Bird-lovers are bonkers about Tzaneen area!
Swartbos Forest
Park in the grounds of Sandford Heights Nursery. Ask the owners for directions to the trail, which offers access to the forest, with its favoured inhabitants.
Woodbush Forest and Drive
This 14km dirt road is the best forest birding area in the Limpopo Province, if not the country. A high-clearance vehicle recommended and 4-wheel drive needed in wet weather.
More exciting sightings
Bathawk Nest in Agatha
A breeding site for the Bat Hawk since at least 1967.A platform was placed in one of the trees to secure the nest. David Letsoalo (read more further down) helped secure the nesting platform some years ago and the pair have been breeding and raising juveniles happily since then.
Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve – forests and grasslands
From Tzaneen, head southeast towards the Strydom Tunnel and Lydenburg (R36). The turnoff to Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve is to the right (east), about 44km from Tzaneen. A nominal entrance fee is payable at the gate. A tarred road winds up through picturesque mountains, onto the Drakensberg Plateau.
Birding Routes
The Dap Naude Route takes you past the Woodbush Forest and the wetland and grasslands associated with Dap Naude Dam. There are a number of forest and grassland patches along the way.
Kudu's Valley Birding Route
Dry thornveld and lowveld. The dirt road between Houtbosdorp and Mooketsi drops down over the escarpment through bush veld and riverine habitats. A 1000m descent treats one to fantastic views (and the raptors who inhabit the high places) and an interesting mix of other habitats like granite boulders, farm dams, riverine and tropical bushveld areas each flaunt their own community of feathered folk.
Haenertsburg Grasslands
Haenertsburg (in the magical Magoebaskloof) is embraced by grasslands and shrouded by mist belt forest. Patches of forest have remained but grasslands have been almost entirely planted to gum and pine trees and avocado orchards. Where the grassland and forest are intact, birds are bountiful.
Louis Changuion Trail
This scenic trail from Haenertsburg winds through 200 hectares of protected grasslands with forest patches situated above the village. Various parts of the 10km trail can be done separately depending on fitness and enthusiasm.
Serala Birding Route – dry thornveld and high mountain grasslands.
Birding Tours (at Kurisa Moya) with a personal, passionate guide
David Letsoalo is a qualified Birdlife SA guide with intimate knowledge of the Woodbush forest area. He has been guiding in the area for many years and has inside info on where to find the favourite lifers. This top local bird guide represents the bird guides on the Bird Life South Africa Council and trains and mentors throughout the country. He runs the Cape Parrot Count in Limpopo and researches the Cape Parrot in the Woodbush Forest. David runs the Birds in Trees programme in the area which is a greening and conservation programme for local schools.
This living legend in the birding world has featured in numerous magazine and newspaper articles and on television.
Paul Nkhumane is another top guide and with David, offers guided walks to the birding hot-spots in the area.
Contact David @ 083 568 4678
Information and photos courtesy of magoebasklooftourism.co.za and blueberryheights.co.za
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