What is the African Marsh Harrier?

The African marsh harrier (Circus ranivorus) is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier genus Circus. It is largely resident in wetland habitats in southern, central and eastern Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan.

Go Birding

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

The African marsh harrier (Circus ranivorus) is a bird of prey belonging to the harrier genus Circus.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordAfrican Marsh Harrier2 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

Recorded in Eastern Cape~56 records

Curve from 621 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. 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 African Marsh Harrier is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

621 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the African Marsh Harrier

2 places
Amakhala Game ReserveEastern Cape · Year-round
2 places

Places to stay

2 results in the Eastern Cape

Hlosi Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Lion, Spekboom · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 4,000 per night

Bukela Game Lodge

Amakhala Game Reserve, Addo

African Marsh Harrier recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 23 birds recorded · Giraffe, Cheetah · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

More stays nearby

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

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

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Lupus Den Country House

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal, Bushbuck

From R 2,600 per night

Cycads On Sea

St Francis Bay

Fynbos biome · Spekboom · Surfing, Kitesurfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 2,460 per night

Forest Hall Guest House

Walmer, Port Elizabeth

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Surfing

Supports National Sea Rescue Institute

From R 1,050 per night

Karoo Cottage - Sneeuberg Nature Reserve

Sneeuberg Nature Reserve, Nieu Bethesda

Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom · Horse riding, Hiking

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 3,100 per night

Hitgeheim Country Lodge Addo

Sundays River Valley, Addo

Albany Thicket biome · 1 bird recorded · Leopard, Lion · Vineyards, Safaris

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 2,000 per night

Karoo Secret Farm Stay

Aberdeen

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

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,200 per night

Aasvogelkrans Farm Cottages & Camping

Nieu Bethesda

Birder friendly · Nama-Karoo biome · 221 birds recorded · Stargazing, Canoeing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,760 per night

Pabala Private Nature Reserve

Hankey

Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · 10 birds recorded · Giraffe, Impala · Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 485 per night

Walkerbouts Inn - Rhodes

Rhodes

Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 6 birds recorded

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 600 per night

Storms River Mouth Rest Camp (Tsitsikamma)

Garden Route National Park

Forest biome · 1 bird recorded · Snorkelling, Diving

From R 457 per night

Mountain Zebra National Park

Grassland biome · Black wildebeest, Springbok · Stargazing, Game drives

From R 449 per night

Langebos Huts

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Hiking

From R 2,093 per night

Spekboom Tented Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · 18 birds recorded · Black backed jackal, Spotted hyena · Game drives

From R 1,490 per night

Camdeboo Rest Camp

Camdeboo National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Blesbok, Springbok

From R 345 per night

Nyathi Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Leopard, Lion

From R 2,901 per night

Matyholweni Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Bushbuck, Warthog

From R 2,426 per night

Addo Rest Camp

Addo Elephant National Park

Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom · Photography

From R 461 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the African Marsh Harrier

Hosts have recorded the African Marsh Harrier at stays in or beside Amakhala 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.

Ways to look

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

Amakhala

Species

Circus ranivorus

Records

621

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the African Marsh Harrier on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the African Marsh Harrier in Eastern Cape?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the African Marsh Harrier at stays in or beside Amakhala 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 African Marsh Harrier in South Africa?

The African Marsh Harrier is most recorded in Western Cape (55% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (23% of records), Eastern Cape (9% of records), based on 621 iNaturalist observations. 2 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the African Marsh Harrier on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the African Marsh Harrier?

The African Marsh Harrier 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. Amakhala Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.