birding sites
The main birding sites on the Eastern Cape Birding Route
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Tsitsikamma National Park |
Tsitsikamma National Park is a beautiful indigenous forest protected by the State and is home to centuries old trees such as Yellowwood, Stinkwood, Hard Pear, Ironwood, Kamassi and many others. |
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Island Forest Reserve |
The reserve is one of a few areas of Indigenous Coastal Forest near to Port Elizabeth. This is a good area for quiet birding in mid-week as the week-END attracts many visitors who come to picnic and enjoy a day out in the open grassed area. |
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Osbosch Farm Lodge |
This is one of the few areas in Kouga where Black-winged Lapwing is always found as well as large numbers of Cape Longclaw. African Fish-Eagle often nest in the trees far back from the Kromme River. Along the river and along the little creek that crosses a causeway on the farm, it is possible to see many waders. |
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Oyster Bay Lodge |
Oyster Bay Lodge is a is a guest farm situated on a hill overlooking the coast and is set on 235 ha of unspoilt landscape, bordering on a 3km stretch of wide sandy beach in a picturesque setting of dunes, woods, river deltas, wetlands, lagoons swamps and forests. The farm offers marked hiking trails varying in length from 3 to 7km. These trails go through dunes, woods, the beach and beautiful natural areas. |
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Seekoei River Nature Reserve |
To the south of Jeffrey's Bay, at the little resort of Aston Bay, is the Seekoei River Nature Reserve established to protect the water birds living round the mouth of the river. A number of paths emanate from the entrance leading inland through fynbos where amongst others, Karoo Scrub-Robin, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Neddicky, Cape Robin-chat, Karoo Prinia, Streaky-headed Seed-eater, Brimstone Canary and Bar-throated Apalis can be seen. |
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Yellowwoods Nature Reserve |
This reserve of ancient Yellowwoods and White Stinkwoods is home to a variety of forest birds and adjoins the Golf Course. Just before reaching Hankey turn off to the right along side the golf course. The Picnic area which is on the left further on from the golf course has a small stream running through it with rustic braai facilities. |
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Kabeljous Lagoon and Nature Reserve |
Situated on the east side of Jeffrey's Bay, this 200ha Reserve is bordered by the Kabeljous River which leads into the Lagoon that terminates in a blind Estuary to the west, with the R102 to the North and The sea to the South. |
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Gamtoos River Mouth Nature Reserve |
The Gamtoos River Mouth is well known for the number of vagrants it produces including a long staying Eurasian Oystercatcher. |
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Mondplaas Ponds |
Mondplaas Ponds has long been rated as one of the top birding sites for waders in the Eastern Cape and given its close proximity to Port Elizabeth means it should be well worth a visit. |
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Kouga – Baviaanskloof complex |
The Kouga - Baviaanskloof complex lies about 120 km's west of Port Elizabeth and encompasses 172 000 ha's of unspoiled, rugged mountain terrain. The Kouga – Baviaanskloof complex is rated as an IBA due to the presence of species of global conservation concern - Black harrier, Blue crane, Knysna woodpecker, Ground woodpecker, Protea seedeater and Cape siskin. Within the low fynbos scrub you may be lucky and find Striped flufftail or possibly Hottentot buttonquail, which is suspected of occurring here. |
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Cape Recife Nature Reserve |
Cape Recife is situated adjacent to the Nelson Mandela Municipal University and is within easy distance for any birder visiting Port Elizabeth. The site has a number of different habitats which makes a morning birding there very worthwhile. |
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Settlers Park in Port Elizabeth |
Offering birders a wide diversity of birds and habitats, Settlers Park is a must for budding birders and twitchers alike, with around 200 species that can be seen. |
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Swartkops Estuary |
The Swartkops Estuary is situated to the north of Port Elizabeth and is made up of intertidal banks, salt marches and salt pans. Swartkops is widely regarded as one of the premier locations for shorebirds and waders with over 10 00 birds amassing here in the summer months. |
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Rooikrans |
This is one of the best spots to search for Narina Trogon. In addition to Trogons look out for White Starred Robin, Cape Sugarbird, Hamerkop, Forest Canary, Dark-backed Weaver, African Paradise and Blue Mantled Crested Flycatcher, African Crowned Eagle, Half Collared Kingfisher, Blackbacked Puffback, Cape Rock Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Olive Woodpecker, Black Crake, Golden Breasted Bunting and Rock Martins. |
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Tankatara Road |
Excellent birding can be had on this road including Southern Black Korhaan, Denham's Bustard, Blue Crane, Anteating Chat, Acacia Pied Barbet, Karoo Scrub Robin and Grey Backed Cisticola. |
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Algoa Bay Island Nature Reserve |
Lying off the coast in the Indian Ocean of Algoa Bay, just east of Port Elizabeth, are 2 groups of small islands – the St Croix Island group and the Bird Island group. The Algoa Bay islands are ranked as an IBA for their global conservation significance in supporting breeding populations of African penguin, Cape gannet and African black oystercatcher. Among the islands, St Croix supports a significant portion of the worlds' ±26 000 pairs of African penguin, as well as a locally significant breeding population of Cape cormorant. |
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Sundays River Mouth |
The Sundays River Mouth has been home to some surprises which makes it worthwhile for a 3-4 hour outing. Many terns can be found at the mouth including Caspian, Swift, Common and Damara. |
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Addo Elephant National Park |
Deep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape lays the Addo Elephant National Park. Addo has a rich variety of bird life with as many as 450 species across the expanded park. |
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Alexandria Forest/Boknes |
Alexandria Forest is characterized by tall Coral trees, Yellowwoods, Wild plums, and many more forest giants which provide the ideal habitat for many forest species including Narina Trogon, Knysna Turaco, Trumpeter Hornbill, African Olive pigeon and more. |
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Ghio Pans and Hide |
These pans rely on heavy rains and in drought conditions may be dry. However, when there is water migrant waders and waterfowl are plentiful. |
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Grahamstown Botanical Gardens |
The botanical gardens adjoining the university are worth a visit, particularly on week-day mornings when few people are about. A one-hour walk can produce a list of 30 species. |
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Amathole Forest Complex |
The Amathole forest complex has been rated as an IBA as it supports a number of endemic or near-endemic bird species - Black harrier, Knysna woodpecker, Drakensberg rockjumper, Ground woodpecker, Buff-streaked chat and Bush blackcap. Search any of the montane grasslands for Black harrier, Black-winged lapwing in any fallow fields or short grasslands, Denham's bustard and Grey crowned & Blue cranes. Check grasslands for Proteas, where you may see both species of sugarbird (Gurney's & Cape sugarbird) occurring together – the only area in South Africa! |
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Camdeboo National Park (Karoo Nature Reserve) |
Camdeboo NP has been ranked as an IBA site due to the large roost of Lesser kestrel near the town's railway station, the numbers of Ground woodpecker which occur in the kloofs and rocky gorges, and the Karoo plains which support flocks of Red Data listed Blue crane. Apart from these birds, the lowland karroid plains are particulary good for bustards, and Camdeboo NP is one of the few areas in South Africa where Kori, Ludwig's & Denham's bustard all occur together. |
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Katberg – Readsdale forest complex |
Katberg – Readsdale forest complex has been rated as an IBA as it supports a number of endemic or near-endemics bird species - Black harrier, Knysna woodpecker, Orange-breasted rockjumper, Ground woodpecker, Buff-streaked chat and Bush blackcap. |
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Dwesa - Cwebe Nature Reserve |
The Dwesa & Cwebe Nature Reserves flank either side of the Mbashe River and lie along the Pondoland coast. Dwesa & Cwebe NR are ranked as an IBA for the global conservation value of a breeding population of Spotted ground-thrush, as well as a population of Red data listed African black oystercatcher and Knysna woodpecker. The coastal mangroves support the only protected breeding population of Mangrove kingfisher, though they migrate north for the winter. |
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Mkhambathi Nature Reserve |
Situated along the Pondoland coast, Mkhambathi Nature Reserve lies 180 km's south of Durban, the nearest major city. The ± 8 000ha reserve is bounded by the Mtentu River in the north and the Msikaba River in the south. Mkhambathi NR is ranked as an IBA for the presence of key birds: Spotted ground-thrush, Knysna woodpecker, Buff-streaked chat and a breeding colony of Cape vulture. The Mtentu colony of Cape vulture is one of the largest remaining colonies in the Eastern Cape, and is one of the few protected sites in the world. |
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Collywobbles Vulture Colony |
The Collywobbles vulture colony is set in one of the most spectacular locations of any of South Africa's Cape vulture colonies - the 300m sheer cliffs of the Mbashe gorge. Located roughly 60 km's south of Mthatha, the site is set in a rural location along the convoluted meanderings of the Mbashe River and can be quite tricky to get to! The colony is about 5 km's from the Collywobbles store and has been in existence since at least the 1890's. |