Birdwatching in South Africa Birding contacts and birdwatching information Local Birdingpal Contacts Local Birdwatchers Initial Last Name Area Available Language F Grundlingh Durbanville, Cape Town Anytime A van der Westhuizen Aliwal North, Eastern Cape Anytime Afrikaans/English J Curnick East London, Eastern Cape Weekend English/Afrikaanssome German Got a nice variety of birds in a small area. D Brown Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Anytime English/Afrikaans 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 S Eksteen Cape Town, Western Cape Anytime English/Afrikaans E Smith Cape Town, Western Cape Anytime P Coetzee Cape Town, Western Cape Anytime M Harrington Cape Town, Western Cape Anytime A MacNaughton Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape Anytime H Beekhoven Swellendam, Western Cape Anytime A Meiring Johannesburg, Gauteng Weekend Afrikaans/EnglishDutch/Geman F Joubert Johannesburg, Gauteng Weekend English M Henderson Johannesburg, Gauteng Weekend English/Afrikaans A Vicente Johannesburg, Gauteng Anytime S Simango Johannesburg, Gauteng Anytime English T O'Boyle Johannesburg, Delta Park, Gauteng Anytime English/IrishGerman A Marx Johannesburg, Pretoria, Gauteng Anytime D Swanepoel Pretoria/Johannesburg, Gauteng Weekend English/Afrikaans D Onderstall Krugersdorp, Gauteng Anytime English/Afrikaans M Benadie Mpumulanga, Limpopo, Gauteng Anytime R Geddes Pretoria, Gauteng Anytime H Louw Pretoria, Gauteng Anytime R Hartig Pretoria, Gauteng Anytime S Terblanche Pretoria, Gauteng Anytime 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 C Badenhorst Hoedspruit/Tzaneen, Limpopo Anytime Afrikaans/EnglishSpanish/Arabic (Egypt/Tunisia) Do you want to see the rare Taita Falcon, Bat Hawk, Olive- and Black-fronted Bush Shrikes, Starred Robin or Grey Cuckoo Shrike? Come to visit us. We are situated between Magoebaskloof (Tzaneen), the Strijdom tunnel and the Blyde River Canyon; one hour from the Kruger Park's Phalaborwa Gate or the Three Rondawels and Graskop. We have 92 Garden birds and there are 500 species in the area. Friends of birds are friends of us! G Burrows Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal Weekend English/Afrikaans 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 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. D Kleynhans Sasolburg, Northern Free State Anytime M Phiri Mafikeng, North West Weekend English I am new to birdwatching. I am a member of Bird Life South Africa and the Secretary of the local bird club. (Mafikeng Bird Club). I would love to increase my life list. Professional Guides Initial Last Name Area Available Language B Rickards Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal Anytime English C Milner Nelspruit, Mpumalanga 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. Local Information Name Description Birdlife South Africa Club BirdLife Northern Gauteng Club African Bird Club South Africa Club Latest Sights RBR Birding Hotspots around the world Sites South African National Parks Sites Kruger Park Sites Cape Town Pelagics Pelagic Zest for Birds Pelagic Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia South Africa Local weather Yahoo Electronic maps MultiMap Find lowest prices for field guides, books, maps etc. Field guides recommended by Birdingpals Printable bird check list Trip Reports from South Africa Read a Birdingpal's Trip Report from South Africa Last update 04/03/2008
