African Hoopoe

Upupa epops africana

The Eurasian hoopoe is the most widespread species of the genus Upupa, native to Europe, Asia and the northern half of Africa.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordAfrican Hoopoe75+ 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

Records3,142 records

Curve from 3,142 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 Hoopoe is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

3,142 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the African Hoopoe

Places to stay

75+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Hoopoe recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

African Hoopoe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

African Hoopoe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

African Hoopoe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

African Hoopoe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

African Hoopoe 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

Remote Corner

Parkview, Johannesburg

African Hoopoe recorded here · Grassland biome · 9 birds recorded · Small spotted genet, Spekboom · Scenic drives

Supports Friends of Zoo Lake

From R 850 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 Hoopoe recorded here · Fynbos biome · 59 birds recorded · Bontebok, Gemsbok · Guided walk, Hiking

Supports Cape Leopard Trust

From R 350 per night

Montusi Mountain Lodge

Drakensberg, Bergville

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 32 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Common eland · Spa, Horse riding

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 6,800 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

African Hoopoe 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 Hoopoe recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Izingwe Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

African Hoopoe recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Aardvark, Banded mongoose · Hiking, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

African Hoopoe 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 Hoopoe recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Inzalo Safari Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

African Hoopoe recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

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

Tierhoek Cottages

Robertson

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 5 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 2,100 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

Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin

Montagu

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 108 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Honey badger · Gravel cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,500 per night

Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping

Nieu Bethesda

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Nama-Karoo biome · 221 birds recorded · Stargazing, Canoeing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,760 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the African Hoopoe

Hosts have recorded the African Hoopoe at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Gondwana Game Reserve.

Best hours of the day

The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

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

Where hosts record it

Kruger Kgalagadi

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

Gondwana Welgevonden

Species

Upupa epops africana

Records

3 142

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the African Hoopoe in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Hoopoe at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Gondwana Game Reserve and Welgevonden Game Reserve. 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 Hoopoe in South Africa?

The African Hoopoe is most recorded in Western Cape (29% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (19% of records), Eastern Cape (13% of records), based on 3 142 iNaturalist observations. 83 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Hoopoe on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the African Hoopoe?

The African Hoopoe 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; Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Welgevonden Game Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.