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Detailed below are some of our birding destinations that we visit on our Tours.
SOUTH AFRICA
 1. Addo Elephant National Park (Eastern Cape)
This National Park is situated at the top end of the Garden Route, 45 minutes drive from the city of
Port Elizabeth . It was set up in 1931 as a final refuge for the last remnants of the once teeming elephant herds of the
Eastern Cape, and now boasts some of the best elephant viewing in the country.
Other mammals include Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Eland, Red Hartebeest and smaller specials such as Striped Polecat, Aardwolf , Porcupine and Black-footed Cat. Lions and Spotted Hyeana were re-introduced in 2004.
Target species: Southern Black Korhaan, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Cape Penduline Tit, Karoo Scrub-Robin, Southern Tchagra, Olive Bush-Shrike, Swee Waxbill, Forest Canary
2. Albasini Dam (Limpopo Province)
Albasini Dam is the biggest body of water in the Limpopo area and supports an extensive array of birdlife, including Osprey, African Finfoot and White-backed Night Heron. Other sites in the immediate vicinity can produce African Broadbill, Narina Trogon, Crested Guineafowl, Crowned Eagle, Pygmy Goose and Blue-spotted Dove.
3. Blyde River Canyon (Mpumalanga Province)
 This huge canyon is situated on the lip of the Northern Drakensberg Escarpment and is the third largest canyon in the world. The views are awe-inspiring and, because it is situated in the transition zone between the inland plateau and the lowland savannah to the east, the bird life is both varied and spectacular.
Target species: Taita Falcon, Black Stork, Southern Bald Ibis, Cape Rock-Thrush, Gurney's Sugarbird, Cape Vulture, Swee Waxbill, Cut-throat Finch, Narina Trogon, Forest Canary.
4. Bonamanzi (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
 Bonamanzi is located close to the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and Mkhuze, Hluhluwe and Ndumo, the renowned birding reserves of northern Natal. Officially it is considered to be one of the top three birding destinations in South Africa, with a remarkable list of 350 recorded species.
The reserve contains Sand Forest habitats, which is where the specials such as Pink-throated Twinspot, Eastern Nicator, African Broadbill and Gorgeous Bush-Shrike are to be found. Pans and Lala Palm savannah also provide unique habitats.
Target species: African Broadbill, Woodward's Batis, Eastern Nicator, Crested Guineafowl, Pink-throated Twinspot and Lemon-breasted Canary
5. Chrissiesmeer - Lake Chrissie (Mpumalanga Province)
 Chrissiesmeer is a small farming village in the Mpumalanga Highlands not far from Ermelo. The surrounding countryside is a wonderful birding area with extensive rolling grasslands and numerous wetlands, comprising natural lakes, pans and marshes. Waterbirds abound and grassbirds are plentiful and include a number of endemics.
Target species: White-backed Duck, Hottentot Teal, Cape Shoveler, Grey-winged Francolin, Blue Korhaan, Grey Crowned Crane and Chestnut-banded Plover.
6. Dullstroom (Mpumalanga Province)
 The quaint country village of Dullstroom is located in the highlands of Mpumalanga Province some three-hours drive east of Johannesburg. The area peaks at over 2000 metres above sea level and is dominated by montane grassland, alpine heath, marshes, rocky slopes and outcrops. Farming operations and trout dams add to the array of local habitats. The area is particularly good for the grassland endemics and is one of our most commonly visited birding venues, combining unique birding with unsurpassed country charm. Mammals include Blesbok, Oribi, Black Wildebeest, Mountain Reedbuck, Grey Rhebok and Serval.
Target species: Southern Bald Ibis, Blue Crane, Wattled Crane, Grey Crowned Crane, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Buff-streaked Chat, Gurney's Sugarbird, Cape Vulture, Yellow-breasted Pipit and Cape Eagle Owl.
7. Durban (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
 The port city of Durban is a good base for all KwaZulu-Natal tours. We usually overnight outside the city centre to the north, often in Umhlanga rocks, to take advantage of the many good birding spots in the area. These include the Umgeni River mouth and tidal mudflats, which accommodate terns and waders in abundance. The mangrove swamp at the bay head is another good waterbird spot and The Bluff Nature Reserve offers both woodland species and waterbirds. At Umhlanga Rocks there is a coastal forest reserve where birds such as Black-throated Wattle-eye, Eastern Olive and Grey Sunbirds and Red-capped Robin-Chat can be seen.
8. Limpopo Valley (Limpopo Province) and Tuli Block (Botswana)
 The Limpopo Valley region we focus on stretches from Crook's Corner in the Kruger National Park westwards to the Mapangubwe National Park and Tuli Block Game Reserve, including many smaller reserves and two National Parks. This region is home to many savannah and arid woodland species, including such specials as Pel's Fishing Owl (along the Limpopo River), Verreaux's Eagle Owl, Verreaux's (Black) Eagle, African and Ayer's Hawk Eagles.
The Limpopo River provides a corridor for Trumpeter Hornbill and Lemon-breasted Canary, while the river itself, which is often a mere linear collection of still pools, attracts Saddle-billed Stork, African Openbill, Goliath Heron and other spectacular waterbirds. Other regional specials include Meyer's Parrot, Meve's Starling, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Retz's Helmet-Shrike and Black-throated Wattle-eye.
Mammals include the usual host of spectacular savannah residents such as Elephant, Lion, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra and others.
9. Geogap Nature Reserve (Northern Cape Province)
 This 15 000 hectare reserve is situated close to the town of Springbok in the Northern Cape. The habitat is described as Namaqualand Broken Veld, with some false succulent karoo and false desert grassland.
There are stark granite hills, which support the elusive Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, and there are sandy flats in between the granite domes. These areas are excellent for ground birds such as coursers and larks.
The majority of our visits are in early spring to coincide with the wildflower season. This arid region can be a mosaic of colour at this time.
Target species: Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Karoo Eremomela, Booted Eagle, Double-banded Courser, Karoo Lark, Cape Clapper Lark, Dusky Sunbird, Rufous-eared Warbler, Layard's Titbabbler, Tractrac Chat, Larklike Bunting.
10. Giants Castle Game Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
This magnificent reserve is located in the Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal. The mountainous landscape varies in height from 1 650 metres to over 3 400 metres above sea level. The deeper valleys hold small patches of relic canopy forest, and tall sandstone cliffs border the valleys. Above this is a basalt grassland plateau. A photographic hide has been built at the top of the escarpment and vultures and other birds are attracted to the hide with carcass remains. The hide is open in the winter only and has to be reserved in advance.
Target species: Lammergeier, Cape Vulture, Lanner Falcon, Cape Rock-Thrush, Bush Blackcap, Barratt's Warbler, Cape Grassbird, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Gurney's Sugarbird, Buff-streaked Chat, Chorister Robin-Chat, Red-necked Spurfowl and Broad-tailed Warbler.
11. Golden Gate Highlands National Park (Eastern Free State)
 Situated in the Eastern Free State, this scenic national park covers an area of more than 12 000 hectares. It lies in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains and borders onto Lesotho. Altitude ranges from 1 800 m to 2 837 metres above sea level. The vegetation is predominantly montane grassland with forested pockets in the valleys, a number of streams and magnificent sandstone cliffs all contribute to this magnificent scenery and diversity of habitats.
Target species: Lammergeier, Cape Vulture, Verreaux's Eagle, Southern Bald Ibis, Buffstreaked Chat, Yellow-tufted Pipit, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Ground Woodpecker, Redbreasted Sparrow-Hawk and Barratt's Warbler.
12.  Kamieskroom (Northern Cape Province)
The little town of Kamieskroon is the centre of the Namaqualand wildflower region in Spring. This hilly landscape dotted with granite domes is characterised by sparse, drought-resistand vegetation and lovely scenic drives. It is a good area in which to find some of the birds that frequent these arid regions on the western side of South Africa. Our visits in August / September coincide with mass blooming of wildflowers in spectacular natural displays.
Target species: Cape Eagle Owl, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Layard's Titbabbler, Fairy Flycatcher, Black-headed Canary, Southern Black Korhaan and Cape Clapper Lark.
13. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (Western Cape Province)
 These world-renowned botanical gardens nestle below a backdrop of Table Mountain on the Cape Peninsula. Apart from the extensive well-maintained gardens of native plants, there is adjacent fynbos and indigenous forest. Kirstenbosch is an excellent birding venue and one we never miss on our West Cape tours.
Target species: Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Francolin, Knysna Warbler, Lemon Dove, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk and Karoo Prinia.
14. Knysna (Western Cape Province)
The Garden Route town of Knysna lies alongside the extensive Knysna Lagoon, which offers an excellent selection of waders and waterbirds. The tidal estuary is one of the largest in the country and there are sand and mud banks, salt marshes and reed beds. Close to the town there is also fynbos and temperate forest for which Knysna is famous. There are a number of endemics and specials to be found in the area.
Target species: Knysna Warbler, Victorin's Warbler, African Rail, Bartailed Godwit, Terek Sandpiper, Knysna Woodpecker, Forest Canary, Chorister Robin-Chat, Olive Bush-Shrike, African Emerald Cuckoo and Narina Trogon.
15. Lamberts Bay (Western Cape Province)
 Lambert's Bay is found on the west coast about 200 kilometres north of Cape Town. It is the centre of the crayfish industry and has a small fishing harbour. The highlight of any Cape birding tour is to pay a visit to the breeding colony of endemic Cape Gannets on Bird Island, which has a walkway connecting it to the mainland. 14 000 pairs breed on the island, as well as endemic Cape Cormorants and other seabirds. The vegetation along the coast is called 'strandveld' and makes for excellent birding country.
Bordering onto the town is a lake known as Jakkalsvlei, which attracts a variety of waterfowl and waders, as well as Flamingos and the scarce Chestnut-banded Plover.
Target species: Cape Gannet, Cape and Crowned Cormorants, African Penguin, Chestnut-banded Plover, South African Shelduck, Rufous-eared Warbler, Greater Flamingo, Cape Clapper and Karoo Larks, Yellow-bellied Eremomela and Chat Flycatcher
16. Last Post Nature Reserve (Limpopo Province)
 Last Post is a botanist's paradise with an excellent variety of habitats and a high biological diversity.
Birds that can be seen include Mocking Cliff-Chat, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Bennett's Woodpecker, African Hawk-Eagle plus the possibility of a South African rarity, Orange-winged Pytilia. In the evenings, it is possible to see Freckled Nightjar and Spotted Eagle-Owl.
17. Magoebaskloof (Limpopo Province)
The Magoebaskloof area is a picturesque mountainous region dotted with pristine Afromontane forest patches and streams cascading down the hills in ferns and moss-rich gullies. These spectacular forests, the two most exciting being the Woodbush and Swartbos Forests, support a number of Southern Africa's forest 'specials'.
The Woodbush Forest is well known for the rare and localised Black-fronted Bush-Shrike.
Other 'specials' that can be seen in the Magoebaskloof area are Cape Parrot, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Orange Ground-Thrush, Buff-spotted Flufftail, African Olive-Pigeon, Tambourine Dove, Lemon Dove, Black Cuckoo, Emerald Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, Olive Woodpecker, Grey Cuckooshrike and Green Twinspot.
18. Memel (Free State Province)
The tiny village of Memel is situated in the northeastern Free State in an incredibly scenic area of extensive grasslands, wetlands and mountains.
Only 500m from the town there is a Ramsar site, Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve, which has a floodplain holding numerous seasonally flooded oxbow lakes which are drained by the Klip River.
This little known area is a wonderful birding spot, one of our best-kept secrets and also has a superb birder friendly lodge in the village.
Target species: Blue Korhaan, Denham's Bustard, Cape Vulture, Yellow-tufted Pipit, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Black Heron, South African Shelduck and Southern Bald Ibis.
19. Mount Sheba Nature Reserve (Mpumalanga Province)
 Situated in the escarpment mist belt region of South Africa's Mpumalanga Province, this 500 hectare reserve supports some of the best preserved indigenous forest in the province. It also has lovely montane grasslands and rocky ridges which make it one of the best spots in the country to see our forest specials and endemics.
Target species: Knysna Turaco, Orange Ground-Thrush, Chorister Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Narina Trogon, Gurney's Sugarbird, Forest Canary, Red-necked Spurfowl, Lemon Dove, Cape Rock-Thrush, Barratt's Warbler and Southern Tchagra.
20. Mapungubwe National Park (Limpopo Province)
 The Mapungubwe National Park is nothing less than spectacular, with lots of specials birds to be found. There are two large hides, one in bushveld habitat and one on the Limpopo River which offer great viewing opportunities. On the banks of the Limpopo River, there is a Tree Top walk way through the forest canopy, offering exciting eye-level bird watching.
The other attraction of the park is the great number and variety of archaeological sites. These date from early Stone Age and Iron Age to the present with the most notable being Mapumgubwe Hill. The artifacts found on this site reflect one of the most complex social and political entities in Africa during the 8th and 9th centuries.
Bird specials to be found include Tropical Boubou, Senegal Coucal, Meyer's Parrot, Meve's Starling and White-breasted Cuckooshrike plus many more.
21. Nelspruit (Mpumalanga Province)
 Our home patch is the capital of Mpumalanga province, and is situated in the sub-tropical lowveld. It is a well-wooded area with granite outcrops and a number of streams flowing into the Crocodile River. The total bird list of Nelspruit town stands at 270 species.
Target species: Long-crested Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Natal Francolin, Tambourine Dove, White-browed Robin-Chat, Purple-crested Turaco, White-fronted Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinker-bird, Red-throated Wryneck, Mocking Cliff-Chat, Cuckoo Finch, Golden and Thick-billed Weavers.
22. Nylsvley Nature Reserve (Limpopo Province)
 The Nylsvley Nature Reserve is situated in the upper reaches of the Nyl River and incorporates the Nyl floodplain, which is the largest floodplain vlei (marsh) in South Africa. This area is listed as an 'internationally important' habitat for waterfowl and is one of the top birding spots in Southern Africa - 370 species have been recorded, of which no less than 104 are waterfowl.
The floodplain has extensive reed beds and other habitats include short grassy plains, stands of long rice grass, open water patches, marshes, acacia savanna and broadleaved woodlands.
This is the only site in South Africa where Rufous-bellied Herons are known to breed.
Other specials that can be seen in these habitats are Squacco Heron, Slaty Egret, Dwarf Bittern, Little Bittern, African Pygmy-Goose, Lesser Gallinule, Lesser Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, Greater Painted Snipe, Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Meyer's Parrot, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black-winged Pratincole, Olive-tree Warbler, African Golden Oriole and Tinkling Cisticola.
23. Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
This 1809 hectare reserve lies along the Umzimkulwana River and incorporates the dramatic views of the converging Umzimkulu and Umzimkulwana gorges. The forests and sandstone cliffs hide bushbuck, vervet and samango monkey, grey duiker, blue duiker, leopard and water monitor. Aside from the spectacular scenery, the range of habitats include riverine and valley bushveld and grassland which support a wide variety of bird species with nearly 200 being recorded.
   
The most sought after species occurring in this reserve is the elusive Knysna Woodpecker. Sunbirds to be found are Southern Double-collared, White-bellied, Collared and Amethyst Sunbirds. The Robin species are also well represented and include White-starred Robin, Brown Scrub-Robin, Chorister Robin-Chat and Red-capped Robin-Chat. Knysna and Purple-crested Turacos continually clamber through the trees and flocks of Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills can be seen and heard.
Some of the raptors that can be seen soaring overhead are African Crowned Eagle, Jackal Buzzard, African Harrier-Hawk, Lanner Falcon and Rock Kestrel.
Other smaller birds that can be found are Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Bar-throated and Yellow-breasted Apalis, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Grey Waxbill and Forest Canary. The elusive Barratt's Warbler can also be found.
24. Pafuri (Limpopo Province)
 This area in the northern tip of Kruger National Park has surprisingly diverse habitats, with low-lying hills being home to Crowned Hornbill, Mosque Swallow and Eastern Nicator, the tall mopane and broad-leafed woodlands surrounding these areas supporting specials like White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Arnott's Chat and Racket-tailed Roller and the damp low-lying areas holding Senegal Coucal, Black Coucal and Little Bittern.
An exciting part of this area is the Levubu River, along which Pel's Fishing Owl, White-crowned Lapwing, Bohm's and Mottled Spinetails, Black-throated Wattle-eye and Lemon-breasted Canary may be seen.
This wilderness area has awesome scenery and amazing birdlife.
25. Polokwane Nature Reserve (Limpopo Province)
 The 3200 ha Polokwane Nature Reserve is home to well over 200 species and it is possible to see over 70 species on a visit. The special of this reserve is the endemic Short-clawed Lark.
One of the most prominent features of the reserve is a spectacular 'Aloe forest'. This area is particularly rewarding for birds such as Southern Black Tit, Ashy Tit, Pied Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, Crested Barbet, Marico Flycatcher, Coqui Francolin, Natal Francolin, Marico Sunbird, African Wren-Warbler and Crimson-breasted Shrike.
Other habitats in the area include grasslands and acacia woodlands, each with their own specific species, such as Violet-eared Waxbill, Black-faced Waxbill, White-Browed Sparrow-Weaver, Red-throated Wryneck and Kalahari Scrub-Robin.
Raptors and Accipiters are also well represented with Verreaux's, Booted and Wahlberg's Eagle, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Shikra and Cape Vulture all frequently reported.
26. Rocktail Bay (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
Rocktail Bay is on the Indian Ocean coast in the Maputoland Coastal Forest Reserve, a remote part of northern KwaZulu-Natal. Habitats include pristine coastal dune forest, miles of unspoilt beach, coastal grassland savanna, natural pans and swampland. Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles breed at Rocktail Bay in summer.
Target species: Woodward's Batis, Rudd's Apalis, Livingstone's Turaco, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Green Twinspot, Grey Waxbill, Sooty Falcon, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Lemon Dove, White-starred Robin, Olive Bush-Shrike and Red-chested Flufftail.
27. Soutpansberg - Limpopo Area (Limpopo Province)
This little known area in far northern South Africa is rich in bird life, with over 500 bird species recorded. The area has a unique combination of vegetation types, which can be attributed to its sub-tropical climate and varied topography. There is a mix of bushveld, forest, open grassland, cliffs, gorges and wetlands.
The Soutpansberg Mountains lie east to west and create a vast number of habitats within a short distance. Southern slopes are moist and have a mix of forest types at different altitudes, whereas the northern slopes are arid and have a mix of Bushveld and Woodland.
Target species: Cape Vulture, Pel's Fishing Owl, Mottled Spinetail, Narina Trogon, Crested Guineafowl, Pink-throated Twinspot, Forest Buzzard, Grey-headed Parrot, Dickinson's Kestrel, White-breasted Cuckooshrike.
28. Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve (Gauteng Province)
 Suikerbosrand is an excellent highveld reserve set in picturesque hills, approximately 50 km south of Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province. It has a number of species that are otherwise difficult to see in the Johannesburg area.
This 13 337 hectare reserve encompasses a large variety of vegetation types, ranging from open grassland on the plains to montane grasslands on the hills (above 1800 m) with broadleaf woodland in the valleys and gorges, Acacia woodland, Protea veld and marshes making up the remainder of the reserve.
Birdlife in the reserve is unique in that a mix of eastern and western species occur. A number of Southern African endemics can be seen here.
A large number of mammals also inhabit the grasslands, including Black Wildebeest, Springbok, Red Hartebeest, Blesbok, Eland, Suricate (Meercat), Yellow Mongoose and Black-backed Jackal.
Target species: Barrow's Korhaan, Ashy Tit, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Chestnut-vented Titbabbler, Sentinel Rock Thrush (winter), Southern Ant-eating Chat, Mountain Wheatear, Mocking Cliff-Chat, Grey-winged, Red-winged and Orange River Francolin, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Red-throated Wryneck, Cape Grassbird, Red-headed Finch, Black-faced Waxbill, Yellow Canary, Cape Rock-Thrush, Jackal Buzzard, Verreaux's Eagle and Secretarybird.
 29. Tembe Elephant Park (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
Located on the Mozambique border in KwaZulu-Natal, this reserve has the largest African Elephants in the world, along with rhino, lion, buffalo, hippo and antelope species, including the rare and diminutive Suni antelope.
There is a rich variety and abundance of bird and fauna, including several subtropical bird species at the southern limits of their distribution.
More than 340 bird species have been recorded here, including Rudd's Apalis, Rufous-bellied Heron, Swamp Nightjar and Woodward's Batis.
30. The Karoo (Western and Northern Cape Provinces)
The Karoo is a vast expanse of semi-desert that forms about a quarter of South Africa's land surface. It lies north of Cape Town in the provinces of Western and Northern Cape. Average annual rainfall ranges from below 50 mm to 375 mm on the mountain ranges of the Cedarberg and Cold Bokkeveld in the west. Most of the Karoo lies between the altitudes of 600 and 1350 m and is in the rain shadow of higher lying mountains. Vegetation is sparse and consists in the main of a variety of dwarf shrubs and succulents but there is significant grass cover which can be relatively dense after good rains.
The Karoo is a major birding region and a good number of localised endemics occur here.
Target species: Karoo Korhaan, Karoo Lark, Karoo Chat, Ludwig's Bustard, Namaqua Warbler, Burchell's Sandgrouse, Double-banded Courser, Karoo Eremomela and Dusky Sunbird.
31. Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park (Western Cape Province)
 This beautiful National Park protects a rugged and majestic coastline and some magnificent temperate forest. There are some very scenic hiking trails and the famous "Otter Trail" starts in the Park. Birdlife is good and this is one of the best places to see the rare Forest Buzzard.
Target species: Knysna Woodpecker, Knysna Turaco, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Narina Trogon, White-starred Robin, African Emerald Cuckoo, African Black Oystercatcher, Cape Gannet and Forest Buzzard.
32. Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
Half an hour beyond Umzinto in KwaZulu-Natal lies the 2,189 hectare Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, a combination of open grassland and coastal evergreen forest and home to a wide range of wild animals and more than 300 confirmed bird species.
Eland, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and Bushbuck have been introduced and there are two dams that attract a variety of bird species. The reserve is mainly rolling hills of open grassland with some wooded valleys and the wildflowers are a spring delight.
Typical forest species can be found here including Knysna and Purple-crested Turaco, the beautiful Narina Trogon, Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills, Olive Woodpecker, Grey Cuckooshrike and Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher.
The grassland areas support an abundance of cisticolas, warblers and pipits whilst the raptors can include Black Sparrowhawk, African Goshawk, Long-crested, Martial and African Crowned Eagles, Jackal Buzzard and African Harrier-Hawk.
33. Wakkerstroom (Mpumalanga Province)
 The small village of Wakkerstroom is situated in the extreme south-east of Mpumalanga Province and falls entirely within South Africa's high altitude Grassland biome. It is without doubt the prime hotspot in South Africa for highveld endemics and rarities. The surrounding countryside has extensive rolling grassland hills, mist belt forest, deep wooded valleys and extensive wetland habitat in the form of vleis, pans, marshes and dams.
BirdLife South Africa is based here and has extensive property overlooking the wetland reserve.
Target species: Southern Bald Ibis, Grey-winged Francolin, Blue Korhaan, Blue and Grey-Crowned Crane, Ground Woodpecker, Rudd's and Botha's Lark, Yellow-breasted and Yellow-tufted Pipits, Buff-streaked Chat and Pale-crowned Cisticola.
34. Weza-Ngele Forest (KwaZulu-Natal Province)
Weza-Ngele Forest is one of the largest and most accessible tracts of Afromontane forest in KwaZulu-Natal. This forest is a prime site for the much sought after Orange Ground-Thrush and Bush Blackcap as well as the threatened Cape Parrot. The parrots are best located in the early morning and late afternoon when they fly at high speed over the forest canopy giving their arresting and loud screeching calls.
Other common and characteristic forest species include African Olive-Pigeon, Lemon Dove, Knysna Turaco, Emerald Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Olive Woodpecker, Terrestrial Brownbul, Sombre Greenbul, Grey Cuckooshrike, dazzling Chorister Robin-Chat, White-Starred Robin, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Barratt's Warbler, Bar-throated and Yellow-breasted Apalis, Green-backed Cameroptera, Cape Batis, Dusky and Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Southern Boubou, Olive Bush-Shrike, Southern Double-collared and Collared Sunbird, Dark-backed Weaver, the delightful Swee Waxbill, Green Twinspot and Forest Canary.
The forest fringe supports species such as Red-necked Spurfowl, Drakensberg Prinia and Greater Double-collared Sunbird.
LESOTHO
Sani Pass
The mountain kingdom of Lesotho embraces the highest part of the inland plateau of southern Africa. The plateau can be reached by driving up the famed Sani Pass in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Altitude ranges from 1 600 metres to 3482 metres at the highest peak and the scenery is truly spectacular.
Temperatures are extreme in winter and this area is essentially a summer birding hotspot, but an excellent one where good birding starts at the foot of the pass and continues all the way up to the high plateau.
Target species: Bush Blackcap, Barratt's Warbler, Gurney's Sugarbird, Layard's Titbabbler, Karoo Prinia, Drakensberg Siskin, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Sickle-winged Chat, Grey Tit, Mountain Pipit, Lammergeier and Cape Vulture.
SWAZILAND
Malolotjie Nature Reserve
Situated on the edge of the escarpment in the north-west of Swaziland, this 18 000 hectare reserve is dominated by rugged mountains. The altitude ranges from 760 m to 1837 m at the summit of Ngwenya (Crocodile) Mountain.
The reserve has beautiful valleys, deep river gorges and grass-covered plains. The high-lying areas are easily accessible and it is these areas we visit, mainly for sightings of the rare and critically endangered Blue Swallow, which breeds in the reserve in summer.
Target species: Blue Swallow, Red-winged Francolin, Denham's Bustard, Blue Crane, Southern Bald Ibis, Black-winged Lapwing, Ground Woodpecker, Broad-tailed Warbler, Gurney's Sugarbird, White-necked Raven, Buff-streaked Chat and Mocking Cliff-Chat.
ZAMBIA
Victoria Falls
  The world-famous Victoria Falls are located in north-west Zimbabwe on the mighty Zambezi River. The Falls plunge over a mile-long gorge and are a spectacular site - one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The "Rain Forest" on the lip of the gorge is watered from spray coming off the Falls and has dense riverine vegetation and tall trees. Away from the river there is extensive teak forest, with big game animals and a good variety of birds.
Target species: Schalow's Turaco, Collared Palm-Thrush, Bat Hawk, Taita Falcon, Rock Pratincole, Bradfield's Hornbill, Tropical Boubou, Racket-tailed Roller, Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, Brown Firefinch and Tinkling Cisticola.
Luangwa Valley
The Luangwa Valley is one of Africa's prime wildlife sanctuaries, with concentrations and varieties of game and birdlife that have made it world famous.
The countryside is spectacular in its rugged beauty, the vegetation thick and, near the Luangwa River and its many tributaries, a lush riverine forest occurs that is green all year round. Flanking the rivers western banks are the North and South Luangwa National Parks separated by the 30km Munyamadzi corridor.
BOTSWANA
Tuli Block
This area that we visit, is in the famous Tuli Block on the Limpopo River. The area is very diverse, going from Riverine Forest on the Limpopo to Mopane scrub on Basalt, to alluvial floodplains of the Motloutse River.
Birding is excellent in this area, with over 350 species being recorded.
Some to be seen include, Three-banded Courser, Bateleur, Kori Bustard, Verreaux's Eagle Owl and Yellow-bellied Eremomela.
 Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and the largest inland delta in the world, with a surface area of about 15 000 square kilometres. The Kavango River flows from Angola in Central Africa and comes to rest in the vast Kalahari Desert, where it fans out and forms the pristine Okavango Delta, home to a wonderful array of wildlife.
It is a truly unique wilderness with exciting birding, even in the dry season.
Target species: Slaty Egret, Rufous-bellied Heron, Lesser Jacana, Allen's Gallinule, Long-toed Lapwing, Wattled Crane, Black Coucal, Swamp Nightjar, Greater Swamp Warbler, Chirping Cisticola and Pel's Fishing Owl.
NAMIBIA
Etosha National Park
 This large National Park (2,27 million hectares) is situated in northern Namibia and is 400 kilometres north of Windhoek. Within the Park is an enormous salt pan covering 4 760 square kilometres, almost one-quarter of the park. The pan is dry most of the time, but when it does have water in wet seasons it offers ideal feeding grounds for large numbers of waders and waterbirds.
The vegetation in the park is mainly arid savanna, shrub and thorn scrub in the west and tree savanna and broadleaved woodland in the east. Annual rainfall averages 300 millimetres per annum in the west and 500 millimetres in the east. Temperatures are extreme, ranging from below freezing on some winter nights to above 45°C during the day in mid-summer.
Birdlife is excellent with a total list of about 340 species including a number of endemics and specials.
Target species: Violet Woodhoopoe, Monteiro's Hornbill, Ruppell's Parrot, Ludwig's Bustard, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Black-faced Babbler, Carp's Tit, Chestnut Weaver, White-tailed Shrike, Rufous-eared Warbler and Rosy-faced Lovebird.
 Impalila Island
Impalila Island lies at the eastern extremity of Namibia's Caprivi Strip. The island is 11 kilometres long and four kilometres wide and is flanked by the converging Zambezi and Chobe Rivers, 70 kilometres upriver from Victoria Falls.
This is a wonderful watery world with enormous rivers, swamps and floodplains and is a birdwatcher's paradise. The island itself has a great diversity of habitats including Mopani and Acacia woodland, riverine forest, Papyrus swamps and reedbeds.
Target species: Rock Pratincole, African Skimmer, Slaty Egret, Rufous-bellied Heron, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Brown Firefinch, Swamp Boubou, Swamp Nightjar, Lesser Jacana, Allen's Gallinule and Long-toed Lapwing.
Namib Desert
 The Namib is a true desert with less than 100 mm of rainfall per annum on average. It stretches inland from the Atlantic Ocean and receives moisture in the form of convection fog, which is adequate for sparse plant growth. The landscape is dominated by spectacular sand dunes (the highest in the world) and gravel plains.
Fauna frequenting the Namib is highly specialised for survival in the extremely harsh conditions and some endemic birds are extremely localised.
Target species: Dune Lark, Gray's Lark, Ruppell's Korhaan, Ludwig's Bustard, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Tractrac Chat, Common Ostrich, Double-banded Courser and Burchell's Courser.
Walvis Bay
 The Walvis Bay lagoon and saltworks together form the most extensive shallow coastal wetland in Southern Africa and rank within the top ten coastal wetlands in Africa in terms of species variety.
On a visit to Namibia's coast, Walvis Bay is an absolute must and some time needs to be spent there to absorb it all.
Target species: Damara Tern, Chestnut-banded Plover, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Black Tern, Red-necked Phalarope, Common Redshank, Great White Pelican and African Black Oystercatcher. |
