Birdwatching in South Africa

Birding contacts and birdwatching information



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. _____________________________________________________________ We want to hear about your experiences with Birdingpals. Please contact us with any comments or suggestions you have. CONTACT US _____________________________________________________________
Shortcuts to Local Pals: Eastern Cape Western Cape Gauteng Kwa Zulu Natal Limpopo (Nothern Province) Mpumalanga Professional guides Birder Friendly Lodging
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		C	Groenewald	Cannon Rocks, Eastern Cape	Anytime	Afrikaans, English, limited German
		We are close to Alexandria Forest for forest species, Ghio floodplain for water birds and Martindale/Kap river for coastal bush species. Our area has a birdlist of close to 350 in a 100km radius.
		J	Curnick	East London, Eastern Cape	Weekend	English, Afrikaans, some German
		Got a nice variety of birds in a small area.
Western Cape
		P.	Nurse	Knysna, Western Cape	Most of the time. I am retired .	English
		I am Chair of the local bird club and passionate about birds and birding		Area: afromontane forests Area Birds: knysna turacos and warblers	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky divingTravel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobileVisit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, techAttend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swapParticipate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
		G	Bain	Gordon's Bay	Anytime	English
		Fairly busy veterinary professional. I get out when schedule allows. Sundays usually best opportunity.		Area: The Helderberg is on the eastern edge of Cape Town. Not rich in number of species, but the home of endemic fynbos specials, some easy to see, some less so. Paardevlei, Dick Dent NR, Strandfontein WTP, Macassar WTP, Helderberg NR, Rooi-Els, Steenbras NR, Sir Lowry's Pass, Silwerboomkloof, Harold Porter BG, Stony Point. Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, photography Travel: stroll, walking, hiking Visit: museum, arboretum, Attend: sports event Participate: crossword puzzle solving and constructing, cricket
		D	Davis	Uitenhage, Sedgefield, South Western Cape	Anytime	English, Afrikaans
Inactive		G	Andrag	Cape Town, Western Cape	Anytime.	English and Afrikaans.
		I am a member of the local bird club and am involved in surveys and counts. I have observed over 700 species in the Southern African region.		Area: Kirstenbosch, Rooi Els, Strandfontein, West Coast National Park Area Birds: Endemics, eg. Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Large-billed Lark, etc.	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching.
Inactive		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.
Inactive		H	Beekhoven	Cape Town, Western Cape	Anytime	English
		P	Sumner	Cape Town, Western Cape	Weekend	English, Afrikaans
		Cape Town has various habitats from coastal to mountain to bush, and the birds that go with them.
Inactive		K	Steyn	Fish Hoek near Cape Town, Western Cape	Weekend	English, Afrikaans
		Fish Hoek is situated south of Cape Town, on the southern part of the Cape Peninsula - halfway between Table Montain and Cape Point. Most of this area fall within the Table Mountain National Park; Table Mountain being one of the Seven Natural Wonders on the World. The area has a very varied habitat with sea, sandy and rocky shores, many wetlands, mountain and some forest. The Cape Peninsula falls within the Fynbos biome (41,000 km2), also known as the Cape Floral Kingdom with an estimated 9,000 species of flowering plants, two thirds of which are not found anywhere else on earth. This is home to many endemic bird species such as the Cape Sugarbird. My wife and I are novice birders who love the outdoors and birding.
		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. Napier is central in the area, to places like Hermanus, Gansbay, Arniston, Agulhas , Cape Infanta and 170 km from Cape Town itself.
		M	Oliver	Knysna, Western Cape	Anytime	English
		Novice bird watcher, but very keen. We are situated on the coast and surrounded by inland lagoons, rivers, mountains and indigenous forests of the Garden Route, so there are dozens of bird species to be found here, including our iconic, green Knysna Loerie. Ideal place for Twitchers to visit, with the bonus of the Addo Elephant Park that boasts the big five.
		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.
Gauteng
		B.	Williams	Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa	Anytime	English
		I have been birding for about 20 years, have a life list of around 500 birds. I love the outdoors and birding, but am not a fanatical birder, I enjoy all the nature aspects of the areas we are able to visit in South Africa.		Area: Marievale, Rietvlei, Roodeplaat Dam, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens Area Birds: Goliath, Black, Squacco, Purple Herons; African Spoonbill, Flamingos,	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, trees, mammals Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, car, long walk, Visit: tourist site, restaurant, nature trail
		L	Thamm	Johannesburg, Gauteng	Mostly Saturdays	English
		All areas listed can be covered in an easy morning outing from Johannesburg. In summer the outing list should be close to 100 bird species. I have been birding for 50 years		Area: Rondebult, Marievale,Krugersdorp,Highveld Botanical Garden Area Birds: Black crake, hottentot teal, goliath heron, verreaux's eagle, purple swamphen	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, walking, car, Visit: restaurant, arboretum, Participate: classical, wine,
		W	McKay	Alberton, Gauteng	Anytime	English
		I stay close to three of Joburgs well known birding sites, Rondebult BS, Marievale BS and Suikerbosrand NR. I run a blog on Rondebult as I visit at least two to three times a month.
		M	Meyer	Benoni, Gauteng	Weekend	English, Afrikaans
		Keen beginner birdwatcher, would like to know the potential of birdwatching in area.
		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
		Retired birder and keen photographer with 880 birds on Southern African List (835 photographed). willing to show birders all the hotspots in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Limpopo and KZN and even further south if required. Advice freely given on where to go to find what you are looking for. I travel extensively (am usually overseas birding 3 times a year) so I may not be able to accommodate last minute requests (but try me anyway).		Area: Marievale, Sukerbosrand, Bushveld Pilansberg Area Birds: 0ver 400 species in Gauteng alone	Interests: Nature: Birding, Nature Photography
		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.
		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.
		M	Henderson	Johannesburgh, Gauteng	Anytime	English
		I have been a keen birder for over 40 years. I am a professional freelance trails guide and am happy to take out visiting birders as a Birdingpal anytime, when not on tour or safari.
		DA	Morrey	Johannesburgh, Gauteng	Weekend	English
		Marievale Wetlands, Suikerbosrand Game Reserve Walks and Trials 1 Hr outside city. Other good destinations within 2hrs drive - Borakalao and Pilanesburg GRs.
		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	English
		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.
		L	van den Heever	Pretoria, Gauteng	Weekend	English, basic Dutch, German
		Birding around Pretoria can be very satisfactory with different biomes and good variety.
		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	English
		R	de Rover	Pretoria, Gauteng	Anytime	English, Afrikaans
		D	Human	Pretoria, Gauteng	Weekend	Afrikaans, English, Italian
		For the best birding areas - visit Pretoria!!!
		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.
		R	Gerber	Pretoria, Gauteng	Weekend	English, Afrikaans
		Elarduspark is about 12 km from Pretoria and 6km from Rietvlei Nature Reserve, my patch. My personal list at this reseve is 150. Please let me know if you need anything more. I am 61 and a birdwatcher for the past 15 years with a total of 640 Southern African twitches. My patch is Rietvlei Nature Reserve where 70+ is the norm per day from Ocktober to end April.persons 1-3 welcome.
		J	Boyce	Pretoria, Gauteng	Anytime	English
		Hi, I am a super keen birder and really love to get out birding with any excuse. This part of South Africa is really diverse and totals up to a 150 species in a day are not uncommon. I am a guide, but will not charge guiding fee to fellow birders, if they are willing to pay our Fuel to get around.
		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.
		M	Bowker	Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal	Anytime	English
		C	Summersgill	Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal	Weekends	English, some German
		Keen birder and bird atlaser. Travel quite extensively in KZN to atlas when I get the chance.
		M	Meidlinger	Nelspruit, Mpumalanga	Weekend	English
		Less than an hours drive from the Kruger National Park and various Escarpment forests and grasslands with some exciting birding to be had in Nelspruit town itself.
		J	Rensburg	Standerton, Mpumalanga	Anytime	English
		Wakkerstroom and Memel, both well-known for highveld birding is part of my stomping grounds.
		C	Williams	Standerton, Mpumalanga	Anytime	English, Afrikaans, Zulu
		Birdringer since 2005 and Citizen Scientist.
		D	Mostert	Hoedspruit, Limpopo (Northern Province)	Anytime	English
		S	Mulaudzi	Louis Trichardt, Limpopo	Anytime	English, Afrikaans
		Greater Limpopo Birding Route specialist Bird Guide based in the Soutpansberg and Venda.Can guide birders to from Soutpansberg-Venda areas, Hanglip Forest, Entabeni Forest, Roodewal Forest, Muirhead Dam Reserve and Forest, Albasini Dam, Botanical Garden, Northern Kruger, Sagole Big Tree.
		D	Kleynhans	Sasolburg, Northern Free State	Anytime	English
		R	Balt	Hartbeespoort, North West	Weekend	English, Afrikaans, French
		The Magaliesberg is on our doorstep, Pilansberg Nature Reserve is not too far away. And then some treasure troves for birding in the Bushveld, and various wetlands in the area close by. I do Photography and Atlasing.
		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.
		First	Last Name	Area	Available	Lanautage
		C	Badenhorst	Ofcolaco, Limpopo	Anytime
		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
		Casper	Badenhorst	Hoedspruit, Limpopo, South Africa	Anytime	English, Spanish, Afrikaans, Tunisian Arabic
		I am Casper Badenhorst, a professional bird and nature guide, from Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province of South Africa. I run my own birding company and also guide for several birding and wildlife operators in Southern Africa.		Area: The Kruger National Park with 500+ bird species and tons of wildlife is a mere 40 minutes away. The 3rd largest canyon in the world, the Blyde River Canyon is on our doorstep . The Panorama route is a short day trip from Hoedspruit with incredible views and birds. Mariepskop Afro-montane forests is 30 min away with 22 forest bird specials. Magoebaskloof forests is an hour away and a birding hotspot not to miss. Walking trails in Kruger National Park among Africa's big five. Area Birds: African Finfoot, Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Knysna Turaco, Southern Bald Ibis, Martial Eagle, Narina Trogon, Kori Bustard, Half-collard Kingfisher, Lappet-faced Vulture, Barrat's Warbler, Crowned Eagle, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Gorgeous Bushskrike, Pygmy Kingfisher	Interests: Nature: Bird and wildlife Photography, Hiking Travel: Travelling Please see my website: Birding and Wildlife Safaris
		Gilly	Louw	Hermanus, Western Cape	Anytime	English
		Endemics are Cape Sugarbird, southern double collared sunbird, Protea canary, cape siskin, cape batis, victorins warbler, cape rockjumper. Also Jackass penguin colony nearby. Coastal birds such as gannets and manyfresh water fowl.		Area: Fernkloof nature reserve Area Birds: Black Eagle, Orange-breasted sunbird,malachite sunbird, Cape Eagle owl, flamingo	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, , photography, butterflies, swimming, beach, Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, wine, wildlife, frogs, rock art, Bushman paintings, local culture and cuisine
Birding Friendly Lodging A place near a birding hotspot, operated by Pals who cater to birders' needs.
Contact		Location		Nearby Hotspots	Type of lodging	Languages
		GARINGBOOM GUEST FARM Southern Free State, south of Bloemfontein		right on the farm property	Fully equipped two-bedroomed cottages	English
		The Garingboom Guest farm is an eco-friendly Karoo sheep farm situated in the Southern Free State. The farm is 150km south of Bloemfontein on the N1 and at exit no 45 only 11km on the R715 towards Bethulie.		Over 160 species of birds are listed for the farm. This includes specials like the Burchells’ Courser, Doublebanded Courser, Layards’ Titbabler, Grey Tit, Blue Korhaan, Rock Pipit and many other Karoo specials. Riëtte is an experienced birder and special birding trips, horse rides and Dragonfly and Butterfly - spotting can be arranged with her. Special info on the beautiful indigenous plants and bushes , mammals , reptiles, Butterflies and Dragonflies , is also available	Accommodation in comfy fully equipped two-bedroomed cottages under shady trees, includes air-conditioning, TV, kitchenette, fridge, barbeque and covered parking. Two trails on the farm gives you the opportunity to do some birding and walking on your own as well. Breakfast and special Karoo lamb dinners are also available. Contact Jan and Riëtte Griesel Fax: 0865195421 Cell : 0829009888 www.garingboom.co.za aloe@vodamail.co.za
Local Information
		Name			Description
		Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia			South Africa
		Local weather			Yahoo
		Birdlife South Africa			Club
		BirdLife Northern Gauteng			Club
		African Bird Club South Africa			Club
		Latest Sights			RBR
		Warren Mckay's Birdsouthafrica			Blog
		Roberts on line			Photos
		South African National Parks			Sites
		Kruger Park			Sites
		Cape Town Pelagics			Pelagic
		Birding Hotspots around the world			Sites