What is the Verreaux's Eagle?

Verreaux's eagle is a large African bird of prey. It is also called the black eagle, especially in Southern Africa, leading to potential confusion with the Indian black eagle, which lives in Asia.

Go Birding

Verreaux's Eagle

Ketupa lactea

Verreaux's eagle is a large African bird of prey.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordVerreaux's Eagle50+ 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

Records1,243 records

Curve from 1,243 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 Verreaux's Eagle is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

1,243 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Verreaux's Eagle

Places to stay

50+ results in South Africa

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

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Verreaux's Eagle 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

Jaci's Private Lodge

Madikwe

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Savanna biome · 71 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives, Photography

Supports Jaci's Lodge Trust

From R 31,500 per night

Mbizane Escarpment Retreat

Mbombela

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · 91 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,800 per night

Duma Manzi Wilderness & Wellness Retreat

Richmond

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 9 birds recorded · Spa, 4x4 trails

From R 5,990 per night

Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve

Touws River

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Gemsbok, Aardvark · Mountain biking, Hiking

From R 360 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Verreaux's Eagle 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

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Izingwe Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Aardvark, Banded mongoose · Hiking, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Verreaux's Eagle 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

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Inzalo Safari Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Verreaux's Eagle recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

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

Tierhoek Cottages

Robertson

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 5 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 2,100 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

Tomjachu Bush Retreat

Mbombela

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 11 birds recorded · Giraffe, Plains zebra · Stargazing, Photography

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 3,300 per night

Lark House

Glencairn, Cape Town

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 14 birds recorded · Whale watching, Hiking

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Verreaux's Eagle

Hosts have recorded the Verreaux's Eagle at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Gondwana Game Reserve and Welgevonden 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 Augrabies Falls Karoo Marakele

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 Welgevonden

Species

Ketupa lactea

Records

1 243

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Verreaux's Eagle on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Verreaux's Eagle in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Verreaux's Eagle at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Gondwana Game Reserve, Welgevonden Game Reserve, Augrabies Falls National Park, Karoo National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve and other reserves. 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 Verreaux's Eagle in South Africa?

The Verreaux's Eagle is most recorded in Western Cape (48% of records), Northern Cape (14% of records), Gauteng (13% of records), based on 1 243 iNaturalist observations. 66 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Verreaux's Eagle on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Verreaux's Eagle?

The Verreaux's Eagle 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; Gondwana Game Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Welgevonden Game Reserve: May-Sep, dry season; Augrabies Falls National Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.