African Jacana

Actophilornis africanus

The African jacana (Actophilornis africanus) is a wader in the family Jacanidae, identifiable by long toes and long claws that enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, their preferred habitat.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordAfrican Jacana10+ 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

Records2,090 records

Curve from 2,090 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

KwaZulu-Natal and beyond

Provinces where African Jacana is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

2,090 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the African Jacana

10 places
Kruger National ParkLimpopo · Best Apr to Sep
10 places

Places to stay

10+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 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

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

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

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

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

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Bonamanzi Game Reserve

Hluhluwe

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Leopard, Giraffe · Game drives, Boat trip

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 240 per night

Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 41 birds recorded · Giraffe, Knobthorn

From R 390 per night

Malelane Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 41 birds recorded · Giraffe, Impala

From R 390 per night

Bateleur Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Blue wildebeest, Bushbuck

From R 2,820 per night

Sirheni Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Cheetah, Impala lily

From R 1,634 per night

Shingwedzi Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Cheetah · Photography

From R 378 per night

Pretoriuskop Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Brack thorn, Cheetah

From R 390 per night

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Hiking, Game drives

From R 1,420 per night

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

African Jacana recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 900 per night

Little Dinokeng Bush Lodge

Hammanskraal

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 19 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Guided walk

From R 1,537 per night

More stays nearby

Babylonstoren

Klapmuts, Simondium

12 birds recorded · Angulate tortoise, Wild olive · Spa, Vineyards

Price on request

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

Forest biome · 60 birds recorded · Humpback whale, Southern right whale · Canoeing, Snorkelling

Price on request

La Clé Lodge & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · Cycling

Price on request

Coot Club

Stanford

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

Price on request

Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point

Hazyview

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the African Jacana

Hosts have recorded the African Jacana at stays in or beside Kruger National Park.

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.

Ways to look

Drive yourself

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

Where hosts record it

Kruger

Species

Actophilornis africanus

Records

2 090

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

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

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Jacana at stays in or beside Kruger 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 Jacana in South Africa?

The African Jacana is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (44% of records), Mpumalanga (29% of records), Limpopo (15% of records), based on 2 090 iNaturalist observations. 18 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Jacana on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the African Jacana?

The African Jacana 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. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the African Jacana?