Charter's Creek

Categories: accommodation; trails;

Charter's Creek is situated on the western shores of Lake St. Lucia, and within the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, a World Heritage Site. The spot is a popular holiday destination for birders and fishermen, and the reserve lends itself to relaxing birding.

Charter's Creek is well known for its beautiful coastal/ sand forest. The best birding is done on the main road leading to the camp, on the two walking trails in the reserve or on the lake shore itself. Over 300 species have been recorded from the reserve.

The two trails (Isikhova and Umkumbe) lead through some prime habitat. Typical forest species such as Lemon Dove, Green Pigeon, Purple-crested Turaco, Trumpeter Hornbill, White-eared Barbet, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-headed Oriole, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Eastern Nicator, Brown Scrub-Robin, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Gorgeous Bush Shrike and Red-backed Mannikin occur alongside rarer or shyer species such as Narina Trogon, African Broadbill, Grey Waxbill, Pink-throated Twinspot, Neergard's Sunbird, Scaly-throated Honeyguide and Green Twinspot.

Grassland specials are less conspicuous, but birds such as Rosy-throated Longclaw, Quailfinch, White-winged Widowbird, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Senegal Lapwing, Black-rumped Buttonquail and Black-bellied Bustard have been recorded.

Wetland specials that could be seen include the ever-present African Fish Eagle, Woolly-necked Stork, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Burchell's and Black Coucals, Collared Pratincole, Painted Snipe, Goliath Heron and a host of waders, terns, egrets, ducks, pelicans and flamingos.

Other raptors include Long-crested Eagle, Crowned Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Little Sparrowhawk, Osprey and Southern Banded Snake Eagle.

Directions

To get there; take the Charter's Creek/ Fanies Island turn-off from the N2 highway between Mtubatuba and Hluhluwe. The tar road takes one straight to the reserve entrance, a further 13km from the N2 turn-off.