Karoo Chat

Emarginata schlegelii

The Karoo chat (Emarginata schlegelii) is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordKaroo Chat30+ 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

Records596 records

Curve from 596 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 Karoo Chat is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

Western Cape

71%Northern Cape

28%

596 records, iNaturalist

Places to stay

30+ results in South Africa

Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve

Montagu

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 59 birds recorded · Bontebok, Gemsbok · Guided walk, Hiking

Supports Cape Leopard Trust

From R 350 per night

Karoo Secret Farm Stay

Aberdeen

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Nama-Karoo biome · 209 birds recorded · Cycling

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 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

Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve

Western Cape

Karoo Chat recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 16 birds recorded · Black wildebeest, Black backed jackal · Spa, Stargazing

Supports Saving Private Rhino

Price on request

Cederberg - Kliphuis

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing

From R 180 per night

Gamkaberg Campsite

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 230 per night

Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 166 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,750 per night

Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 166 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,750 per night

Algeria Cottages

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,990 per night

Stable Rooms

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 320 per night

Ou Kraal

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 1,600 per night

Xami Eco Lodge

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 1,520 per night

Fossil Ridge Eco Lodge

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 1,320 per night

Sweetthorn Eco Lodge

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 1,320 per night

Tierkloof Eco Lodge

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve

Karoo Chat recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 98 birds recorded · Spekboom · Stargazing

From R 1,320 per night

Rietdak Cottage

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,580 per night

Waenhuis Cottage

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 960 per night

Garskraal Cottage

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 2,310 per night

Uitkyk Cottage

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,510 per night

Peerboom

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,490 per night

Sas se Werf

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,490 per night

Prik se Werf

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Karoo Chat recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing, Hiking

From R 1,490 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Karoo Chat

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.

Species

Emarginata schlegelii

Records

596

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Where can you see the Karoo Chat in South Africa?

The Karoo Chat is most recorded in Western Cape (71% of records), Northern Cape (28% of records), based on 596 iNaturalist observations. 32 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Karoo Chat on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Karoo Chat?

The Karoo Chat is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it.

What is the Karoo Chat?

The Karoo chat (Emarginata schlegelii) is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a common resident breeder in southwesternmost Angola, western Namibia and western South Africa. Its habitat is Karoo and desert scrub in the south, extending to the escarpment zone in the north.