Birdwatching in South Africa
Birding contacts and birdwatching information
Local Birdingpal Contacts
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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.
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Initial |
Last Name |
Area |
Available |
Language |
A
| van der Westhuizen
| Aliwal North, Eastern Cape
| Anytime
| Afrikaans/English
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J
| Curnick
| East London, Eastern Cape
| Weekend
| English/Afrikaans | some German
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| Got a nice variety of birds in a small area.
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D
| Brown
| Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
| Anytime
| English/Afrikaans
| A
| Mokgele
| Kimberley, Northern Cape
| Anytime
| English/Afrikaans | Setswana
|
| 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
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|
| 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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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M
| Wilsenach
| Pretoria/Johannesburg, Gauteng
| Weekend
| English/Afrikaans
|
|
| Keen photographer.
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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.
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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.
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D
| Human
| Pretoria, Gauteng
| Weekend
| Afrikaans/English | Italian
|
| For the best birding areas - visit Pretoria!!!
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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
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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/
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D
| Kleynhans
| Sasolburg, Northern Free State
| Anytime
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M
| Phiri
| Mafikeng, North West
| Weekend
| English
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| Professional Guides
Initial
| Last Name
| Area
| Available
| Language
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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.
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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.
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A
| MacNaughton
| Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
| Anytime
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Local Information
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| Name | Description
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| Birdlife South Africa | Club |
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| BirdLife Northern Gauteng | Club |
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| African Bird Club South Africa | Club |
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| Latest Sights | RBR |
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| Birding Hotspots around the world | Sites |
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| South African National Parks | Sites |
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| Kruger Park | Sites |
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| Cape Town Pelagics | Pelagic |
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| Zest for Birds | Pelagic |
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| Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | South Africa |
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| Local weather | Yahoo |
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| Electronic maps | MapQuest |
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| Find lowest prices for field guides, books, maps etc. | |
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| Field guides recommended by Birdingpals | |
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| Printable bird check list | |
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| Trip Reports from South Africa | |
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| Read a Birdingpal's Trip Report from South Africa |
Last update 15/06/2009