Table Mountain National Park
Western Cape · Best Sep to Apr
4 places
Plants & flora
King Protea
Protea cynaroides
Protea cynaroides, the king protea, is a flowering plant.
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
Records8,601 records
Curve from 8,601 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 King Protea is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
8,601 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the King Protea
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna
From R 2,310a night
King Protea recorded here
Smitswinkel Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 965a night
King Protea recorded here
Overseers Mountain Cottage
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,009a night
King Protea recorded here
Lehele Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve
Price on request
King Protea recorded here
Slangkop Tented Camp
Table Mountain National Park
From R 770a night
King Protea recorded here
Olifantsbos Guest House
Table Mountain National Park
From R 4,859a night
King Protea recorded here
Kwena Lodge at Gondwana Game Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve
Price on request
King Protea recorded here
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 457a night
King Protea recorded here
Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp
Garden Route National Park
From R 287a night
King Protea recorded here
Nature’s Valley Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)
Garden Route National Park
From R 294a night
King Protea recorded here
More stays nearby
Oceans Away
Benguela Cove, Hermanus
From R 51,428a night
Thabile Lodge
Oudtshoorn
From R 1,400a night
Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 17,120a night
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West
From R 5,636a night
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
Hazyview
From R 22,680a night
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts, Simondium
Price on request
Welgelegen House by RETURN Africa
Gardens, Cape Town
From R 2,800a night
An African Story by RETURN Africa
Bakoven, Cape Town
From R 9,900a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Price on request
Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
From R 11,820a 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
Schoone Oordt Country House
Swellendam
From R 4,355a night
The Klein Karoo
Next stop
Dry mountains, ostriches, and Calitzdorp's port wines
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the King Protea
Hosts have recorded the King Protea at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park, Gondwana Game Reserve and Tsitsikamma National Park.
Species
Protea cynaroides
Records
8,601
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the King Protea on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the King Protea in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the King Protea at stays in or beside Table Mountain National Park, Gondwana Game Reserve, Tsitsikamma 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 King Protea in South Africa?
The King Protea is most recorded in Western Cape (96% of records), based on 8,601 iNaturalist observations. 10 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the King Protea on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the King Protea?
The King Protea 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; Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Tsitsikamma National Park: Apr-Sep; 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 King Protea?
Protea cynaroides, the king protea, is a flowering plant. It is a distinctive member of Protea, having the largest flower head in the genus. The species is also known as giant protea, honeypot or king sugar bush. It is widely distributed in the southwestern and southern parts of South Africa in the fynbos region.
