Table Mountain National Park

🇿🇦 South Africa

🐦 Cape Sugarbird Pollinates Table Mountain Blossoms
🌍 #184 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #53 in Africa #10 in Desert & Scrub
Southern Africa, South Africa 839 spp. recorded

Table Mountain National Park is a rugged mountain and coastal reserve wrapping around the city of Cape Town in South Africa. The landscape is defined by steep sandstone ridges and thick Mediterranean scrub, where visitors hike along rocky paths and coastal boardwalks through dense fynbos vegetation.

-34.252° S   18.426° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Cape Sugarbird ★
LC

Cape Sugarbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Promerops cafer

20–30% · Possible
Orange-breasted Sunbird ★
LC

Orange-breasted Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthobaphes violacea

20–30% · Possible
Mountain Zebra ★
VU Endemic

Mountain Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus zebra

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Red-winged Starling
LC

Red-winged Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychognathus morio

70–80% · Very likely
🐦 No photo available
LC

Cape White-eye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops virens

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
LC

Southern Double-collared Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris chalybeus

70–80% · Very likely
Hadada
LC Endemic

Hadada

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bostrychia hagedash

60–70% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

60–70% · Likely
Red-eyed Dove
LC

Red-eyed Dove

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Streptopelia semitorquata

50–60% · Likely
Cape Bulbul
LC

Cape Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus capensis

50–60% · Likely
Pied Crow
LC

Pied Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus albus

40–50% · Likely
Karoo Prinia
LC

Karoo Prinia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prinia maculosa

40–50% · Likely
Black Girdled Lizard
LC

Black Girdled Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cordylus niger

40–50% · Likely
Olive Thrush
LC

Olive Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus olivaceus

40–50% · Likely
Western Leopard Toad
EN

Western Leopard Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Sclerophrys pantherina

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Mountain Zebra ★
VU Endemic

Mountain Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus zebra

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Chacma Baboon
LC

Chacma Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio ursinus

30–40% · Possible
Rock Hyrax
LC

Rock Hyrax

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Procavia capensis

30–40% · Possible
Afro-Australian Fur Seal
LC

Afro-Australian Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus pusillus

30–40% · Possible
Eastern Gray Squirrel
LC

Eastern Gray Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus carolinensis

20–30% · Possible
Bontebok/Blesbok
LC Endemic

Bontebok/Blesbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Damaliscus pygargus

20–30% · Possible
Cape Porcupine
LC

Cape Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Hystrix africaeaustralis

20–30% · Possible
Common Eland

Common Eland

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Taurotragus oryx

20–30% · Possible
Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse
LC

Cape Four-striped Grass Mouse

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhabdomys pumilio

10–20% · With luck
Caracal
LC

Caracal

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Caracal caracal

10–20% · With luck
Klipspringer
LC

Klipspringer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oreotragus oreotragus

10–20% · With luck
African Clawless Otter
NT

African Clawless Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aonyx capensis

10–20% · With luck
Cape Dune Mole Rat
LC

Cape Dune Mole Rat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bathyergus suillus

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Cape Sugarbird ★
LC

Cape Sugarbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Promerops cafer

20–30% · Possible
Orange-breasted Sunbird ★
LC

Orange-breasted Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthobaphes violacea

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Red-winged Starling
LC

Red-winged Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychognathus morio

70–80% · Very likely
🐦 No photo available
LC

Cape White-eye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops virens

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
LC

Southern Double-collared Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinnyris chalybeus

70–80% · Very likely
Hadada
LC Endemic

Hadada

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bostrychia hagedash

60–70% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

60–70% · Likely
Red-eyed Dove
LC

Red-eyed Dove

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Streptopelia semitorquata

50–60% · Likely
Cape Bulbul
LC

Cape Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus capensis

50–60% · Likely
Pied Crow
LC

Pied Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus albus

40–50% · Likely
Karoo Prinia
LC

Karoo Prinia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prinia maculosa

40–50% · Likely
Olive Thrush
LC

Olive Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus olivaceus

40–50% · Likely
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

40–50% · Likely
European Starling
LC Endemic

European Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnus vulgaris

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Black Girdled Lizard
LC

Black Girdled Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cordylus niger

40–50% · Likely
Southern Rock Agama
LC

Southern Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama atra

40–50% · Likely
Cape Dwarf Chameleon
NT

Cape Dwarf Chameleon

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bradypodion pumilum

30–40% · Possible
Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko
LC

Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Afrogecko porphyreus

30–40% · Possible
Angulate Tortoise
LC

Angulate Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chersina angulata

30–40% · Possible
Cape Skink
LC

Cape Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis capensis

20–30% · Possible
Cape Dwarf Gecko
LC

Cape Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus capensis

20–30% · Possible
Mole Snake
LC

Mole Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pseudaspis cana

20–30% · With luck
Common Slug-eater
LC

Common Slug-eater

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Duberria lutrix

20–30% · With luck
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

10–20% · With luck
Common Brown Water Snake
LC

Common Brown Water Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lycodonomorphus rufulus

10–20% · With luck
Parrot-beaked Tortoise
LC

Parrot-beaked Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Homopus areolatus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Western Leopard Toad
EN

Western Leopard Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Sclerophrys pantherina

40–50% · Likely
Cape River Frog
LC

Cape River Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Amietia fuscigula

30–40% · Possible
Clicking Stream Frog
LC Endemic

Clicking Stream Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Strongylopus grayii

20–30% · Possible
Painted Reed Frog
LC

Painted Reed Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hyperolius marmoratus

10–20% · With luck
Lightfoot's moss frog
NT

Lightfoot's moss frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Arthroleptella lightfooti

5–10% · With luck
Cape sand frog
LC Endemic

Cape sand frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Tomopterna delalandii

5–10% · With luck
Sand Toad
LC

Sand Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Vandijkophrynus angusticeps

5–10% · With luck
Giant Rain Frog
VU

Giant Rain Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Breviceps gibbosus

5–10% · With luck
Mountain Rain Frog
LC

Mountain Rain Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Breviceps montanus

5–10% · With luck
African Clawed Frog
LC

African Clawed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Xenopus laevis

5–10% · With luck
Flat Dainty frog
NT

Flat Dainty frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Cacosternum platys

5–10% · With luck
Banded Stream Frog
LC

Banded Stream Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Strongylopus bonaespei

5–10% · With luck

Animal Events

🦌

Humpback Whale Coastal Migration

JulAugSepOct

Humpback whales migrate along the False Bay coastline, often breaching and feeding near the park's shores.

Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

5–10% · With luck
🦎

Cape Dwarf Chameleon Activity

Apr

Cape Dwarf Chameleons emerge to mate and feed on insects, displaying vibrant color changes in the fynbos.

Cape Dwarf Chameleon
NT

Cape Dwarf Chameleon

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bradypodion pumilum

30–40% · Possible
🐦

Cape Sugarbird Pollination Peak

SepOct

Cape Sugarbirds and Orange-breasted Sunbirds actively pollinate proteas and ericas, creating vibrant floral displays.

Cape Sugarbird
LC

Cape Sugarbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Promerops cafer

20–30% · Possible
Orange-breasted Sunbird
LC

Orange-breasted Sunbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthobaphes violacea

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
Cape Sugarbird
10–20
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
Orange-breasted Sunbird
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
10–20
20–30
30–40
10–20
10–20
10–20
Mountain Zebra
5–10
5–10
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
5–10
5–10
5–10
5–10
5–10
Red-winged Starling
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Cape White-eye
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
Hadada
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
Egyptian Goose
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
Red-eyed Dove
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Cape Bulbul
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
Pied Crow
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
Karoo Prinia
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
Black Girdled Lizard
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
Olive Thrush
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
Western Leopard Toad
40–50
30–40
30–40
20–30
20–30
30–40
40–50
70–80
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
Animal Events
🐦 Cape Sugarbird Pollination Peak
🦌 Humpback Whale Coastal Migration
🦎 Cape Dwarf Chameleon Activity

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐦 Cape Sugarbird Pollinates Table Mountain Blossoms

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
551
🐒 Mammals
168
🦎 Reptiles
86
🐸 Amphibians
34
839 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
58 Threatened 15 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
57%
📊
Coverage (153 species at ≥5% of 839 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
18%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (10 bird, 1 reptile, 1 amphibian)
46% Global avg
39%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
92
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
7
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
15

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Table Mountain National Park?

The most likely sightings are Red-winged Starling (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Cape White-eye (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Southern Double-collared Sunbird (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Hadada (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Egyptian Goose (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 839 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Table Mountain National Park for wildlife?

September has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Cape Sugarbird in Table Mountain National Park?

Yes — about 27% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Sugarbird sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 1,388 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Orange-breasted Sunbird in Table Mountain National Park?

Yes — about 23% of wildlife watchers report a Orange-breasted Sunbird sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 1,176 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Mountain Zebra in Table Mountain National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mountain Zebra sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 132 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

⚖️

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