What is the conservation status of the Bateleur?

The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

What is the Bateleur?

The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is a medium-sized eagle in the family Accipitridae. Its closest relatives are the snake eagles. It is the only member of the genus Terathopius and may be the origin of the "Zimbabwe Bird", the national emblem of Zimbabwe. It is endemic to Africa and small parts of Arabia. " Bateleur " is French for "street performer".

Go Birding

Bateleur

Terathopius ecaudatusEndangered

The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is a medium-sized eagle in the family Accipitridae.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordBateleur40+ 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

Records2,287 records

Curve from 2,287 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

Mpumalanga and beyond

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

2,285 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Bateleur

Bateleur 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

Phelwana Game Lodge

Hoedspruit

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 2 birds recorded · Giraffe, Cheetah · Safaris, Game drives

Supports DAKTARI Bush School

From R 1,100 per night

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

Bushbuckridge

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 per night

&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 37,800 per night

&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp

Phalaborwa

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Bateleur 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

Bateleur 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

Bateleur 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

Bateleur 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

Bateleur 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

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Springbok

From R 2,634 per night

Bitterpan Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Gemsbok, Camel thorn · Stargazing, 4x4 trails

From R 2,634 per night

Tsendze Rustic Camp Site

Kruger National Park

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 28 birds recorded · Flaky bark thorn, Leadwood

From R 379 per night

Satara Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 52 birds recorded · Blue wildebeest, Cheetah · Photography

From R 331 per night

Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 41 birds recorded · Giraffe, Knobthorn

From R 390 per night

Malelane Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 41 birds recorded · Giraffe, Impala

From R 390 per night

Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 97 birds recorded · Camel thorn, Gemsbok · Stargazing

From R 2,634 per night

Boulders Bush Lodge

Kruger National Park

Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · 28 birds recorded · Flaky bark thorn, Giraffe · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 7,295 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Bateleur

Hosts have recorded the Bateleur at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Sabi Sand 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 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

Sabi Sand Timbavati

IUCN Red List

Endangered

Species

Terathopius ecaudatus

Records

2 285

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

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

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Bateleur at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature 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 Bateleur in South Africa?

The Bateleur is most recorded in Mpumalanga (57% of records), Limpopo (26% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (9% of records), based on 2 285 iNaturalist observations. 40 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Bateleur on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Bateleur?

The Bateleur 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; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal; Timbavati Private Nature Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.