Wattled Crane

Grus carunculatusVulnerable

The wattled crane is a large bird found in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordWattled Crane10+ 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

Records149 records

Curve from 149 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 Wattled Crane is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

KwaZulu-Natal

82%Mpumalanga

149 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Wattled Crane

4 places
Okavango DeltaNorth-West District · Best Dry season
4 places

Places to stay

10+ results in South Africa

Cobham

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Wattled Crane 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

Wattled Crane 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

Wattled Crane recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Chacma baboon · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 130 per night

Kamberg

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Wattled Crane recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Tree fuchsia, Black wildebeest · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 840 per night

Lotheni

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

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

From R 270 per night

Highmoor

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Wattled Crane 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

Wattled Crane recorded here · Grassland biome · 30 birds recorded · Chacma baboon, Bushbuck · Horse riding, Guided walk

From R 360 per night

Injisuthi

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Wattled Crane recorded here · Forest biome · 30 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Chacma baboon · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 170 per night

Didima (Cathedral Peak)

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Wattled Crane recorded here · Grassland biome · 31 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Tree fuchsia · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 1,070 per night

Giant's Castle

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Wattled Crane recorded here · Grassland biome · 31 birds recorded · Real yellowwood, Chacma baboon · Guided walk, Hiking

From R 1,150 per night

Antbear Eco Lodge

Estcourt

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 72 birds recorded · Spa, Stargazing

From R 2,000 per night

Ntsikeni Community Lodge

KwaZulu-Natal

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 16 birds recorded · Hiking

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 850 per night

More stays nearby

Babylonstoren

Klapmuts, Simondium

12 birds recorded · Angulate tortoise, Wild olive · Spa, Vineyards

Price on request

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

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

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

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

Price on request

La Clé Lodge & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · Cycling

Price on request

Coot Club

Stanford

Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 8 birds recorded · White milkwood, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Canoeing

Price on request

Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point

Hazyview

Savanna biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Price on request

Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa

Somerset West

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Vineyards, Wine tasting

Price on request

Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse

Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West

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

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 5,636 per night

Maninghi Lodge

Hoedspruit

Savanna biome · 8 birds recorded · Giraffe, African elephant · Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Rhino Sands Safari Camp

Hazyview

Savanna biome · 30 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Zululand Conservation Trust

From R 22,680 per night

Franschhoek Country House & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · 1 bird recorded · Spa, Mountain biking

Supports Cape Leopard Trust

From R 6,195 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Wattled Crane

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.

IUCN Red List

Vulnerable

Species

Grus carunculatus

Records

149

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Where can you see the Wattled Crane in South Africa?

The Wattled Crane is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (82% of records), Mpumalanga (9% of records), based on 149 iNaturalist observations. 12 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Wattled Crane on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Wattled Crane?

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

What is the conservation status of the Wattled Crane?

The Wattled Crane (Grus carunculatus) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

What is the Wattled Crane?

The wattled crane is a large bird found in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. It is sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Bugeranus.