Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
13 places
Wildlife
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa.
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
Records4,057 records
Curve from 4,057 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
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Waterbuck is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
4,057 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Waterbuck
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Planning a trip
When and where to find the Waterbuck
Hosts have recorded the Waterbuck at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Kwandwe Private 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 |
| Sabi Sand | 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 Waterbuck 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 · Timbavati · Welgevonden
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Sabi Sand
MpumalangaBig FiveGuided drivesStays in Mpumalanga
Eastern Cape
Kwandwe
Eastern CapeBig FiveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · Ithala · Weenen
KwaZulu-NatalBig FiveStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Records
4,057
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Waterbuck on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Waterbuck in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Waterbuck at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and Gondwana Game 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 Waterbuck in South Africa?
The Waterbuck is most recorded in Mpumalanga (38% of records), Limpopo (27% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (14% of records), based on 4,057 iNaturalist observations. 49 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Waterbuck on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Waterbuck?
The Waterbuck 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; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Waterbuck?
The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is placed in the genus Kobus of the family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. The thirteen subspecies are grouped under two varieties: the common or ellipsen waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck.