Birders

Western/Eastern Cape

Tsitsikama Area of the Garden Route National Park

Cormorants, Kelp Gulls and African Black Oystercatchers are prominent along the coastline. Pied and Giant Kingfishers can both be seen hunting fish at tidal pools or in the rivers that drain into the Indian Ocean. More inconspicuous, but also inhabiting these rivers are Halfcollared Kingfisher and African Finfoot.

The Tsitsikamma Forest is the haunt of the Knysna Lourie. Other forest species to watch or listen for include Emerald Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, Knysna and Olive Woodpecker, Chorister Robin and Grey Cuckooshrike.

Eastern Cape

Addo Elephant National Park

Addo's birding opportunity covers excellent habitat contrast between dense thickets of Spekboom interspersed with open grassy areas and wooded kloofs (particularly in the Zuurberg region).

In and around the Addo rest camp Karoo and Cape Robin, Bokmakierie, Southern Tchagra and Cape Bunting are prominent. A trip into the game viewing area will not produce a plethora of birds, but Bokmakierie will once more be prominent, and Martial Eagle, Black Korhaan and Secretarybird may well be seen.

In the wooded kloofs of the Zuurberg, Crowned Eagles breed. Forest species typical of the Eastern Cape, such as Olive Bush Shrike, Yellowthroated Warbler and Cape Batis can also be searched for.

Mountain Zebra National Park

Black and Martial Eagle and Jackal Buzzard soar impressively over this mountain habitat. Palewinged Starling is very conspicuous on the mountain plateau, where Ostrich, Secretarybird, Blue Crane and Ludwig's Bustard are the larger more visible species. Greywinged Francolin, Ground Woodpecker, Thickbilled and Longbilled Lark, Cape and Sentinel Rock Thrush, Mountain Chat and Orangebreasted Rockjumper should also be searched for, while Pinkbilled Lark and Rock Pipit are less common.

The wooded kloofs and acacia stand host species such as Redfronted Tinker Barbet, Lesser Honeyguide, Redthroated Wryneck and Southern Tchagra.