What is the African Harrier-Hawk?

The African harrier-hawk, harrier hawk, or gymnogene (Polyboroides typus) is a bird of prey. It is about 60-66 cm in length, and is related to the harriers. It breeds in most of Africa south of the Sahara. The only other member of the genus is the allopatric Madagascan harrier-hawk.

Go Birding

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

The African harrier-hawk, harrier hawk, or gymnogene (Polyboroides typus) is a bird of prey.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordAfrican Harrier-Hawk50+ stays list it on site or nearby

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

Records2,654 records

Curve from 2,654 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 African Harrier-Hawk is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

2,654 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the African Harrier-Hawk

Places to stay

50+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Coot Club

Stanford

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 8 birds recorded · White milkwood, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Canoeing

Price on request

Singita Ebony Lodge

Mpumalanga

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 42 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Mpumalanga

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 71 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Photography

Supports Jaci's Lodge Trust

From R 31,500 per night

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

Bushbuckridge

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 per night

Mbizane Escarpment Retreat

Mbombela

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · 91 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,800 per night

Barry House on Riverton

Robertson

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 158 birds recorded · Horse riding, Canoeing

From R 1,155 per night

Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna

Hunter's Home, Knysna

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 80 birds recorded · Spekboom, Outeniqua yellowwood

Supports Revive Knysna

From R 2,000 per night

Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve

Montagu

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Fynbos biome · 59 birds recorded · Bontebok, Gemsbok · Guided walk, Hiking

Supports Cape Leopard Trust

From R 350 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 10,670 per night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Hazyview

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Dulini Moya

Bushbuckridge

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Impala, Spotted hyena · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 per night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Marloth Park

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Hlosi Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

African Harrier-Hawk recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Lion, Spekboom · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 4,000 per night

Karoo Secret Farm Stay

Aberdeen

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Nama-Karoo biome · 209 birds recorded · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 per night

Ouberg Private Nature Reserve

Montagu

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Succulent Karoo biome · 109 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Honey badger · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 350 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the African Harrier-Hawk

Hosts have recorded the African Harrier-Hawk at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Amakhala Game Reserve.

Best hours of the day

Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kruger Marakele

Guided drives from a lodge

A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.

Where hosts record it

Sabi Sand Amakhala

Species

Polyboroides typus

Records

2 654

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the African Harrier-Hawk on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the African Harrier-Hawk in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Harrier-Hawk at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Amakhala Game Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve and Marakele 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 African Harrier-Hawk in South Africa?

The African Harrier-Hawk is most recorded in Western Cape (49% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (20% of records), Mpumalanga (11% of records), based on 2 654 iNaturalist observations. 59 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Harrier-Hawk on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the African Harrier-Hawk?

The African Harrier-Hawk 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; Amakhala Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Madikwe Game Reserve: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.