Birding Locations
Isimangaliso wetlands park
The Isimangaliso Wetlands park is over 3300 square kilometeres in extent and protects a staggering diversity of habitats and biodiversity. Due to the multitude of habitats, bird diversity in the area is unsurpassed in South Africa, with over 530 species recorded in the Park thus far, many of which are extremely localised and occur nowhere else in the country.
Eastern shores
The Eastern shores section of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park is a spectacularly beautiful part of the park and incorporates the land between Lake St Lucia and the Indian ocean. The Eastern shores protects a wide array of habitats including dune forest, coastal grassland, swamp forest, rocky shore, sandy beach, Lake St lucia and seasonal wetlands and swamps. There is a well-developed road network and many viewpoints which allow visitors to access all the above-mentioned habitats making for great birding. Specials include Southern-banded Snake-eagle, Rudds’ apalis, Woodwards batis, Green malkoha, Black coucal, Purple-banded sunbird, Brown Scrub-robin, Green twinspot, Black-rumped buttonquail, Narina trogon, Rosy-throated longclaw, Green twinspot, Grey waxbill, Red-backed mannikin, African cuckoo-hawk, Livingstones’ turaco, Senegal lapwing, Pale-crowned cisticola (winter), Rufous-winged cisticola, Buff-spotted flufftail, Spotted ground-thrush (winter), Blue-cheeked bee-eater (summer) and Denhams’ bustard. Rare vagrants are always a possibility with Lesser frigatebird, Lesser noddy, Brown noddy, European honey-buzzard, Rufous-bellied heron and Eurasian oystercatcher all seen in recent years. This section of the reserve can be accessed via the Bhangazi gate 2km North of St Lucia village and is easily traversed in a sedan vehicle.
western shores
The Western shores section of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park lies to the West of Lake St Lucia. This stunning part of the reserve protects Swamp forest, Coastal grassland, Coastal forest, seasonal wetlands, Sand forest and Lake St Lucia. The birdlife is similar to that of the Eastern shores (see above) but many of the dune forest ‘specials’ are less reliable and coastal shore birds absent. The Western shores, however, is better for specials such as Lemon-breasted canary, Red-headed quelea (summer), Mountain wagtail and Cuckoo finch. In good rainfall years, the wetlands and pans often produce specials such as African pygmy-goose, Lesser jacana, Rufous-bellied heron and Black coucal. This section of the reserve can be accessed via the Dukuduku gate 2km West of St Lucia village and is easily traversed in a sedan vehicle.
Mkhuze Game Reserve
Mkhuze Game Reserve (now incorporated into the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park) is renowned as being one of the top birding destinations in the country…. and for good reason. A multitude of habitats crammed into a relatively small area produces an astonishing, concentrated, rich diversity of birds. Habitats include open woodland, the foothills of the Lebombo Mountains, Thornveld, Sand forest, Oxbow lakes, water lily covered pans and Riparian forest. Specials include African broadbill, Neergaards sunbird, Narina trogon, Purple-banded sunbird, Pink-throated twinspot, Bearded scrub-robin, Senegal lapwing, African Pygmy-goose, Allens gallinule, Olive-tree warbler, Bushveld pipit, Eastern nicator, Lesser moorhen (summer), Dwarf bittern, Green malkoha and Pels fishing owl. Besides the specials, the sheer volume and diversity of birds to be seen is a highlight of this reserve. The reserve has a good road network and some fantastic hides. It is easily accessible in a sedan vehicle. Mkhuze is approximately 2 hours drive from St Lucia.
MPEMPE PAN
This exciting birding area is situated approximately 40km North of Hluhluwe town. The area protects open floodplain, short grassland, wetlands and lily covered pans. The short grasslands on the floodplain regularly produce specials such as Senegal lapwing, Black-winged lapwing, Caspian plover, Grey-rumped swallow and Lemon-breasted canary. The edges of the wetlands and pans regularly produce exciting specials such as Western yellow wagtail and Rosy-throated longclaw. The productivity of the pans is dependant on rainfall but after good rains the water birds are usually plentiful. Possibilities on the pans include African pygmy-goose, Greater painted-snipe, Lesser jacana, Lesser moorhen (summer) and Allen's gallinule (summer). Rare vagrants such as Pacific golden plover have been recorded in the past and present an exciting prospect. A 4wd vehicle or 2wd vehicle with high clearance are essential for this area as many of the areas are accessed by driving off-road across the floodplain. Permission to bird the area must also be obtained from the local chief. Mpempe pan is approximately 2hrs from St Lucia.
Hluhluwe-imfolozi game reserve
This world-renowned conservation area, famous for large game, is also a fantastic birding destination. Habitats found within the reserve include hilly terrain, open marula/acacia woodland, dense valley bushveld thicket, dry acacia savanna, coastal scarp forest, grassland, forest-fringed rivers and cliffs. The Imfolozi section of the reserve is the drier part of the reserve and the predominant habitats are open Acacia savanna and valley bushveld whereas the Hluhluwe section of the reserve protects more coastal scarp forest, open Tall Marula woodland, riverine forest and patches of dense thicket. Specials in the Imfolozi section include Lappet-faced vulture, White-headed vulture, Tawny eagle, Martial eagle, Secretarybird, Southern ground hornbill, Gorgeous bush-shrike, Bushveld pipit, Secretarybird, Lanner falcon, Dwarf bittern (wet years), Striped pipit and Bald ibis (winter). Seasonal pans in the Imfolozi section sometimes hold Lesser moorhen and Dwarf bittern in wet years. The unique coastal scarp forest in the Hluhluwe section (best accessed on the walking trail at Hilltop camp) is a good place to search for specials such as Emerald cuckoo, Narina trogon, Olive woodpecker, Lemon dove, Cape batis, Chorister robin-chat (winter), Olive bush-shrike, Green twinspot, Crowned eagle and Tambourine dove whereas the Hluhluwe river is a good place to scan for African finfoot. Wetlands in the Hluhluwe section can be productive in high rainfall years with possibilities such as Black coucal, Cuckoo finch and African Marsh harrier. Tantalising vagrants such as Golden pipit, Madagascar cuckoo, Grey wagtail and White-throated bee-eater have been recored in the Hluhluwe section in recent years. Hluhluwe-imfolozi park is easily traversable in a sedan vehicle. The Nyalazi entrance gate (Southern) is approximately 1hr drive from St Lucia whereas the Memorial entrance gate (Northern) is approximately 1hr 15mins drive from St Lucia.
