TOP THREE : FIELD GUIDES
south africa images : alamy ; getty
WHAT ARE THE COUNTRY ’ S BEST BIRDING LOCATIONS ?
Many first-time visitors to South Africa head for the Western Cape , basing themselves in or near Cape Town . It ’ s best to avoid the humid summer months ( December to February ) and the wet and cold winter ( June to August ). Spring ( September to November ) and fall ( March to May ) are usually dry , sunny and not too hot : perfect for birding .
Classic sites within range of Cape Town include Africa ’ s southwestern tip , the Cape of Good Hope , where you might glimpse the rare Verreaux ’ s Eagle ; Table Mountain , with spectacular scenic views as well as birds ; Boulders Beach in Simon ’ s Town , home to a breeding colony of African penguins ; Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden , where the birds are used to people and so very easy to see ; and Lambert ’ s Bay , home to a huge colony of Cape gannets as well as many other seabirds .
Cape Town is also an ideal place to venture out on a boat trip , to see some of the world ’ s rarest and most spectacular ocean-going birds . These include petrels , shearwaters and albatrosses , which travel here from the southern oceans to feed on the abundant fish .
There are also several excellent spots for birding in the east of the country : the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal , and further north , Mpumalanga and Limpopo — location of the world-famous Kruger National Park .
These are vast areas , so if you ’ re limited for time , it ’ s best to focus on two or three destinations — such as the spectacular Drakensberg mountains , near the border with the small country of Lesotho ; or the Hluhluwe – iMfolozi Park and Manyoni Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal . The Kruger park itself is home to more than 500 different species of birds as well as spectacular big game animals .
Elsewhere , Johannesburg might not be an obvious birding hotspot , but to the west of the city , the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden — named in honour of an antiapartheid activist — is well worth a visit . To the south east , the Marievale Bird Sanctuary is where visitors will find a host of wetland birds . And a three-hour drive north west , the Pilanesberg National Park boasts grassland , wetland and savannah habitats and their associated birds .
TOP THREE : FIELD GUIDES
1Sasol Birds of Southern Africa , by Ian Sinclair , Phil Hockey , Warwick Tarboton , Niall Perrins , Dominic Rollinson and Peter Ryan ( Struik Nature ) Now in its fifth edition , this is the ‘ birder ’ s bible ’. It covers all the birds of Southern Africa and neighbouring countries , with superb illustrations and detailed text and maps , showing you when and where you ’ re likely to encounter the various species . The latest edition also contains QR codes that can be used in conjunction with a smartphone app , to listen to bird calls and songs .
2Birds of South Africa , by Adam Riley ( Helm Wildlife Guides ) This photographic field guide is perfect for the more casual visitor — indeed , for anyone but the most serious birder . It covers the 350 species you ’ re most likely to see , with a concise and expertly written text by one of South Africa ’ s top bird experts . There ’ s detailed information on identification , songs and calls , range and habitat and behaviour . A superb selection of photographs portray the birds both perched and in flight , and in a range of different plumages . It ’ s portable enough to be carried in a jacket pocket or small bag .
3Birds of Greater Southern
Africa , by Keith Barnes , Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe ( Helm Field Guides ) Written by three of the most experienced experts on Africa ’ s birdlife , this is aimed at those travelling more widely , as it covers all nine countries in the region : Botswana , Lesotho , Malawi , Mozambique , Namibia , Swaziland , Zambia and Zimbabwe , as well as South Africa . This expands the number of species covered to almost 1,200 — more than 10 % of the world ’ s birds .
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