mpumalanga birding route

community bird guides

Community Bird Guides have been trained by BirdLife South Africa across the country and have been most successful when working within an established 'Birding Route' where long term support, mentoring and marketing are available.

The Mpumalanga Birding Route has a network of Community Bird Guides at two key birding sites, namely Wakkerstroom and Kaapsehoop. As part of the route's community development plan, more guides will be trained during 2009. The guides are affordable and provide you with improved security and valuable information on where some of our elusive and special bird species may be found.

Enos Zulu

Area: Kaapsehoop
Specials: Blue Swallow, Striped Flufftail, Gurney's Sugarbird, Bush Blackcap
Mobile: +27 (0)72 331 1197

Enos Zulu does part time work for the Endangered Wildlife Trust and is involved with Blue Swallow and Oribi monitoring at Kaapsehoop.

Enos also assists the Crowned Eagle Working Group with monitoring of Crowned Eagles and nest sites in the Kaapsehoop area.

Justice Masango

Area: Malelane
Specials: African Finfoot, Narina Trogon, Black-bellied Starling, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike
Contact Serenity Forest Eco-Reserve: +27 (0)13 790 2000 (tel)

Justice spent 3 years working at Kaapsehoop taking birders to see the Blue Swallow Heritage Site and hopefully a glimpse of these beautiful and endangered birds.

Justice recently relocated to Serenity Eco-Reserve near Malelane.

Lucky Ngwenya

Area: Wakkerstroom
Specials: Rudd's Lark, Botha's Lark, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Blue Korhaan, Denham's Bustard, Blue Crane, Long-billed Lark

Contact Wakkerstroom Centre
•  E-mail: wakkerstroom-centre@birdlife.org.za
•  Mobile: +27 (0)78 503 9754

Lucky was and raised in Wakkerstroom. He had an interest in birds and conservation from an early age. Lucky attended the Guide Training course in September 2003 at the Wakkerstroom Training Centre.

Lucky is employed by BirdLife South Africa. He assists with maintenance work at the Wakkerstroom Centre and regularly takes birders out to find the Wakkerstroom specials.