Limpopo
Kruger · Timbavati · Welgevonden
Big FiveSelf-driveGuided drives
Stays in LimpopoWhere to see
Where to see the Waterbuck in South Africa
Hosts have recorded the Waterbuck at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
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
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.
Stays that give back
Where to stay for a chance to see the Waterbuck
Every stay on the Waterbuck 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