What is the conservation status of the Cape Vulture?

The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

What is the Cape Vulture?

The Cape griffon or Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), also known as Kolbe's vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to southern Africa, and is found mainly in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and in some parts of northern Namibia. It nests on cliffs and lays one egg per year. Since 2015, it has been classified as Endangered.

Go Birding

Cape Vulture

Gyps coprotheresVulnerable

The Cape griffon or Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), also known as Kolbe's vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordCape Vulture20+ 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

Records1,179 records

Curve from 1,179 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 Cape Vulture is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

1,179 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Cape Vulture

Places to stay

20+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 71 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Photography

Supports Jaci's Lodge Trust

From R 31,500 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

Wilge River Bush Camp

Bronkhorstspruit

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 12 birds recorded · Canoeing, Fishing

From R 600 per night

Tandweni Villa

Mkuze

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 7 birds recorded · African elephant, Cape buffalo · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 14,000 per night

Cape Vulture Lodge

Hoedspruit

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Spa, Mountain biking

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 4,000 per night

The Whale Trail (De Hoop)

De Hoop Nature Reserve

Cape Vulture 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

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,815 per night

Satara Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

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

From R 331 per night

Motswedi Camp Site

Mokala National Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · African elephant, Brown hyena · Game drives

From R 628 per night

Maroela Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn

From R 390 per night

Tlopi Tented Camp

Marakele National Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 45 birds recorded · African elephant, Leopard

From R 1,866 per night

Bontle Rest Camp

Marakele National Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 391 per night

Tamboti Satellite Camp

Kruger National Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Photography

From R 771 per night

Elandsberg Rest Camp

Tankwa Karoo National Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 1 bird recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,741 per night

Talamati Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Giraffe · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,756 per night

Cobham

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Southern rock agama, Tree fuchsia · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 190 per night

Garden Castle

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Southern rock agama, Cape heath · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 190 per night

Monk's Cowl

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Chacma baboon · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 130 per night

Kamberg

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Tree fuchsia, Black wildebeest · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 840 per night

Lotheni

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · 32 birds recorded · Southern rock agama, Common eland · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 270 per night

Highmoor

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · 32 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Chacma baboon · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 200 per night

Royal Natal (Thendele, Mahai & Rugged Glen)

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Cape Vulture recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Chacma baboon, Bushbuck · Horse riding, Guided walk

From R 360 per night

Ithala (Ntshondwe)

Ithala Game Reserve

Cape Vulture recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Hiking, Game drives

From R 130 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Cape Vulture

Hosts have recorded the Cape Vulture at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Marakele National Park and Madikwe 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 Marakele

IUCN Red List

Vulnerable

Species

Gyps coprotheres

Records

1 179

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

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

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Cape Vulture at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Marakele National Park and Madikwe 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 Vulture in South Africa?

The Cape Vulture is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (24% of records), Western Cape (17% of records), Limpopo (15% of records), based on 1 179 iNaturalist observations. 28 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Cape Vulture on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Cape Vulture?

The Cape Vulture 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; Marakele National Park: May-Sep, dry season; Madikwe Game Reserve: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.