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Honey Badger on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Honey Badger in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Honey Badger at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Timbavati Private 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 Honey Badger in South Africa?
The Honey Badger is most recorded in Western Cape (34% of records), Mpumalanga (26% of records), Limpopo (16% of records), based on 621 iNaturalist observations. 42 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Honey Badger on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Honey Badger?
The Honey Badger 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; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Honey Badger?
The honey badger (Mellivora capensis), also known as the ratel, is the only species in the mustelid subfamily Mellivorinae and its only genus Mellivora. It is native to Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species; instead, it bears more anatomical similarities to weasels.