What is the Spotted Eagle-Owl?

The spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus) is a medium-sized species of owl, one of the smallest of the eagle owls. Its length is 45 centimetres (18 in) and its weight is from 454 to 907 grams (1.0 to 2.0 lb). It has a 100 to 140 centimetres (39 to 55 in) wingspan. The facial disk is off white to pale ochre and the eyes are yellow.

Go Birding

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Bubo africanus

The spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus) is a medium-sized species of owl, one of the smallest of the eagle owls.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordSpotted Eagle-Owl10+ 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

Records3,960 records

Curve from 3,960 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 Spotted Eagle-Owl is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

3,960 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Spotted Eagle-Owl

Places to stay

10+ results in Mpumalanga

Singita Ebony Lodge

Mpumalanga

Spotted Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 42 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Mpumalanga

Spotted Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 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

&Beyond Tengile River Lodge

Bushbuckridge

Spotted Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 37 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Wildlife viewing

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 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

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Spotted Eagle-Owl 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

Spotted Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Dulini Moya

Bushbuckridge

Spotted Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Spotted Eagle-Owl 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

Spotted Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Greystone Lodge

Dullstroom

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 10 birds recorded · Fishing, Hiking

From R 1,200 per night

Dulini River

Bushbuckridge

Spotted Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Sausage tree, Leopard · Safaris, Scenic drives

From R 28,990 per night

Dulini Leadwood

Bushbuckridge

Spotted Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 38 birds recorded · Leadwood, Jackalberry · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 28,990 per night

More stays nearby

Ubuntu Lodge at Elephant Point

Hazyview

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

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Villa

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Castleton

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome · Yoga

Price on request

Singita Ebony Villa

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome · 50 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit

Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 37,800 per night

&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp

Phalaborwa

Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Forellenhof Guest Farm

Wakkerstroom

Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 28 birds recorded · Hiking, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,500 per night

Mvuradona Safari Lodge

Marloth Park

Savanna biome · Giraffe, Warthog · Safaris, Game drives

From R 2,473 per night

The Orpen Kruger

Welverdiend, Bushbuckridge

Savanna biome · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Game drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 9,024 per night

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Spotted Eagle-Owl

Hosts have recorded the Spotted Eagle-Owl at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Best hours of the day

Dusk and after dark. Listen for calls; a torch at camp or a night drive works best.
Daytime. Roosting, well hidden.

Where to base yourself

Ways to look

Drive yourself

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

Where hosts record it

Kruger

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

Sabi Sand

Species

Bubo africanus

Records

3 960

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Spotted Eagle-Owl on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Spotted Eagle-Owl in Mpumalanga?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Spotted Eagle-Owl at stays in or beside Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand 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 Spotted Eagle-Owl in South Africa?

The Spotted Eagle-Owl is most recorded in Western Cape (63% of records), Northern Cape (7% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (6% of records), based on 3 960 iNaturalist observations. 13 places to stay on Spekboom in Mpumalanga have recorded the Spotted Eagle-Owl on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Spotted Eagle-Owl?

The Spotted Eagle-Owl 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; Sabi Sand Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep optimal. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.