Local Birdwatchers
Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club.
Diamond city, rich in natural and cultural heriatge resources. Renowned birding destination with ample of specials in and around Kimberley.
D
Davis
Uitenhage, Sedgefield, South Western Cape
Anytime
English/Afrikaans
E
Smith
West Coast, South Western Cape
Weekend
English
I am an avid birder and have a vast knowledge of the birds of southern Africa. Currently I have seen 870 Southern African species. It's a pleasure for me to meet new birders and to share in great birding.
J
Carter
Cape Town/Somerset, Western Cape
Anytime
P
Coetzee
Cape Town, Western Cape
Anytime
M
Harrington
Cape Town, Western Cape
Anytime
F
Grundlingh
Durbanville/Cape Town, Western Cape
Anytime
S
Eksteen
Napier, Western Cape
Anytime
English/Afrikaans
I am more of an allround nature lover than just birdwatching but I think this site is
a great idea. I have belonged to it for a few years now and have passed info to a good few enquiries. I have also met up with a few birdwatchers/visitors when in Cape Town. I used to live in Simonstown, now living in Napier, Western Cape. About 40 km from
Cape Agulhas - Most Southern Point of Africa (Not Cape Point!). The area is known as the Overberg and wellknown for the Blue Crane. Also close to DeHoop nature reserve where they have Cape Vulture program. I work offshore up from Angola, so not at home that often, but if I can help with information, I try. My mobile no. when home 0824300690. SA code 0027 from outside country . This email or herman.eksteen@yahoo.co.uk. Napier is central in the area, to places like Hermanus, Gansbay, Arniston, Agulhas , Cape Infanta and 170 km from Cape Town itself.
H
Beekhoven
Swellendam, Western Cape
Anytime
A
Meiring
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Weekend
Afrikaans/English Dutch/Geman
F
Joubert
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Weekend
English
M
Henderson
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Weekend
English/Afrikaans
A
Vicente
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Anytime
C
Moore
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Anytime
English
Keen on wildlife in general and birding in particular. RSA is very scenic with diverse geography and habitats and has superb wildlife and birds with beautiful reserves and natural areas. I bird mostly on the
highveld around Johannesburg, but have travelled extensively in southern Africa.
K
Logan
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Anytime
English
I'am a keen amateur birder and photographer with over 870 birds on my Southern African list. Recently retired and I am happy to accompany birders in Gauteng (over 400 species available within 100ks of Joburg) or further afield. No fees just recovery of expenses.
T
O'Boyle
Johannesburg, Delta Park, Gauteng
Anytime
English/Irish German
A
Marx
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
D
Swanepoel
Pretoria/Johannesburg, Gauteng
Weekend
English/Afrikaans
I am a reasonably experienced birder with the good fortune to live in a particularly bird rich part of South Africa. I have taken a few birdingpals out birding in the past, as well as availed of the help of others while traveling abroad. I love getting to meet birders from other parts of the world and to share our wonderful birdlife.
M
Wilsenach
Pretoria/Johannesburg, Gauteng
Weekend
English/Afrikaans
Keen photographer.
D
Onderstall
Krugersdorp, Gauteng
Anytime
English/Afrikaans
Krugersdorp has a lot of urban bird species, many more than I have seen in urban areas in other country I have visited. I usually have space in my house for guests. The Krugersdorp game reserve is minutes away and there are many good spots within a few hours.
R
Geddes
Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
H
Louw
Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
S
Terblanche
Faerie Glen, Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
English understand German/Dutch
Pretoria is situated in a particularly bird rich area, even in the urban areas. During the Bird Atlas project, that has been running for almost a year now, 167 species have already been recorded in the vicinity of
my home, in an area of 8km by 8km.
D
Reiners
Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
English/Afrikaans
R
Coetzee
Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
L
Heyns
Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
Afrikaans/English
R
de Rover
Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
R
Coetsee
Pretoria, Gauteng
Anytime
English/Afrikaans
I am not a professional guide. I just love birding and have done so for 30 odd years.
I own a Land Rover Defender 90, so I can go almost anywhere. I just took a lady from the US to Namibia for 10 days and we had such fun. We camped all the way to keep costs minimal. I would just love to help people that cannot afford the expensive guiding tours and lodges, but would love to go birding.
D
Human
Pretoria, Gauteng
Weekend
Afrikaans/English Italian
For the best birding areas - visit Pretoria!!!
G
Burrows
Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal
Weekend
English/Afrikaans
J
Shipway
Hilton, Kwa Zulu Natal
Anytime
English
Drakensberg Mountains; grasslands; wetlands; sand forest; coastal regions and near enough to world renowned game reserves.
M
Bowker
Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal
Anytime
J
Anderson
Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal
Anytime
English
Forest, bushveld and grassland. Orange Ground-thrush, Knysna Turaco, Wattled Crane, Blue Crane, Forest Canary, Swee Waxbill, Blue Swallow, Cape Parrot, Spotted Ground-thrush, Long-tailed Widow-bird, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Ground Woodpecker, Secretarybird etc.
H
Langenhoven
Pongola, Kwa Zulu Natal
Anytime
D
Mostert
Hoedspruit, Limpopo (Nothern Province)
Anytime
C
Badenhorst
Ofcolaco, Limpopo
Anytime
Spanish/English Afrikaans Tunisian Arabic
We live midway between Magoebaskloof, Krugerpark and the Strijdom tunnel in Limpopo. Special species are Taita Falcon, Bathawk & Black-fronted Bush Shrike. We have 99 Garden species. More info and pictures of accommodation: http://sekororo.blat.co.za/
D
Kleynhans
Sasolburg, Northern Free State
Anytime
M
Phiri
Mafikeng, North West
Weekend
English
Professional Guides
Initial
Last Name
Area
Available
Language
E
Shankman
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Anytime
English
R
Hurt
Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal
Anytime
English
B
de Boer
Magoebaskloof/Woodbush Forests, Limpopo
Anytime
English/Dutch
The best foreat birding in South Africa, the only place in the country to see the Black-fronted Bush Shrike, and many others. The Limpopo Province, with its vast unexplored areas and diverse habitats, offers one of the most exciting birding destinations in Southern Africa. Habitats range from vast tracts of montane grassland to
afro-temperate forests, bushveld and wetlands. The Eastern Escarpment (including Magoebaskloof) and the Soutpansberg mountain range create relief in the landscape which allows for the development of afro-temperate forests. The lowland rivers such as the Limpopo, Levubu and Letaba rivers form corridors for species normally associated with coastal forests. Nylsvley is one of the best known wetlands in South Africa and due to its importance for birds has been declared a RAMSAR site.
Many different kinds of woodland and bushveld types are found within the province hosting an incredible variety of birds.
There are a number of species that are easier to find in the Limpopo Province than in the rest of the country. These are Short-clawed Lark, Shelley's Francolin, Grey-headed Parrot, African Broadbill, Crested Guineafowl. In addition to this, many Central and East African bird species reach their southern-most distribution here and thus will not be found anywhere else in
the country. These include species such as Black-fronted Bushshrike, Arnott's Chat, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Racket-tailed Roller, Senegal Coucal and Tropical Boubou.
The province has three National Parks and numerous provincial and municipal reserves within its borders. Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe and Maraklele National Parks are visited by hundreds of birdwatchers every year. Provincial Nature Reserves and
Municipal Reserves are important sites for bird conservation. For example Blouberg Nature Reserve which is the home to one of the largest Cape Vulture breeding colonies in Southern Africa and Polokwane Nature Reserves has healthy populations of Short-clawed Lark. Because Limpopo Province has tracts of relatively unexplored habitats as well as its more famous sites, intrepid birders are fortunate to have the opportunity to make exiting discoveries wherever they venture.
R
Grotsch
Nylstroom, Limpopo
Anytime
English/German Dutch
I currently conduct tours with a educational basis in South Africa - the focus is on South African birds and habitats but I also provide combinations with African Wildlife viewing.
I have a National Qualification in field guiding. My specific interest being birds.
I do provide a service at Euro 25.00 per day - minimum two persons. Meals and accommodation excluded.
We have a beautiful 5 day tour planned for December 2008 to visit the high mountainous areas of South Africa with special focus on the many endemic South African birds.
W
van der Merwe
Tzaneen, Limpopo
Anytime
Afrikaans/English
I am a novis on birdwatching but a keen photographer. I stay close to the forrest surrounding Ttzaneen Dam, Magoebaskloof Dam and Rooikoppies that host a breeding Bat Hawk family. These forrest areas has some beatiful indigenous wildlife areas where one can easily spot some of the smaller bird species.
B
Lawson
Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Anytime
English
A
Mokgele
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Anytime
English
I am professional tourist guide and specialist bird guide. I reside in Kimberley,
known for the Big Hole and discovering of diamonds. Kimberley is renowned for its birding hotspots, namely the Kamfersdam
(Flamingo), De Beers Mine Nature Reserves and Spitkop dam.
A
Collett
Langvlei Dunes/Wilderness, Southern Cape
Anytime
English
R
Grant
Cape Town, Western Cape
Anytime
D
Nkosi
Cape Town, Western Cape
Anytime
I
Mileham
Cape Town, Western Cape
Anytime
English
Excellent guide. Taught us a lot about birds. Itinerary was well planned and executed. Saw incredible diversity in terms of plants/bird/geology of Cape Town. Very knowledgeable and accommodating guide, whose company we thoroughly enjoyed. Hope to be back to use his services again. Bob Spaulding and Estelle Yamakz - Seattle, Washington, USA
Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable tour of the Cape Wetlands. Your expert advice enabled me to boost my species list to a creditable 94 for the week. Even my wife was surprised at how attractive a visit to a Sewage Farm could be. We plan another trip
next year which may coincide with the cricket and we'll be sure to engage your services again. Once more, many thanks."
Randolph and Rosamund Jones - Cardiff, Wales.
J
Claassen
Beaufort West, Western Cape
Anytime
English/Afrikaans
I spent my whole life in the Karoo. I specialize in finding LBJ's and has been birding in the area for more than 20 years. I also have a good knowledge of the Karoo plants and animals. The Karoo is a little-explored part of South Africa, and the place to find a lot of the birding specials of the dry west. Karoo Birding Safaris specialize
in half day to twenty day tours into the remote areas as well as to other parts of SA in conjunction with other bird guides of those areas. I welcome novice to experienced birders and are willing to share my knowledge of the Karoo with them. For a birding and enviro experience in the Karoo or other parts of Southern Africa, you can contact me. Local birding at US$125 per day.
Prices for longer trips on request.
A
MacNaughton
Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
Anytime
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