Rooiels, Betty's Bay, Stoney Point African Penguin
Colony and Harold Porter Botanical Gardens.
Cape Rockjumper Tour
East of False Bay, the contours of the Hottentots Holland plunge
precipitously into the sea, creating a spectacular stretch of coastline
where mountain fynbos and marine specials can be seen virtually
alongside each other.
Our first port of call is the seaside village of Rooiels,
perched between high mountains and rocky shore. Along the rocky,
lower mountain slopes we’ll search for the striking Cape
Rock-jumper, Ground Woodpecker, Familiar
Chat, Cape Bunting and Cape Sentinel
(rare) Rock Thrushes. Overhead, we may spot Verreaux’s
Eagle, Peregrine, Rock Kestrel
or Jackal Buzzard. Surrounding fynbos vegetation
is excellent for Orange-breasted Sunbird and Cape
Sugarbird, and with some luck we may see Cape Siskin.
From here we continue along the coast to the village of Betty’s
Bay and nearby Stoney Point, site of one of only two
mainland colonies of African Penguin. Here too,
we have the opportunity to compare all four species of marine cormorants.
Bank Cormorant breed here, alongside the more common
Crowned, Cape and White-breasted
Cormorants.
Next, we visit the picturesque Harold Porter Botanical Gardens.
The cultivated gardens are surrounded by moist mountain fynbos dissected
by two forested ravines. Common birds of the lower gardens are Black
Saw-wing Swallow (in summer), Cape Bulbul,
Karoo Prinia, Southern Boubou,
Malachite, Orange-breasted and
Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, Yellow
Bishop, Bully Canary and conveniently
accessible Cape Siskin. There are usually swifts
and swallows foraging overhead (including Rock Martin
and African Black and Alpine Swifts),
alongside soaring raptors (most commonly Black Eagle
and Jackal Buzzard). Forested gorges provide Bar-throated
Apalis, Cape Batis, Paradise
(summer) and Dusky Flycatchers, and occasionally
Swee Waxbill and Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher.
About Birding Africa Birding Africa is a specialist birding tour
company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed holiday
birders. †We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies, botany
and other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa's and Madagascar's
most diverse birding destinations. Our guides'
knowledge of African birds and birding areas is our greatest strength
and together we have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations
with the birding community and had a fun time exploring our home continent.
†We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best birds.
Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and we are dedicated
to making professional, best value trips filled with endemic species and
unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997, we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders, small
birding groups and top international tour companies. We've run Conservation
Tours in association with the African Bird Club and work with and
consult for a number of other top international tour companies and the
BBC Natural History Unit.
