Cape Batis

Batis capensis

The Cape batis (Batis capensis) is a small, stout insect-eating passerine bird in the wattle-eye family.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordCape Batis50+ 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

Records1,965 records

Curve from 1,965 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 Cape Batis is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

Western Cape

74%KwaZulu-Natal

11%Eastern Cape

1,965 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Cape Batis

2 places
Gondwana Game ReserveWestern Cape · Best Sep to Apr
2 places

Places to stay

50+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Cape Batis recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Cape Batis recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Cape Batis recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Cape Batis recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Cape Batis recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

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

The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa

Drakensberg, Bergville

Cape Batis recorded here · Grassland biome · 7 birds recorded · Horse riding, Spa

Supports Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

From R 4,280 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

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

Cederberg - Kliphuis

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Cape Batis recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing

From R 180 per night

Gamkaberg Campsite

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Cape Batis recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 230 per night

Grootvadersbosch Campsites

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve

Cape Batis recorded here · Fynbos biome · 180 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 300 per night

Grootvadersbosch Cabins

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve

Cape Batis recorded here · Fynbos biome · 180 birds recorded · Spekboom · Photography

From R 1,460 per night

Mbali Collection

Kogelberg Nature Reserve

Cape Batis recorded here · Fynbos biome · 94 birds recorded

From R 1,590 per night

Oudebosch Eco Cabins

Kogelberg Nature Reserve

Cape Batis recorded here · Fynbos biome · 94 birds recorded

From R 1,730 per night

Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve

Cape Batis recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 166 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,750 per night

Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve

Cape Batis recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 166 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,750 per night

Algeria Cottages

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Cape Batis recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,990 per night

Stable Rooms

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Cape Batis recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 320 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Cape Batis

Hosts have recorded the Cape Batis at stays in or beside 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.

Ways to look

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

Species

Batis capensis

Records

1 965

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

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

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Batis at stays in or beside Gondwana 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 Cape Batis in South Africa?

The Cape Batis is most recorded in Western Cape (74% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (11% of records), Eastern Cape (8% of records), based on 1 965 iNaturalist observations. 52 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Cape Batis on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Cape Batis?

The Cape Batis 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. Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Cape Batis?