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Birding Sites

sub-route:
mountains to crater | grasslands to dome | marico to madikwe bushveld
wetlands, pans and dams | kalahari
Click on the sub-route name to bring up a list of birding sites.

North West Birding Sites

The North West Birding Route is made up of five sub-routes, namely:

Mountains to Crater Route

This route forms the gateway to the region being close to Johannesburg and Pretoria, incorporates the Magaliesberg, Pilanesberg, Borakalolo areas and offers birders a wide range of habitat types and species within a relatively small area.

The region offers 3 excellent game reserves all set in unique habitats.

Most roads are in good condition and the reserves are easily accessible. At least 7 – 10 days would be needed to explore this region thoroughly.

Grasslands to Dome Route

This route incorporating Potchefstroom, the Vredefort dome and surrounding grasslands and offers birders the opportunity to visit and explore the various habitats within the Dome park, Vaal river to the rolling grasslands surrounding Potchefstroom. Within the region is the well known OPM Prozesky bird sanctuary. This sub route is also easily accessible from Johannesburg. At least 5 days would be needed for this route to gain insight into this special area.

Marico to Madikwe Bushveld Route

The sub route takes one through various forms of Bushveld with its accompanying bird and animal species. A few nature reserves occur within the area as well as the flagship Madikwe Game reserve. All these reserves have unique species justifying an extended visit to the area. To gain the best value one needs to set aside at least 3-4 days in Madikwe and 2-3 days for the rest of the region.

Wetlands, Pans and Dams Route

The Barberspan RAMSAR site lies within this sub route as well as a number of pans linked by open grasslands dotted all the way to the Bloemhof dam. This region is a prime water bird route especially during summer when there are thousands of migrant waders present. Birders need to set aside at least two days for each of the key areas ie Barberspan and Bloemhof Dam reserve.

Kalahari Route

This route incorporates the western side of North West, Molopo Game reserve and the Vryburg areas and offers the true Kalahari experience being situated in the dry west of North West.

A route that needs at least a week's exploration due mainly to its distance from the main centre's especially the key reserve –Molopo. A 4x4 vehicle would be recommended for touring this region.

Mountains to Crater Route

Magaliesberg Area

The Magaliesberg forms a major component of the Mountains to Crater Eco route area in North West and is ideally placed, being approximately 60 km from Johannesburg and 60 km from Pretoria. This registered Important Bird Area (IBA025) is steeped in rich cultural and biological history. Naturalists have explored this region since the earliest times and must have stood in awe of such a beautiful area. It is here that the first Sable was discovered and documented in 1836. This mountain and its surroundings is endowed with some of the best bird habitats in the country (450 species) and is also home to a number of special species like the Cape Vulture, Black Stork, as well as White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot and African Black Duck.

There are some special features in the greater Magaliesberg region such as the Hartbeespoort Dam, the Olifantsnek and Buffelspoort Dam.

Eastern Areas

Towards the east of the Magaliesberg, there are large tracts of Bushveld hosting many unique bird and plant species. This area consists of the Rooikoppies dam and Vaalkop Dam reserves as well as the Pilanesberg National Park in the North East with Borakolalo Game reserve in the East with the adjoining Koma Koma wetland areas.

	Rooikoppies dam - no link
	The dam is a long narrow stretch of water surrounded by mainly farmland and patches of mixed acacia woodland close to the main road.

	Vaalkopdam Nature Reserve
	The 3996 hectare reserve lies adjacent to the Vaalkop Dam. The vegetation is generally typically bushveld consisting of mixed Acacia thornveld and broadleaf woodland with all the associated bird species, with the bonus of the dam for waterbirds and waders. Over 340 bird species have been recorded.

	Borakalalo Game Reserve
	The Klipvoor Dam is situated within the Park. Bird watching is exceptional with recordings of African Finfoot and White-backed Night- Heron. It is also home to 35 species of mammals including Giraffe, White Rhino, Leopard and a wide variety of antelope.

	Pilansburg National Park (IBA)
	Pilanesberg National Park lies 160 km north-west of Johannesburg, and is the fourth-largest protected area in South Africa. The park covers a wide range of habitats, including vleis, lakes, streams, thick bush, broadleaved and Acacia woodland, koppies, open grasslands and former farmlands. The park encompasses the Pilanesberg mountains and is a malaria-free region.

Grasslands to Dome Route

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Great birding sites in the Grasslands to Dome Route are:

Boskop Dam Nature Reserve

This small nature reserve 3000 ha is set in the rolling grasslands of the Mooi River valley surrounding the Boskop Dam. The dam is fed by the Mooi River and is a popular recreational area for the town of Potchefstroom. The reserve hosts a wide variety of game including Eland, Black wildebeest, Hartebeest, Blesbok, Springbok and Zebra, as well as a wide variety of grassland and wetland bird species. 250 Species of birds have been recorded.

	Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve
	This scenic 1000ha reserve hosts a large number of endemic grassland birds as well as over 30 mammal species including white rhino. The landscape consists of low koppies, scattered acacia thorn trees and large areas of grassveld.

	OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary
	The reserve was established in the 1980's. The disused sewage ponds of the local municipality attracted prolific birdlife and nature lovers and the municipality wanted to establish a sanctuary where all forms of wildlife would be protected. The reserve is a joint project of Birdlife Wesvaal and the Potchefstroom City Council whose land it is.

Vredefort Dome Conservancy

This 70 km wide crater was created by a 10 cubic meter meteorite that hit earth about 3 000 million years ago. This area is a prime adventure tourism region with a large number of tour operators and types of accommodation available. Due to the diversity of habitats, the area hosts 450 species of birds, including substantial populations of Whitebacked Night-Heron and over 20 pairs of Goliath Heron.

Vredefort Dome Hiking Trails

Venterskroon area, about 28 km from Potchefstroom on the Parys road, offering various trails to suite all tastes and degrees of fitness, especially the spectacular Rooihaas Hiking Trail named after the Smith's Red Rock Rabbit that occurs in this rocky region. These trails set in this interesting region with an atmosphere of its own, provides hikers with spectacular nature as well as a glimpse into the history of the region.

Tierfontein Hiking Trails

Situated in the Vredefort Dome World Heritage site near Potchefstroom are four trails to explore this fascinating region. It covers the site where the largest known meteorite struck the earth more than 2 billion years ago creating a massive crater originally thought to have been 250/300 km in diameter.. One of the trails is a birding route and another takes one to an ancient Matabele city that once housed up to 20 000 people in the 1500's and 1700's.

	Kiepersol Contact John Eayrs: +27 (0)18 771 7900
	Day and weekend trails near Fochville. 23 km of trail offering bird and small wildlife as well as ruins and excellent views.

	Barolong Contact Paul Slabbert: +27 (0)82 740 8046
	This day walk is situated near Hartbeesfontein and offers archaeological sites and Birds.

Marico to Madikwe Bushveld Route

Click on the picture or icon to view a more detailed write-up.

Great birding sites in the Marico to Madikwe Bushveld Route are:

	Modimola Dam
	Modimola dam is a wetland area that is not protected and it hosts good number of species that are not seen anywhere in and around Mafikeng.

	Cookes Lake
	Situated adjacent to Mafikeng Game Reserve is Cookes Lake, on the Molopo River. A unique system of using recycled water, to keep the dam full, can be viewed. There is a large selection of waterfowl resident on the lake.

	Mafikeng Game Reserve
	This 4 600 hectares reserve, which can be described as Kalahari, with acacia dominated and sourish mixed bushveld, is a real experience. The emphasis is on game, being plains game, and you can, with relative ease, observe the following species - giraffe, small and large antelope, white rhino, warthog and ostrich. The birdlife is prolific, with many species of waxbill and finch.

	Botsalano Game Reserve
	Botsalono is a 5800 ha reserve located in mainly open flat Kalahari grasslands scattered with acacias like the camel thorn. The reserve is excellent for the larger raptors and vultures including Lappet faced Vulture and Bateleur. It is one of the few reserves with resident western populations of Short-clawed Lark, as well as Melodius lark. Over 200 bird species have been recorded.

	Madikwe Game Reserve
	This 75 000ha joint venture reserve is home to 66 large mammal species including the big five and 350 bird species. The reserve is made up of a wide variety of habitats from vast plains, grasslands, open woodlands, dry Acacia woodlands, large stands of Sickle bush encroachment, rocky hills to the Dwarsberg Mountains in the south.

	Groot Marico area
	This well known Herman Charles Bosman region boasts with unrivalled natural splendour having over 450 species of birds and 200 species of indigenous trees identified. Many trails have been laid out around the region including a top 10 mountain biking route.

More to come soon

If you know the area, are a keen birder and would like to assist please contact us.

	Hartebeespoort Dam
	Watch out for Mocking Cliff-Chat around the Thatched central areas, as well as Black and White-bellied Sunbird and a large variety of seed eaters especially when the grasses are seeding.

	Kgaswane Mountain Reserve
	Kgaswane Mountain Reserve adjacent to the town of Rustenburg can be very rewarding as it gives one the opportunity to drive up into the mountainous areas. This 4257 ha reserve is set in the bio diverse habitats of the northern slopes of the Magaliesberg mountains. Habitats vary from quartzite peaks to Protea belts, wetlands and rolling grasslands.

	Rustenburg Area - Vlaklaagte Route
	The Vlaklaagte Route is one of the most productive birding areas in the Rustenburg area. The open grassland on either side of the road is good for Northern Black Korhaan. Scan the Eskom poles for Amur Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Carmine, White Fronted and European Bee-eaters in summer.

	Koster Area and surrounds
	Koster is approx a 2 hour drive from Joburg and Pretoria Follow route to Hartbeespoort dam. It is a large pan and when the pan is full it is a bird paradise. There are Blue Cranes on the farm on the odd occasion. Other birds include the typical highveld birds like Orange River Francolin, Eastern Clapper Lark and in November a major influx of Black-winged Pratincole.

	Boes Boes Nest Hiking Trail Anvie Ventures +27 (0)12 662 1140/0586
	On the edge of the Elands River Gorge near the town of Koster is the Boe Boes trail. This is an excellent family hiking area and offers one spectacular views of riverine bush, rivers, pools, waterfalls and rock formations.

	Mountain Sanctuary Park
	Mountain Sanctuary Park is a private nature reserve in the Magaliesberg mountains, five hundred feet above the Grootfontein valley. The reserve is primarily a hiking reserve and visitors have access to approximately 1000 hectares of land.

	Barberspan
	This sub region is unique in that it covers two large expanses of water one of which is the RAMSAR registered Barberspan pan and surrounding wetlands. At times the pans can hold over 40 000 birds. Up to 27000 Red-knobbed Coot have been counted at one time. To date over 365 bird species have been recorded.

	Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve and Surrounding areas including Sandveld Nature Reserve (OFS)
	This dam fed by the Vaal River is one of the largest in Southern Africa extending over an area of approx 25000 ha. Over 250 bird species have been recorded. This reserve also forms part of a recognized IBA SA039 which includes the Sandveld Nature Reserve which lies just across the border in the OFS.

	Molopo Game Reserve
	Molopo Game reserve is 24000 hectares of typical Kalahari desert type vegetation with undulating grass and thornveld dunes. Over 120 species of birds have been recorded at Molopo, including breeding pairs of Bateleur, Tawny and Martial Eagle. White-backed Vulture and Lappet-faced Vulture are also common. The reserve forms part of a one million hectare inter-provincial raptor conservancy.

	Vryburg / Leon Taljaard Municipal Nature Reserve
	110 bird species have been listed for the area and the reserve houses a wide variety of game including Black Wildebeest, Blue Wildebeest, White Rhino and both Burchell's and Mountain Zebra. The reserve also contains giraffe, springbok, eland, gemsbok, red hartebeest, blesbok, buffalo, duiker and white rhinoceros.