It can be difficult visiting the Overberg in one day, so we usually
suggest that the area is explored over at least two days.
Across the sandy, low-lying flats that lie east of Cape Town, a
barrier of formidable mountains interrupts the landscape. These
are the Hottentots Holland Mountains, beyond which lies the fertile
Overberg (literally meaning "over the mountains"). The
gently undulating Agulhas coastal plains, today predominantly cloaked
in wheat fields, host a large number of much-coveted species. These
include Agulhas Long-billed Lark, Blue
Crane, Stanley's Bustard, Cape
Vulture and Southern Tchagra.
A day trip to this region typically kicks off in the Hottentot's
Holland Mountains, at Sir Lowry's Pass, where Cape Rock-jumper,
Victorin's Warbler and several other mountain and
fynbos specials occur. From here we continue eastwards to De Hoop
Nature Reserve, stopping to look for Capped Wheatear,
Agulhas Long-billed Lark, Blue Crane
and Stanley's Bustard in cultivated fields en route.
The cliffs on the southern side of Potberg mountain are renowned
for hosting the Western Cape’s last breeding colony of Cape
Vulture, while the thickets and plantations around the
base of the mountain hold desirable endemics as the Southern
Tchagra and Knysna Woodpecker, both difficult
to see. The reserve headquarters are set among dense, gnarled milkwood
thickets adjacent to De Hoop Vlei. This large, irregularly shaped
lake can at times attract a huge number and an excellent diversity
of waterfowl and waders, although this varies greatly between years
and seasons. Great Crested Grebe is regular here,
and occasionally breeds in large numbers. Common residents of the
vlei-side thicket are Bar-throated Apalis, Sombre
and Cape Bulbuls and Southern Boubou.
The area around the vlei and reserve buildings is also one of the
best places in the southwestern Cape to see Pearl-breasted
Swallow, which often feeds alongside other hirundines such
as White-throated Swallow and Brown-throated
Martin.
Time and season-permitting, we can visit De Mond on our return to
Cape Town, to look for Damara Terns. It is impractical
to cover all great birding spots in the Overberg in a single day.
However, we would be glad to tailor a route around your specific
interests. With more time, we can plan a more relaxed route incorporating,
for example, the superb Grootvadersbosch forest, where the Cape's
very best diversity of forest species may be seen, including Grey
Cuckooshrike and Knysna Warbler.
The Overberg can also be combined with a visit to the Tanqua Karoo,
but this requires a few additional days. Let us know if you are
interested in this combination, it makes for an excellent trip!
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.
