habitats & vegetation

Upland Bushveld

High altitude acacia savannah around Vryheid, Babanango, Melmoth and Louwsburg, Ithala, Esikhuma and Ntinini.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Chestnut-vented Titbabbler, Secretarybird, Barrow's Korhaan, Fiscal Flycatcher and Short-tailed Pipit.

Lowland Bushveld

Low altitude savannah from Eshowe in the south to Ndumo and Tembe in the north and around Umfolozi, Phongola and at Mkhuze and Phinda Game Reserve.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Bronze-winged Course, Rudd's Apalis, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Martial Eagle and Southern Ground Hornbill.

Coastal Lowland and Dune Forest

Tall, lowland forest on dunes or close to the coast around Dukuduku, Futululu Park, Cape Vidal, Umlalazi, Amatikhulu and Lake Sibaya.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Woodward's Batis, Livingstone's Turaco, Grey Waxbill, Borwn Scrub-robin, Green Twinspot, Southern-banded Snake Eagle, Black-bellied Starling, White-eared Barbet.

Riverine Forest

Tall and often dense vegetation along rivers. Generally found in the areas of Mkhuze, Ndumo, Ithala, Enseleni, Lower Mhuze and iPhiva.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot, Pel's Fishing Owl, Half-collared Kingfisher, Mountain Wagtail.

Sand Forest

Dry, sandy forest patches in Lowland Bushveld in the area of Mkhuze, Ndumo, Phinda, Manguzi and Tembe.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Pink-throated Twinspot, Neergard's Sunbird, African Broadbill, Plain-backed Sunbird, Eastern Nicator.

Swamp Forest / Mangroves

Permarnently inundated coastal forest often near estuaries around Kosi Bay, Richard's Bay and Mtunzini.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Palm-nut Vulture, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Pel's Fishing Owl, Mangrove Kingfisher and Purple-banded Sunbird.

Coastal Scarp Forest

Forested slopes of coastal escarment around Ongoye, Dlinza, Hluhluwe and Entumeni.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Green Barbet, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Spotted Ground Thrush, Narina Trogon and Yellow-streaked Greenbul.

Mistbelt Forest

Tall, moist and cool inland forest around Ngome, Qudeni, Nkandla, Pongola Bush and Vryheid Hill.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Orange Ground Thrush, White-starred Robin, Knysna Turaco, Barratt's Warbler and Bush Blackcap.

Coastal Grassland

Low altitude, mainly short grassland found around Cape Vidal, Sodwana Bay, Kosi Bay and Amatikulu.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Rosy-throated Longclaw, Senegal Lapwing, Swamp Nightjar, Black-rumped Buttonquail and Grey-rumped Swallow.

Rocky Grassland

Grassland with scattered rocks found around Skurweberg, Vryheid Hill and Igwala gwala.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Buff-streaked Chat, Ground Woodpecker, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Mountain Wheat-ear and Drakensberg Prinia.

Upland Grassland

High altitude, short or tall grassland found around Blood River Vlei, Skurweberg and Babanango.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Bald Ibis, Blue Crane, Broad-tailed Warbler, Blue Korhaan, Barrow's Korhaan, Spike-heeled Lark and Denham's Bustard.

Coastal Wetland

Low altitude wetlands found around St.Lucia, Mkhuze, Ndumo, Richard's Bay and Phinda.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Lesser Jacana, Rufous-bellied Heron, Black Coucal, Lesser Moorhen, Southern Brown-throated Weaver and Pygmy Goose.

Upland Wetland

High altitude wetlands around Klipfontein Bird Sanctuary and Blood River Vlei.

Birds that can be spotted in this type of habitat are Grey Crowned Crane, South African Shelduck, Red-chested Flufftail, African Rail, Striped Flufftail and Wattled Crane.

Mudflats

Exposed, tidal areas mostly near the coast around Richard's Bay Harbour, Mkhuze, Ndumo, Mtunzini and St.Lucia.

Birds that can be spotted here are Broad-billed Sandpiper, Crab Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Lesser Crested Tern, Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers.

Mountains and Cliffs

Exposed and often sheer rock around Bivane Dam, Ithala, Lebombo Cliffs and Esikhuma.

Birds that can be found here are Peregrine Falcon, Verreaux's Eagle, Black Torks, Striped Pipit, Sentinal Rock Thrush and Southern Bald Ibis.

Open Ocean

Any are of open ocean from the Thukhela River in the south to Pont do Orou in the north and Richard's Bay.

Birds here are Great-winged Petrel, Sooty Tern, Black-bellied Storm Petrel, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross and Artic Tern.