Wildlife

Water Monitor

Varanus niloticus

The Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) is a large member of the monitor lizard family (Varanidae) found throughout much of Africa, but is absent from the west, where it is replaced by Varanus stellatus.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordWater Monitor2 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 Limpopo~426 records

Curve from 2,240 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

Mpumalanga and beyond

Provinces where Water Monitor is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

2,242 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Water Monitor

2 places
Welgevonden Game ReserveLimpopo · Best May to Sep
2 places

Places to stay

2 results in Limpopo

Izingwe Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Water Monitor recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Aardvark, Banded mongoose · Hiking, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Inzalo Safari Lodge

Welgevonden Reserve, Vaalwater

Water Monitor recorded here · Savanna biome · 15 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

More stays nearby

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

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

Price on request

Maninghi Lodge

Hoedspruit

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

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

Price on request

Pafuri Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Baobab Hill House by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Stargazing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 17,120 per night

Nkula Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 8,380 per night

Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa

Limpopo

Forest biome · 16 birds recorded · Leopard, Spotted hyena · Fishing, Guided walk

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 11,820 per night

Laluka Safari Lodge

Vaalwater

Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Spa, Hiking

Price on request

Phelwana Game Lodge

Hoedspruit

Savanna biome · 2 birds recorded · Giraffe, Cheetah · Safaris, Game drives

Supports DAKTARI Bush School

From R 1,100 per night

Graceland Eco Retreat

Magoebaskloof

Savanna biome · Hiking

From R 2,000 per night

Makalali Main Lodge

Limpopo

Savanna biome

Price on request

Makalali River Lodge

Limpopo

Savanna biome

Price on request

Sofala Game Farm

Tolwe

Price on request

Sunbird Lodge

When and where to find the Water Monitor

Hosts have recorded the Water Monitor at stays in or beside Welgevonden Game Reserve.

When to go, park by park

Here all yearEasiest viewing

Best months to visit each park where hosts record the Water Monitor
Park	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Welgevonden	Here	Here	Here	Here	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Easiest viewing	Here	Here	Here

Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Best hours of the day

The warm hours of the day. The Water Monitor needs the sun's warmth before it moves.
Cold mornings and nights. Tucked away until the day warms up.

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

Welgevonden

Species

Varanus niloticus

Records

2 242

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the Water Monitor in Limpopo?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Water Monitor at stays in or beside Welgevonden 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 Water Monitor in South Africa?

The Water Monitor is most recorded in Mpumalanga (35% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (26% of records), Limpopo (19% of records), based on 2 242 iNaturalist observations. 2 places to stay on Spekboom in Limpopo have recorded the Water Monitor on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Water Monitor?

The Water Monitor 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. Welgevonden Game Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Water Monitor?