South Africa Parks
By Philip Briggs
Philip lives in South Africa and is the author many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt and Insight guide to South Africa.
The varied thicket vegetation of the Great Fish River Valley supports a considerable diversity of bird species. As a result, the checklist count is over 300 and still growing. Kwandwe is home to several endangered species including the Blue crane. In fact, the reserve borrows its name: Kwandwe means 'Place of the Blue crane'. Specialist guides are available for private birding safaris on the property. Migratory birds are present from November to April.
Notable Birds in Kwandwe GR
Rare
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Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders
(E) endemic = only lives in South Africa(NE) near-endemic = also lives in neighboring countries
- Acacia pied barbet
- African finfoot
- Amethyst sunbird
- Barratt's warbler
- Bateleur
- Black harrier
- Black stork
- Blue crane
- Bokmakierie
- Cape vulture
- Crowned eagle
- Crowned lapwing
- Denham’s bustard
- Double-banded courser
- Dusky sunbird
- Greater double-collared sunbird
- Half-collared kingfisher
- Jackal buzzard
- Karoo scrub robin (NE)
- Knysna woodpecker (E)
- Kori bustard
- Lanner falcon
- Malachite sunbird
- Martial eagle
- Ostrich
- Pale chanting goshawk
- Red-billed oxpecker
- Reed cormorant
- Scaly-fronted weaver
- Secretary bird
- Southern grey-headed sparrow
- Striated heron
- Tawny eagle
- Verreaux’s eagle
- Violet-backed starling
Best Time for Bird Watching
For the optimal bird watching experience (although birding is generally good year-round), plan your trip from November to April, when the migratory birds of northern Africa and Europe have arrived. June to September is the best time for wildlife viewing.
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Facts & Figures
