Gonimbrasia belina
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Gonimbrasia belina is a species of emperor moth which is native to the warmer parts of southern Africa. Its large edible caterpillar, known as the mopane worm, madora, amacimbi, pigeon moth or masonja, feeds primarily but not exclusively on mopane tree leaves. Mopane worms are an important source of protein for many in the region. The species was first scientifically described by John O. Westwood in 1849.
The mopane worm is so-called in English because it is usually found on the mopane tree, Colophospermum mopane. Other vernacular names for the caterpillars include: Botswana Kalanga: mashonja Tswana: phane South Africa Sotho: masonja
Northern Sotho: mašotša (colloq) Venda: mashonzha Tsonga: matamani or masonja Southern Ndebele: iinnondo Tswana: masonja, seboko sa mongana Zambia muyaya (believed to be the mopane worm) finkubala ifishimu (proper name in the Bemba language)
Zimbabwe Northern Ndebele: macimbi Shona: madora, masodya or mashonja Kalanga: mahonja Namibia Ovambo: omagungu Oshikwanyama: oshuungu Democratic Republic of the Congo Kongo: mingolo The Latin name is sometimes given as Imbrasia belina, rather than Gonimbrasia belina.
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| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannesburg | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Mopane Worm sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 272nd most-seen of the 316 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July–August and October–November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mopane Worm in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, against under 5% in September and December–June, the lowest months.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Mopane Worm sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 2
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Mopane Worm sightings, iSimangaliso Wetland Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Kruger National Park (South Africa, about 10%).
Same family: Saturniidae
The closest relatives of the Mopane Worm that you can see in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (family Saturniidae, Emperor and Giant Silk Moths) are Cavorting Emperor (about 10%), Gold Marbled Emperor (about 10%) and Delegorgue's Prince (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Mopane Worm is recorded against all the insects logged in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
