African Rail

Rallus caerulescens

The African rail (Rallus caerulescens) is a small wetland bird of the rail family.

Showing stays that recordAfrican Rail20+ 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

Records255 records

Curve from 255 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 Rail is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

18%KwaZulu-Natal

255 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the African Rail

Places to stay

20+ results in South Africa

&Beyond Phinda Zuka Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Rail recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 31,600 per night

&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Rail recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 44,800 per night

&Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Rail recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 44,800 per night

&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Rail recorded here · Savanna biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 35,500 per night

&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge

Hluhluwe

African Rail recorded here · Forest biome · 34 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 36,200 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

Fish Eagle Loft

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded

From R 1,340 per night

Otter's Rest

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded

From R 1,370 per night

Kabeljou Cottage

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded

From R 1,560 per night

Stumpnose Cottage

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded

From R 1,560 per night

Blacktail Cottage

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded

From R 1,560 per night

Mvubu Bush Camp

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Bushpig

From R 1,380 per night

Buffalo Valley Vlei Lodge

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Bushpig

From R 1,580 per night

Buffalo Valley River Lodge

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Bushpig

From R 1,580 per night

Buffalo Valley Forest Lodge

Goukamma Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 175 birds recorded · Bushbuck, Bushpig

From R 1,410 per night

The Whale Trail (De Hoop)

De Hoop Nature Reserve

African Rail recorded here · Fynbos biome · 185 birds recorded · Bontebok, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Cycling

From R 6,460 per night

Orpen Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

African Rail recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,815 per night

Maroela Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

African Rail recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn

From R 390 per night

Tamboti Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

African Rail recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Photography

From R 771 per night

Talamati Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

African Rail recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Giraffe · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,756 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

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

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

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the African Rail

Hosts have recorded the African Rail at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve and 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.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

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

Where hosts record it

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

Species

Rallus caerulescens

Records

255

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

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

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Rail at stays in or beside Phinda Private Game Reserve and 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 Rail in South Africa?

The African Rail is most recorded in Western Cape (63% of records), Gauteng (18% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (8% of records), based on 255 iNaturalist observations. 20 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the African Rail on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the African Rail?

The African Rail 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. Phinda Private Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the African Rail?