Phinda Resource Reserve

Categories: accommodation; booking required;

Phinda Resource Reserve is a private game reserve of about 14 000ha. It borders Mkhuze Game Reserve on the west and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the east. The main attraction is the diversity of seven distinct ecosystems within the reserve that provide ample opportunity for great birding and also prime big game viewing. Game drives and walks turn up much more than birds with lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah, rhino and fantastic flowers, butterflies and frogs to be seen. Over 350 bird species have been recorded on the reserve.

Southern Banded Snake Eagle, African Finfoot, Whitebacked Night Heron, Narina Trogon, Rudd's Apalis, Yellowspotted Nicator, African Broadbill, Green Twinspot, Pinkthroated Twinspot, Neergaard's Sunbird, Lemonbreasted Canary, Redwinged Pratincole, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, and Cuckoo Hawk. Rarities are Pel's Fishing Owl, Palmnut Vulture, Natal Nightjar, Black Coucal and Dwarf Bittern.

Additional Information

Birding

1. River cruise/canoe trip on Mzinene River

Good viewing of Purple Heron, Little Bittern, breeding Goliath Heron, Squacco Heron and Blackcrowned Night Heron can be had, especially in the evenings at the large heronries in the reedbeds. Pel's Fishing Owl can be seen in dry years when the smaller rivers in the area dry up. African Finfoot is a regular and must be looked for near the overhanging vegetation. Redbilled Queleas roost in the reedbeds and Redheaded Queleas, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Cuckoo Hawk, Longcrested Eagle and Osprey (usually year round). Crocodiles are common, hippos less so and other game like elephant can also be spotted.

2. Drive/walk on Inkwazi Floodplain

Black Coucals possibly breed here and African Crakes are common. Redchested Flufftails and African Rails are resident, but elusive in the taller reeds. This is also the best area for Broadtailed Warbler, Blackbacked and Redfaced Cisticolas. African Marsh Harriers patrol regularly. In summer, Redwinged Pratincoles and Bluecheeked Bee-eaters are common. It is also good for swallows like Greyrumped, Redbreasted and Wiretailed as well as Banded and Sand Martins.

3. Ntabankosi Mountain

Stierling's Barred Warbler occurs on sparse gravely sections of the mountain. The drainage lines have Narina Trogon and in summer Emerald and other cuckoos are found. Pinkthroated Twinspots and Yellowspotted Nicators are common throughout. Check the candelabra trees here for Brown Snake Eagle. Greater and Scalythroated Honeyguides are found at many perches throughout. Bateleur and Wahlberg's Eagle nest on the mountain. In winter the flowering Mountain Aloes are brilliant for sunbirds, weavers and Blackheaded Oriole. Rock Buntings have been seen in recent months and Lemonbreasted Canaries are found at the foothill near Main Gate.

African Broadbill ,Rudd's Apalis, Black Cuckooshrikes and Grey Penduline Tits are common in bird parties, especially in winter. The endemic Fiscal Flycatcher and the Dusky both visit Phinda more in the winter months. Drainage lines and the Munywana River which is enclosed by riverine forest are excellent habitat for Eastern Bearded Robin, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, African Broadbill, Green Coucal, Narina Trogon, Trumpeter Hornbill, Green Pigeon, Crested Guinea-fowl and White-eared Barbets. Night drives can also produce Bronzewinged Courser, Scops, Barn or Spotted Eagle Owls and also Fierynecked and in summer European Nightjars. In summer, flocks of up to 15 Broadbilled Rollers can be seen at all times of the day in the dead trees between all the main dams. In the pans and depressions, African Crake, Dwarf Bittern, Lesser Moorhen and Lesser Gallinule can be found and the dams must be checked carefully for Green Sandpiper. Pygmy Geese and Whitefaced Duck are to be found at Ximongwe Dam. In the open grassland, Corncrake, Black Coucal, Kurrichane Buttonquail, Croaking Cisticola and Blackbellied Korhaan are evident. In the late summer, the thicket/tangles areas are good for Willow, Icterine and Garden Warblers. In the dry season, Eastern White Pelicans and Ethiopian Snipe are regularly seen at Mvubu Dam.Bird parties in the Acacia thornveld must be checked for Twinspots, Grey Waxbills, Yellowbellied and Burntnecked Eremomelas, Melba Finches, Redbilled, Bluebilled and Jameson's Firefinches.

Contact Details

Phinda Resource Reserve

Tel: +27 (0)35 562 0271
Fax: +27 (0)35 562 0399
E-mail: phindam@ccafrica.com (Mountain & Rock)