Birding in South Africa

 
 


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


 
 


www.Traveling-SouthAfrica.com

back