Cape Terrapin
Cape TerrapinCape TerrapinCape TerrapinCape Terrapin

Cape Terrapin

Pelomedusa galeata

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
71 Verified records at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 iSimangaliso Wetland Park, based on 71 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Yellowbelly Mud Turtle
LC

Yellowbelly Mud Turtle

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pelusios castanoides

Insufficient data
Serrated Hinged Terrapin

Serrated Hinged Terrapin

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelusios sinuatus

Insufficient data
Mashona Hinged Terrapin
LC

Mashona Hinged Terrapin

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelusios rhodesianus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
5–10
May
10–20
Jun
20–30
Jul
10–20
Aug
20–30
Sep
30–40
Oct
10–20
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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
30–40%
2 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
3 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
4 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
5 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
6 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
7 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Terrapin in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

About 19% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Terrapin sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, based on 71 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cape Terrapin in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Cape Terrapin in iSimangaliso Wetland Park in our monthly data.

← Back to iSimangaliso Wetland Park