Southern KZN Birding Route
Articles
August 2010
Self Drive Itinerary Name: Pietermaritzburg and surrounds
- Day Trip Option A
Birding Route Name:
Southern KwaZulu Natal Birding Route
Self Drive Itinerary Name:
Pietermaritzburg and surrounds - Day Trip Option A
Habitats:
Dams, wetlands, Afromontane forest, cultivated fields, cliffs
Duration:
6 hours
Drive (1 hr) – Benvie (3/4 hrs) – roadside birding (2/3 hrs)
– Howick Falls (45 mins) – drive to Pmb (25 mins)
Distance covered:
±160kms
Costs:
Fuel – R130
Benvie Farm – R20 pp
Karkloof Crane & Conservation Centre – R20 pp
Itinerary
Benvie
From the N3 take the Howick north/ Tweedie off-ramp (exit 107), turn right at the stop sign and drive along Main Rd for 3 km’s. At the 5th set of traffic lights, Main and Zeederberg Rd intersection, turn left onto the Karkloof / Rietvlei road. Travel along this road for approx. 33 km’s, the tar becomes gravel, looking out for a signboard signing York / Hanover and L’Abri to the right. Drive 3 km’s until you see the signs for Benvie, take a left onto the D583 and Benvie Farm will be in front of you. Follow the birding signs to the parking area. To access Benvie Farm you will need to phone and make arrangements prior to arrival; +27 (0)33 502 9090 or tomrob@mweb.co.za. The 150 year old gardens at Benvie offer some fantastic birding opportunities, and early morning is particularly good! Shy, retiring species such as Lemon dove, Orange ground-thrush, Chorister robin-chat, White-starred robin and Buffspotted flufftail can be quite confiding and relatively unbothered by your presence as you stroll through the gardens. Listen out for the high-pitched shrieks of Cape parrot as they fly over, or settle in some of the tall trees on the property. The other ‘garden’ specials to look for are Forest buzzard, African wood-owl, Knysna turaco, Narina trogon, Scaly-throated honeyguide, Olive woodpecker, Mountain wagtail, Red-backed mannikin and Green twinspot. Listen out for the soft, sibilant call of the Forest canary.
For more information on Benvie Farm, click here.
Leaving Benvie after a good 3/4 hrs birding, head back the way you came. On the road out, after 1.2 km you will pass through a lovely patch of Afromontane forest that provides some excellent forest birding. It is recommended to park somewhere on the road-side and stroll up the road. Forest birding can be tricky, and it is useful to be familiar with the birds’ calls. Olive woodpecker, African emerald cuckoo (summer), Grey cuckooshrike, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Olive bush-shrike, Cape batis, Barratt’s warbler, Chorister robin-chat, Yellow-throated woodland warbler, Bush blackcap, Swee waxbill and Forest canary are all Afromontane forest specials that can be seen in this delightful patch of forest.
Mount Alida Rd and Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre
At the intersection with the main Howick – Karkloof rd, turn right towards Mount Alida. Roadside birding along this road can be very rewarding. Check all grazed grasslands, cultivated and fallow fields carefully for Denham’s bustard, Southern ground hornbill (uncommon), Blue, Grey-crowned and Wattled crane, Southern bald ibis, Red-necked spurfowl and Buffy pipit. Drive for 3.6 km’s from the point where you join the main road ,and turn right onto the D584. The low, rocky outcrops on the right support Buff-streaked chat, Long-billed pipit and Eastern long-billed lark, and the open grasslands should be scanned for Banded martin (summer), Pale-crowned, Wing-snapping and Cloud cisticola, and Yellow and Yellow-crowned bishops. The large wetland on the left in the valley bottom regularly holds a pair of Wattled crane, so stop and scan the area carefully.
Return to the main road and turn right. The large dam on your right 5.3 km’s from the D584 intersection, is a good place for waterbirds, and in particular Maccoa duck, White-backed duck, South African shelduck and Cape shoveller. At this point you can turn around and take a leisurely drive back towards Howick. You can continue to bird, looking out for raptors perched on the roadside or soaring overhead. Martial eagle, African crowned eagle, Long-crested eagle, Jackal buzzard, Forest buzzard, Black sparrowhawk and Rufous-chested sparrowhawk are some of the species you may see. The Forest buzzard and the very similar Steppe buzzard are difficult to tell apart, but remember the Steppe buzzard is a summer visitor to southern Africa, while the Forest buzzard is resident, so any potential buzzards seen in forested areas in winter are almost certainly Forest buzzards. As you continue your drive, and once you reach the tarred section, scan any ploughed fields for all 3 species of cranes which are regular in this area. Look out for the Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre on the left. The Centre is at the entrance to Gartmore Farm and has an interpretation centre as well as 2 hides overlooking small dams, and offers a further opportunity for seeing Blue, Grey crowned and Wattled cranes.
For more information on Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre, click here.
Howick Falls
The next stop is Howick Falls. As you drive down the hill into Howick take a left at the traffic lights and drive straight through town looking for the Howick Falls sign, and turning left. Drive to the end of the road where you will see a parking area. The viewing platform overlooks the cliff face where the Umgeni River plunges 100 m to the valley below. Cape rock-thrush, Familiar chat, Mocking cliff-chat, Red-winged starling, Black and Alpine swifts are often see from this viewpoint, and a pair of Lanner falcon nest in the cliffs nearby. African crowned eagle breed in the reserve, so listen and look out for this magnificent raptor. Walking away from the falls, take a walk along the road that skirts the edge of the bushveld looking for Red-throated wryneck, Olive woodpecker, Southern tchagra, Olive bush-shrike, Southern double-collared sunbird and Streaky-headed canary.
For more information on Howick Falls, click here.
If you would like to stop for a bite to eat or a drink before heading back to Pietermaritzburg, Howick is part of the Midlands Meander route and there are a number of restaurants and coffee shops in the vicinity. Ask in any of the shops near the Falls for a Midlands Meander map (R5), and see what takes your fancy!
Article courtesy of BirdLife South Africa Avitourism Division
Articles
August 2010
Self Drive Itinerary Name: Pietermaritzburg and surrounds
- Day Trip Option A
Birding Route Name:
Southern KwaZulu Natal Birding Route
Self Drive Itinerary Name:
Pietermaritzburg and surrounds - Day Trip Option A
Habitats:
Dams, wetlands, Afromontane forest, cultivated fields, cliffs
Duration:
6 hours
Drive (1 hr) – Benvie (3/4 hrs) – roadside birding (2/3 hrs)
– Howick Falls (45 mins) – drive to Pmb (25 mins)
Distance covered:
±160kms
Costs:
Fuel – R130
Benvie Farm – R20 pp
Karkloof Crane & Conservation Centre – R20 pp
Itinerary
Benvie
From the N3 take the Howick north/ Tweedie off-ramp (exit 107), turn right at the stop sign and drive along Main Rd for 3 km’s. At the 5th set of traffic lights, Main and Zeederberg Rd intersection, turn left onto the Karkloof / Rietvlei road. Travel along this road for approx. 33 km’s, the tar becomes gravel, looking out for a signboard signing York / Hanover and L’Abri to the right. Drive 3 km’s until you see the signs for Benvie, take a left onto the D583 and Benvie Farm will be in front of you. Follow the birding signs to the parking area. To access Benvie Farm you will need to phone and make arrangements prior to arrival; +27 (0)33 502 9090 or tomrob@mweb.co.za. The 150 year old gardens at Benvie offer some fantastic birding opportunities, and early morning is particularly good! Shy, retiring species such as Lemon dove, Orange ground-thrush, Chorister robin-chat, White-starred robin and Buffspotted flufftail can be quite confiding and relatively unbothered by your presence as you stroll through the gardens. Listen out for the high-pitched shrieks of Cape parrot as they fly over, or settle in some of the tall trees on the property. The other ‘garden’ specials to look for are Forest buzzard, African wood-owl, Knysna turaco, Narina trogon, Scaly-throated honeyguide, Olive woodpecker, Mountain wagtail, Red-backed mannikin and Green twinspot. Listen out for the soft, sibilant call of the Forest canary.
For more information on Benvie Farm, click here.
Leaving Benvie after a good 3/4 hrs birding, head back the way you came. On the road out, after 1.2 km you will pass through a lovely patch of Afromontane forest that provides some excellent forest birding. It is recommended to park somewhere on the road-side and stroll up the road. Forest birding can be tricky, and it is useful to be familiar with the birds’ calls. Olive woodpecker, African emerald cuckoo (summer), Grey cuckooshrike, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Olive bush-shrike, Cape batis, Barratt’s warbler, Chorister robin-chat, Yellow-throated woodland warbler, Bush blackcap, Swee waxbill and Forest canary are all Afromontane forest specials that can be seen in this delightful patch of forest.
Mount Alida Rd and Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre
At the intersection with the main Howick – Karkloof rd, turn right towards Mount Alida. Roadside birding along this road can be very rewarding. Check all grazed grasslands, cultivated and fallow fields carefully for Denham’s bustard, Southern ground hornbill (uncommon), Blue, Grey-crowned and Wattled crane, Southern bald ibis, Red-necked spurfowl and Buffy pipit. Drive for 3.6 km’s from the point where you join the main road ,and turn right onto the D584. The low, rocky outcrops on the right support Buff-streaked chat, Long-billed pipit and Eastern long-billed lark, and the open grasslands should be scanned for Banded martin (summer), Pale-crowned, Wing-snapping and Cloud cisticola, and Yellow and Yellow-crowned bishops. The large wetland on the left in the valley bottom regularly holds a pair of Wattled crane, so stop and scan the area carefully.
Return to the main road and turn right. The large dam on your right 5.3 km’s from the D584 intersection, is a good place for waterbirds, and in particular Maccoa duck, White-backed duck, South African shelduck and Cape shoveller. At this point you can turn around and take a leisurely drive back towards Howick. You can continue to bird, looking out for raptors perched on the roadside or soaring overhead. Martial eagle, African crowned eagle, Long-crested eagle, Jackal buzzard, Forest buzzard, Black sparrowhawk and Rufous-chested sparrowhawk are some of the species you may see. The Forest buzzard and the very similar Steppe buzzard are difficult to tell apart, but remember the Steppe buzzard is a summer visitor to southern Africa, while the Forest buzzard is resident, so any potential buzzards seen in forested areas in winter are almost certainly Forest buzzards. As you continue your drive, and once you reach the tarred section, scan any ploughed fields for all 3 species of cranes which are regular in this area. Look out for the Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre on the left. The Centre is at the entrance to Gartmore Farm and has an interpretation centre as well as 2 hides overlooking small dams, and offers a further opportunity for seeing Blue, Grey crowned and Wattled cranes.
For more information on Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre, click here.
Howick Falls
The next stop is Howick Falls. As you drive down the hill into Howick take a left at the traffic lights and drive straight through town looking for the Howick Falls sign, and turning left. Drive to the end of the road where you will see a parking area. The viewing platform overlooks the cliff face where the Umgeni River plunges 100 m to the valley below. Cape rock-thrush, Familiar chat, Mocking cliff-chat, Red-winged starling, Black and Alpine swifts are often see from this viewpoint, and a pair of Lanner falcon nest in the cliffs nearby. African crowned eagle breed in the reserve, so listen and look out for this magnificent raptor. Walking away from the falls, take a walk along the road that skirts the edge of the bushveld looking for Red-throated wryneck, Olive woodpecker, Southern tchagra, Olive bush-shrike, Southern double-collared sunbird and Streaky-headed canary.
For more information on Howick Falls, click here.
If you would like to stop for a bite to eat or a drink before heading back to Pietermaritzburg, Howick is part of the Midlands Meander route and there are a number of restaurants and coffee shops in the vicinity. Ask in any of the shops near the Falls for a Midlands Meander map (R5), and see what takes your fancy!
Article courtesy of BirdLife South Africa Avitourism Division
See Also
Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk
The Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre
Ongoye Forest Birding Camp
Thonga Beach Lodge and the Mabibi Campsite
The Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve and Training Centre
Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk
Southern KZN Birding Route
The Karkloof Crane and Conservation Centre
Ongoye Forest Birding Camp
Thonga Beach Lodge and the Mabibi Campsite
The Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve and Training Centre
Marutswa Forest Trail and Boardwalk
Southern KZN Birding Route
Location Info
Special thanks for images
© D Pritchard
© D Pritchard
Eco-tourism = Community + Environment
