Cape Terrapin
Pelomedusa galeata
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyPelomedusidae (African Mud Turtles)
- GenusPelomedusa (Helmeted Terrapins)
- SpeciesPelomedusa galeata (Cape Terrapin)
Pelomedusa galeata, commonly known as the South African helmeted terrapin and the cape terrapin, is a species of side-necked terrapin in the family Pelomedusidae. It is endemic to South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Terrapin sighting in Garden Route National Park, based on 129 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 6 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 7 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Cape Terrapin in Garden Route National Park?
About 16% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Terrapin sighting in Garden Route National Park, based on 129 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Cape Terrapin in Garden Route National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Cape Terrapin in Garden Route National Park in our monthly data.