Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

The little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordLittle Grebe50+ 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

Records3,465 records

Curve from 3,465 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 Little Grebe is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

3,466 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Little Grebe

4 places
Kruger National ParkLimpopo · Best Apr to Sep
4 places

Places to stay

50+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

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

Price on request

Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse

Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 26 birds recorded · Black wildebeest, Bontebok · Horse riding, Hiking

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 5,636 per night

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Little Grebe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Little Grebe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Little Grebe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Little Grebe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Little Grebe recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 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

Barry House on Riverton

Robertson

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 158 birds recorded · Horse riding, Canoeing

From R 1,155 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

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Little Grebe 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

Little Grebe recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Little Grebe 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

Little Grebe recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 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

In Toto Retreat

Sedgefield

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 16 birds recorded · Canoeing, Surfing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 2,200 per night

Cederberg - Kliphuis

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome · 123 birds recorded · Stargazing

From R 180 per night

Grootvadersbosch Campsites

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve

Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome · 180 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 300 per night

Grootvadersbosch Cabins

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve

Little Grebe recorded here · Fynbos biome · 180 birds recorded · Spekboom · Photography

From R 1,460 per night

Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve

Little Grebe recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 166 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,750 per night

Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve

Little Grebe recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · 166 birds recorded · Spekboom

From R 1,750 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Little Grebe

Hosts have recorded the Little Grebe at stays in or beside 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.

Ways to look

Drive yourself

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

Where hosts record it

Kruger

Species

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Records

3 466

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

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

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Little Grebe at stays in or beside 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 Little Grebe in South Africa?

The Little Grebe is most recorded in Western Cape (54% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (15% of records), Gauteng (9% of records), based on 3 466 iNaturalist observations. 57 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Little Grebe on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Little Grebe?

The Little Grebe 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. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Little Grebe?