BIRD WATCHING IN SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s diverse climate and topography is what makes South Africa one of the most desirable birding destinations in the world. Birds are habitat specific and bird-wise the country can be divided into eight major habitat types: Forest, Fynbos, Grassland, Nama Karoo, Savanna, Succulent Karoo, Thicket and Pelagic. South Africa hosts birds from the Artic, Europe, Central Asia, China and Antarctica along with African migrants during the year. Out of the 9 730 bird species found worldwide over 900 species can be seen in South Africa.

BIRD INFORAMTION/RESOURCES
South Africa's endemic and near-endemic bird species
Sasol Bird E-Guide
Struik & BirdLife South Africa Bird ID Template
Bird Life South Africa
Printable checklists of the world
Zest for Birds
South Africa Bird Contacts and Bird watching information
South African National Parks

BIRDING ROUTES
Zululand Birding Route
The Zululand birding route of six sub-routes namely; Eshowe, Melmoth, Babanango, Mtunzini, Richard’s Bay and St Lucia. E-mail: zulubird@birding.co.za for more information.
Greater Limpopo Birding Route
Soutpansberg-Limpopo Birding Route
Capricorn-Letaba Birding Route
Cape Birding Route
Amajuba Birding Meander
Ask or enquire about the Amajuba Birding Meander booklet which is published and distributed by Birdlife Northern Natal. It contains user-friendly maps that indicate a variety of recommended circle routes to top birding spots, illustrates scenic habitats and includes a range of accommodation establishments convenient for birding enthusiasts. Tel: 034 315 2273 for more information

BIRD TOURS/BIRD GUIDES
Bird-watch
Zest for Birds
Birding Africa
Birding Eco Tours
Avian Leisure
Indicator Birding

BIRD DICTIONARIES
Bird Dictionary
Multilingual North European Bird Dictionary
Pronunciation Guide

IMPORATANT BIRD AREAS (IBA's)

Kruger National Park and adjacent areas	Northern, Mpumalanga
Mkambati Nature Reserve	Eastern Cape
Collywobbles vulture colony	Eastern Cape
Dwesa and Cwebe Nature Reserves	Eastern Cape
Karoo Nature Reserve	Eastern Cape
Katberg­Readsdale forest complex	Eastern Cape
Amatole forest complex	Eastern Cape
Alexandria coastal belt	Eastern Cape
Algoa Bay Island Nature Reserve	Eastern Cape
Swartkops estuary, Redhouse, Chatty saltpans	Eastern Cape
Maitland­Gamtoos coast	Eastern Cape
Kouga­Baviaanskloof complex	Eastern Cape, Western Cape
Tsitsikamma National Park	Eastern Cape, Western Cape
Sterkfontein/Merinodal	Free State
Voordeel Conservancy	Free State
Alexpan	Free State
Bedford/Chatsworth	Free State
Murphy's Rust	Free State
Golden Gate Highlands and Qwaqwa NP	Free State
Fouriesburg­Bethlehem­Clarens	Free State
Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve	Free State, KwaZulu-Natal
Sandveld and Bloemhof Dam NR	Free State, North-West
Ndumo Game Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Kosi Bay system	KwaZulu-Natal
Lake Sibaya	KwaZulu-Natal
Pongolapoort Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Itala Game Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Mkuzi Game Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Lake St Lucia and Mkuze swamps	KwaZulu-Natal
Chelmsford Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park	KwaZulu-Natal
Umlalazi Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Natal Drakensberg Park	KwaZulu-Natal
Ngoye Forest Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Entumeni Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Dhlinza Forest Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Umvoti vlei	KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal mistbelt forests	KwaZulu-Natal
Hlatikulu Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Karkloof Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Impendle Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal mistbelt grasslands	KwaZulu-Natal
Richards Bay Game Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Greater Ingwangwana river	KwaZulu-Natal
Franklin vlei	KwaZulu-Natal
Matatiele Commonage	KwaZulu-Natal
Penny Park	KwaZulu-Natal
Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Umtamvuna Nature Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal
Graskop grasslands	Mpumalanga
Mac-Mac escarpment and forests	Mpumalanga
Blue Swallow Natural Heritage Site	Mpumalanga
Steenkampsberg	Mpumalanga
Songimvelo Game Reserve	Mpumalanga
Amersfoort­Bethal­Carolina District	Mpumalanga
Chrissie Pans	Mpumalanga
Grassland Biosphere Reserve (proposed)	Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal
Blyde river canyon	Mpumalanga, Northern
Soutpansberg	Northern
Blouberg vulture colonies	Northern
Wolkberg forest belt	Northern
Pietersburg Nature Reserve	Northern
Waterberg system	Northern
Nyl river flood-plain	Northern
Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park	Northern Cape
Augrabies Falls National Park	Northern Cape
Orange river mouth wetlands	Northern Cape
Kamfers Dam	Northern Cape
Mattheus-Gat Conservation Area (proposed)	Northern Cape
Haramoep and Black Mountain Mine NR	Northern Cape
Bitterputs Conservation Area (proposed)	Northern Cape
Platberg-Karoo Conservancy	Northern Cape
Spitskop Dam	Northern Cape, North-West
Pilanesberg National Park	North-West
Barberspan and Leeupan	North-West
Magaliesberg and Witwatersberg	North-West, Gauteng
Prince Edward Islands Special NR	Subantarctic Islands
Olifants river estuary	Western Cape
Bird Island	Western Cape
Cedarberg­Koue Bokkeveld complex	Western Cape
Karoo National Park	Western Cape
Verlorenvlei	Western Cape
Lower Berg river wetlands	Western Cape
West Coast NP and Saldanha Bay islands	Western Cape
Swartberg mountains	Western Cape
Eastern False Bay mountains	Western Cape
Anysberg Nature Reserve	Western Cape
Dassen Island	Western Cape
Robben Island National Historical Monument	Western Cape
Rietvlei Wetland Reserve	Western Cape
Outeniqua mountains	Western Cape
Southern Langeberg mountains	Western Cape
Wilderness­Sedgefield Lakes complex	Western Cape
Overberg wheatbelt	Western Cape
False Bay Park (proposed)	Western Cape
Boulders Bay	Western Cape
Botriviervlei and Kleinmond estuary	Western Cape
De Hoop Nature Reserve	Western Cape
Dyer Island Nature Reserve	Western Cape
Heuningnes river and estuary system	Western Cape