------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Top Birds ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forest Buzzard
Crowned Eagle
Knysna Turaco
Emerald Cuckoo
Half-collared Kingfisher
Narina Trogon
Knysna Woodpecker
Chorister Robin
Cape Rockjumper
Knysna Warbler
Olive Bush-Shrike
Southern Tchagra
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Knysna Turaco Tour ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is impractical to cover all great birding
spots along the Garden Route in a few days, so we usually suggest
that the area is explored over at least four or five days.
Our Garden Route tours usually begin in Cape Town and as we travel
eastwards you will notice that the coast becomes progressively more
wooded and subtropical. At one of our first stops we will visit the
Wilderness National Park where we will search for Knysna Turaco,
Chorister Robin, Green-backed Bleating Warbler,
Olive Bush Shrike, Black-headed Oriole,
Narina Trogon, Black-bellied Starling and
many other forest specials.
Nestled on the edge of the Touw River, Ebb & Flow Rest Camp is
the start to four trails, all named after local kingfishers. We will
explore these trails looking for Bar-throated Apalis,
Green-backed Bleating Warbler, Terrestrial
Bulbul and Chorister Robin. Cape
Batis, Dusky Flycatcher, Sombre
Bulbul, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-mantled
Flycatcher, Olive Woodpecker are also some
of the commoner species that can be found here.
Forest Buzzard occurs in forests and plantations
throughout the Garden Route, and we will keep an eye out for them
on roadside telephone poles along the N2 as we travel from Wilderness
through Knysna to one of our next destinations, Nature’s Valley.
Nature’s Valley, offering arguably the best birding along the
Garden Route, is where we will search for the elusive African
Finfoot. Half-collared Kingfisher is also
occasionally seen in the area. We will search for all of the usual
forest species that frequent the Garden Route, but Nature’s
Valley offers the added bonus of also harbouring Crowned Eagle,
Little Sparrowhawk, Emerald Cuckoo
(summer), Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Knysna
Woodpecker and Starred Robin. At night,
we will listen out for Wood Owl and Buff-spotted
Flufftail, although the latter is notoriously difficult to
see.
The Overberg region marks the beginning of the
Garden Route, so it makes sense to combine these two regions. Let
us know if this combination interests you, and we will arrange a
suitable itinerary!
