Birdwatching in South Africa
Local Birdingpal Contacts
|
Local Birdwatchers
Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away. Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| Initial | Last Name | Area | Available | Language | |||||||||||||||||||||
 |
| J | Curnick | East London, Eastern Cape | Weekend | English/Afrikaans some German | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Got a nice variety of birds in a small area. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Brown | Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Davis | Uitenhage, Sedgefield, South Western Cape | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| J | Carter | Somerset West/Cape Town, Western Cape | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I am chairman of the local bird club and always willing to take out visiting birders especially in the Somerset West, Paarl and Hermanus areas where many endemics may be found. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| M | Harrington | Cape Town, Western Cape | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| M | Maciver | Cape Town, Western Cape | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Nature Reserves on the Cape Peninsula. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| L | Hibbin | Cape Town, Western Cape | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| A | Grundlingh | Durbanville/Cape Town, Western Cape | Weekend | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The birding around my home is mostly all the Cape endemics & specials. I also have a keen interest in other wildlife: specifically dragonflies, reptiles, frogs, flowers and fungi. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| H | Beekhoven | Cape Town, Western Cape | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| HM | Howell | Cape Town, Western Cape | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I live at Muizenberg on the False Bay coast and am very familiar with Strandfontein IBA and Zandvlei Nature reserve. I am retired and busy but it would be my pleasure to make a date. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| E | Kistler | Cape Town, Western Cape | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| A | Teroerde | Cape Town, Western Cape | Weekend | English/German | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I am a keen birder (and ornithologist) but have little free time at the moment. Am happy to give advice if I am too busy to come with. There are several nice spots not far from the city. Can also advise on birding routes around SA. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| R | Kadis | Franschhoek, Western Cape | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I am more of an allround nature lover than just birdwatching but I think this site is a great idea. I have belonged to it for a few years now and have passed info to a good few enquiries. I have also met up with a few birdwatchers/visitors when in Cape Town. I used to live in Simonstown, now living in Napier, Western Cape. About 40 km from Cape Agulhas - Most Southern Point of Africa (Not Cape Point!). The area is known as the Overberg and wellknown for the Blue Crane. Also close to DeHoop nature reserve where they have Cape Vulture program. I work offshore up from Angola, so not at home that often, but if I can help with information, I try. My mobile no. when home 0824300690. SA code 0027 from outside country . This email or herman.eksteen@yahoo.co.uk. Napier is central in the area, to places like Hermanus, Gansbay, Arniston, Agulhas , Cape Infanta and 170 km from Cape Town itself. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| U | Uno | Melkbosstrand, Western Cape | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I live outside Cape Town along the Atlantic Ocean near the Koeberg Nuclear Power station - about 30 km from central Cape Town. We also have accommodation to offer to any bird lovers, who wish to visit here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| M | Maclean | Montagu/Bonnievale/Stormsvlei/Barrydale, Western Cape | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I am a veld-nut and passionate about birds, plants, animals and conservation of natural veld. The veld here is mostly succulent karoo (interspersed with orchards and vineyards) with fynbos on the higher mountains. This means there is a high degree of plant and animal endemism, as well as many opportunities to see plant-animal interactions (pollination, seed dispersal etc). Close by is the forest reserve of Grootvadersbosch and the karoo reserves of Mont Eco, African Game Lodge, Sanbona and Anysberg. Also the succulent gardens and mazes of Soekershof. I also have access to many private holdings, and we can walk in any direction for as long as we like! Summers are very hot and birding can be thin, the best times being between April and October. Drought years like this year (2011) cause many arid zone birds to move down from the north, and wet years encourage the migrants to stay in our part of the world instead of just passing through. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| S | Eksteen | Napier, Western Cape | Anytime | English/Afrikaans Arabic | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairperson of the Birdlife Bird River bird club in Franschhoek. Very keen birder and love to go out looking for our feathered friends. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| H | Wetmore | Somerset West, Western Cape | Anytime | English/German | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Passionate about birds, familiar with the local sites in Somerset West area, with a cottage in the garden for keen birders (at very affordable costs). Photography a big hobby. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| B | Geldenhuys | Germiston, Gauteng | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Keen birder with good spotting and identifying skills, Often out and about in the field. Good Birds to be found one hours drive from where I am based. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| A | Meiring | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | Afrikaans/English Dutch/Geman | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| F | Joubert | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| C | Moore | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Keen on wildlife in general and birding in particular. RSA is very scenic with diverse geography and habitats and has superb wildlife and birds with beautiful reserves and natural areas. I bird mostly on the highveld around Johannesburg, but have travelled extensively in southern Africa. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| K | Logan | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I'am a keen amateur birder and photographer with over 870 birds on my Southern African list. Recently retired and I am happy to accompany birders in Gauteng (over 400 species available within 100ks of Joburg) or further afield. No fees just recovery of expenses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| N | Perrins | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I am a keen birder who likes to get out of the city most weekends. Birdwatching is quite fruitful within an hour or two drive from Johannesburg, to a variety of habitats. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| P | Hardingham | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| We have 750 lifers and take groups, mid-week, on birding trips in the area. We run a bird sanctuary in Randburg. We are members of BirdLife SA. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| S | Simango | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Day birding outing in Joburg. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| B | Wallis | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| My husband and I are keen birders. Our favourite spots are Marievale Bird Sanctuary - 1hrs drive away from where we live. We are by no means professional but enjoy time out in nature even if its roughing it in the back of our bakkie, its great to get out of town for a night and bird. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| A | Featherstone | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Lived in Johannesburg for twenty years so know the area well. Johannesburg is in the highveld area of South Africa and is surrounded by lots of excellent birding spots. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| P | Steyn | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I am 70 years young and am a retired lawyer living in Johannesburg South Africa (am still quite fit and active). My wife and I have been active and keen members of Birdlife SA for 30 years, and also very keen amateur photographers. We have visited most good birding spots in SA and have also travelled to several countries on birding trips. Eg. Ethiopia, Nepal, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. WE have wild life experiences here that is still the best in the world. A few months ago we were driving in Kruger Park. People stopped and told us about lions, which had killed a big buck and zebra 3 km forward. Then people stopped and told us that a leopard had killed a buck and was eating it in a tree 7 km backwards. We got the best photos of all that day. Where we were there was a big fight between 4 francolins right next to the car. We took 100 photos there. Then we went to leopard and got 200 more photos. I will gladly assist any travellers wishing to visit SA on birding or photographic trips. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| M | Axelrod | Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I'm a very keen young birder and also enjoy a bit of bird photography. I know most of the good birding spots around Gauteng well and also most of the best spots in the whole Northern part of South Africa. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| P | Huggins | Benoni, Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Am a member of Birdlife South Africa and committee member of the Wits Bird Club, East Rand Branch. Have lead many birding outings in and around Gauteng. Have transport and equipment. Have several great birding locations in the surrounding area, namely Suikerbos Rand, Marievale, Rietvlei Nature Reserve and Pilanesberg. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| T | O'Boyle | Johannesburg, Delta Park, Gauteng | Anytime | English/Irish German | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| A | Marx | Johannesburg/Pretoria, Gauteng | Anytime | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Swanepoel | Pretoria/Johannesburgh, Gauteng | Weekend | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I am a reasonably experienced birder with the good fortune to live in a particularly bird rich part of South Africa. I have taken a few birdingpals out birding in the past, as well as availed of the help of others while traveling abroad. I love getting to meet birders from other parts of the world and to share our wonderful birdlife. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| E | Retief | Pretoria, Gauteng | Weekend | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Keen birder for many years. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Onderstall | Krugersdorp, Gauteng | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Krugersdorp has a lot of urban bird species, many more than I have seen in urban areas in other country I have visited. I usually have space in my house for guests. The Krugersdorp game reserve is minutes away and there are many good spots within a few hours. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| R | Coetzee | Nigel, Gauteng | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I have been birding for 30 years, BUT I am by no means a professional. I bird, I do not twitch. I don't keep lists, I just enjoy birds. Gauteng is Highveld and do not really have the very colourful spectacular species, but the Limpopo province, further North is great. I also, if people like to camp, go there. I do not like staying in lodges, I do not like people smoking and I have a Land Rover Defender, 90, which a lot of people have a hate for. She is riged to only take one person and me. I love my Landy and my birding trips. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| S | Terblanche | Faerie Glen/Pretoria, Gauteng | Anytime | English understand German/Dutch | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pretoria is situated in a particularly bird rich area, even in the urban areas. During the Bird Atlas project, that has been running for almost a year now, 167 species have already been recorded in the vicinity of my home, in an area of 8km by 8km. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| R | Geddes | Pretoria, Gauteng | Anytime | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| H | Louw | Pretoria, Gauteng | Anytime | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| R | de Rover | Pretoria, Gauteng | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Human | Pretoria, Gauteng | Weekend | Afrikaans/English Italian | |||||||||||||||||||||
| For the best birding areas - visit Pretoria!!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Deighton | Pretoria, Gauteng | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I can take small groups of birders in 150 kilometres radius from Pretoria. There is bushveld, highveld grassland and wetland birding in this area. On a personal note I am retired now. I have seen over 880 of the 950 birds on the Southern Africa list. I also take a lot of bird photos (world wide). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| P | Penlington | Pretoria, Gauteng | Weekend | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Keen photograper and birder. I spend most of my time birding the areas with 100km of Pretoria know most of the best locations. A full day should usally get around 200 species in summer, 170 in Winter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| G | Burrows | Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal | Weekend | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Morrey | Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The upper highway area is well forested and has many birding hot spots for forest specials. Down at the coast there are many areas rich in waders and shore birds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| M | Taylor | Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Happy to show birders around my local patch or to answer any questions on birding in South Africa. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| J | Shipway | Hilton, Kwa Zulu Natal | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Drakensberg Mountains; grasslands; wetlands; sand forest; coastal regions and near enough to world renowned game reserves. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| C | Hesse | Lake Sibaya/Muzi Pan/Mkuze Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal | Anytime | English/Spanish Japanese | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| M | Bowker | Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| J | Anderson | Hilton, Kwa Zulu Natal | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Forest, bushveld and grassland. Orange Ground-thrush, Knysna Turaco, Wattled Crane, Blue Crane, Forest Canary, Swee Waxbill, Blue Swallow, Cape Parrot, Spotted Ground-thrush, Long-tailed Widow-bird, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Ground Woodpecker, Secretarybird etc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| J | Rensburg | Standerton, Mpumalanga | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wakkerstroom and Memel, both well-known for highveld birding is part of my stomping grounds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Mostert | Hoedspruit, Limpopo (Nothern Province) | Anytime | English | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| C | Badenhorst | Ofcolaco, Limpopo | Anytime | Spanish/English Afrikaans Tunisian Arabic | |||||||||||||||||||||
| We live midway between Magoebaskloof, Krugerpark and the Strijdom tunnel in Limpopo. Special species are Taita Falcon, Bathawk & Black-fronted Bush Shrike. We have 99 Garden species. More info and pictures of accommodation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| D | Kleynhans | Sasolburg, Northern Free State | Anytime | Spanish/English Afrikaans Tunisian Arabic | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
| E | Muller | Hartbeespoort/Pretoria, North West | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I am a keen birder and ringer. Stay at the Hartbeespoort dam which is about 50 kilometers west of Pretoria. There are many reserves and special birding spots in and around Pretoria with Pilansberg Nature Reserve about 100 kilometers away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| B | Loxton | Klerksdorp, North West | Anytime | English/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Nature Reserves in vicinity Faan Meintjies NR, Sandveld NR and Barberspan NR. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| A | Archer | Klerksdorp, North West | Anytime | Spanish/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
| I have filled in that I am available on weekends only. However my work is such that I can at times go out during the week. There are many of the South African endemics in the area - Larks, Pipits. There is a nature reserve 15km from from Klerksdorp with good accomodation and most of the birds can be seen within the reserve. I have taken people out before without charging a fee. That did not work as my vehicle was used and no offer to at least share costs was made. So I will be charging a fee. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| M | Phiri | Mafikeng, North West | Weekend | Spanish/Afrikaans | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Professional Guides If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| Initial | Last Name | Area | Available | Language | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Local Information
|
| Name | Description
|
| Birder friendly lodging | South Africa |
| Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | South Africa |
|
| Local weather | Yahoo |
|
| Electronic maps | |
|
| Field guides and books recommended by Birdingpals | South Africa |
|
| Find lowest prices for field guides, books, maps etc. | BookFinder4U |
|
| Bird check list | Printable |
|
| Read a Birdingpal's Trip Report | South Africa |
|
| Birdlife South Africa | Club |
|
| BirdLife Northern Gauteng | Club |
|
| African Bird Club South Africa | Club |
|
| Latest Sights | RBR |
|
| Birding Hotspots around the world | Sites |
|
| South African National Parks | Sites |
|
| Kruger Park | Sites |
|
| Cape Town Pelagics | Pelagic |
Last update 28/02/2012