What is the Verreaux's Eagle-Owl?

Verreaux's eagle-owl (Ketupa lactea), also commonly known as the milky eagle owl or giant eagle owl, is a member of the family Strigidae. This species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. A member of the genus Ketupa, it is the largest African owl, measuring up to 66 cm (26 in) in total length. This eagle-owl is a resident primarily of dry, wooded savanna.

Go Birding

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Ketupa lactea

Verreaux's eagle-owl (Ketupa lactea), also commonly known as the milky eagle owl or giant eagle owl, is a member of the family Strigidae.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordVerreaux's Eagle-Owl20+ 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 Mpumalanga~334 records

Curve from 710 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 Verreaux's Eagle-Owl is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

710 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Places to stay

20+ results in Mpumalanga

Singita Ebony Lodge

Mpumalanga

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 42 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Boulders Lodge

Mpumalanga

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 43 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Sweni Lodge

Mpumalanga

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 53 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Singita Lebombo Lodge

Mpumalanga

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 50 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

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

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 93,000 per night

&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge

Hoedspruit

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · 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

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 31 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Dining experiences

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 52,000 per night

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Verreaux's 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

Verreaux's 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

Verreaux's 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

Verreaux's 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

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

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Orpen Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Knobthorn · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,815 per night

Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 45 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 390 per night

Lower Sabie Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 57 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Photography

From R 390 per night

Talamati Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 56 birds recorded · Delagoa thorn, Giraffe · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 1,756 per night

Biyamiti Bushveld Camp

Kruger National Park

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 45 birds recorded · Cheetah, Delagoa thorn · Guided walk, Game drives

From R 2,219 per night

Skukuza Rest Camp

Kruger National Park

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl recorded here · Savanna biome · 74 birds recorded · African elephant, Cape buffalo · Photography, Golf

From R 390 per night

Dulini River

Bushbuckridge

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

From R 28,990 per night

Dulini Leadwood

Bushbuckridge

Verreaux's 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 Castleton

Mpumalanga

Savanna biome · Yoga

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Hosts have recorded the Verreaux's Eagle-Owl at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature 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 Timbavati

Species

Ketupa lactea

Records

710

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

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

Which parks and reserves are best for the Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in Mpumalanga?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Verreaux's Eagle-Owl at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature 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 Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in South Africa?

The Verreaux's Eagle-Owl is most recorded in Mpumalanga (47% of records), Limpopo (34% of records), Northern Cape (10% of records), based on 710 iNaturalist observations. 21 places to stay on Spekboom in Mpumalanga have recorded the Verreaux's Eagle-Owl on site or nearby.

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

The Verreaux's 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; Timbavati Private Nature Reserve: May-Sep, dry season. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.