North West Province
Birding Northwest Province
The North-West province is one of the less known birding areas of Southern Africa. However, it does not imply that there isn’t any birding to be done. The North-West is probably one of the more accessible arid areas to bird in Southern Africa. This gives birders the unique opportunity to see many of the near-endemic species of Southern Africa.These include: Pale Chanting Goshawk, Northern Black Korhaan, White-backed Mousebird (the family is endemic to Africa south of the Sahara), Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Acacia Pied Barbet, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Southern Pied Babbler, Orange River White-eye, Marico Flycatcher, Black-faced Waxbill, Red-headed Finch, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Barred Wren-warbler, Black-chested Prinia and a host of larks including Eastern Clapper-, Fawn-coloured- and Spike-heeled Larks.Much of the birding in the province is centered on the Game Reserves and Parks around the province. The best known of these parks is Pilanesberg Game Reserve. This park boasts a number of regional and national species. Southern Pied Babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Secretarybird and Kalahari Scrub-Robin are a few examples of the former and Cape Vulture and White-backed Heron examples of the latter. Pilanesberg is also classified as an IBA [Important Bird Area]. Other IBA’s in the region include Kgaswane Mountain Reserve, Barberspan Nature Reserve, Sandveld Nature Reserve and Bloemhof Nature Reserve.
Pilanesberg Nature Reserve is within easy reach of Johannesburg. It is approximately two hours by car from the Johannesburg International Airport. The other reserves are also easy accessible via a good maintained road system. The going does get a little more isolated if one is chasing some of the more uncommon specials of the province. An excellent example of this is the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse that is found in the Northam-Thabazimbi area.This area of Southern Africa is a worthwhile extension to any trip to Southern Africa. When visiting this exciting area, be on a special look-out for the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Short-clawed Lark, Southern Pied Babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Barred Wren-warbler, Short-toed Rock-Thrush, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Orange River Francolin, Pink-billed Lark and Olive-tree Warbler as these make up the top 10 birds of the province.
This page is sponsored by Birding Ecotours
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Sandgrouse Route
The North West area of South Africa offers the unique opportunity to see four of the ten African Pterocles (Sandgrouse) species. These are the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, the largest of the African sandgrouse, Burchell
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Hanno Langenhoven
Thaba Phuti Safari Lodge | birds@obenbosch.com
http://birdingecotours.com
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Wesvaal Bird Club
Facebook PageBirding club situated in Potchefstroom and surrounding areas. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at Elgro hotel.
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GR Borakalalo
InformationSatellite ViewThis large game reserve is close to Gauteng and has a wide variety of bushveld, woodland and water birds. Besides the big game (Hippo, Rhino & Buffalo) over 300 bird species have been recorded. Storks, Herons, Eagles, Kingfishers, Shrikes and Cuckoos (summer) are well represented. The reserve features the large Klipvoor Dam, the Moreleta River below and the scenic Mogoshane hills which form broken terrain, small kloofs and habitat for several rock loving species. Woodland habitats include acacia thornveld, riverine woodland and broadleaved savannah, including an area of fine tall Burkea Woodland… -
GR Madikwe
WebpageSatellite ViewThe 75 000ha Madikwe Game Reserve lies in the extreme northwest corner of South Africa’s North West province, abutting the Botswana border close to the Kalahari Desert… -
GR Sabi Sand
WebsiteSatellite ViewRenowned for its Big Five game viewing, the 65 000ha Sabi Sand Game Reserve – within which Cheetah Plains Private Game reserve is located – lies adjacent to the south-west corner of the Kruger National Park, where it shares a 50km border. There are no fences between the two reserves, allowing game to move freely between the two areas and, as a result, the reserve offers some of the most exceptional wildlife in southern Africa… -
NP Marakele
InformationSatellite ViewArguably the Park's biggest birding attraction is the largest colony of Cape Vultures in the world (around 800 breeding pairs). However the park is also appealing to birders as it falls within the transition zone between the dry western regions and the moister eastern regions of the country… -
NP Pilanesberg
InformationSatellite ViewThe park offers a number of wonderful picnic spots, numerous hides for game watching, huge walk-in aviaries, safe hiking trails, safari drives at night and flights over the park in a hot-air balloon… -
Tilodi Wilderness
WebsiteSatellite ViewThis page has been prepared for birdwatchers. Print the page to your own printer and there you have your own Field List for bird watching. The next step would be to book your stay at the Tilodi Wilderness for an unforgettable bird watching experience in the Heart of the Bushveld.
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Birding Africa
Tour OperatorBirding Africa is run by three Capetonian birders and naturalists, Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode and Peter Ryan, all based at the University of Cape Town`s Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology. Callan and Claire are postgraduate research students, and have recently published an new birding site guide to Cape Town and beyond: Essential Birding - Western South Africa. Peter is a lecturer and researcher, and the author of numerous publications, most recently a new field guide to the birds of Afrotropics. -
Birding Africa
Tour OperatorBirding Africa is run by three Capetonian birders and naturalists, Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode and Peter Ryan, all based at the University of Cape Town`s Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology. Callan and Claire are postgraduate research students, and have recently published an new birding site guide to Cape Town and beyond: Essential Birding - Western South Africa. Peter is a lecturer and researcher, and the author of numerous publications, most recently a new field guide to the birds of Afrotropics. -
Birding Ecotours
Tour OperatorSouth Africa is one of the best value destinations on the entire continent. The outstanding infrastructure, great accommodation, excellent food, wonderful South African hospitality, spectacular and varied scenery, and the presence of Africa’s big and small mammals makes it one of the most pleasant countries in the world to bird in... -
Rockjumper
Tour OperatorThere are 39 tours available in South Africa...
Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…
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2018 [01 January] - Pieter & Nicola Vrey - Pilanesberg National Park
PDF ReportThis was a short weekend birding trip to Pilanesberg National Park*in the North West province of South Africa. We didn’t really have any particular birding goals in mind –just a relaxing birding weekend and doing some atlassing for SABAP2. We recorded a total of 147 birdsand 17 mammals.
Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…
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Cheetah Plains Private Game Reserve
AccommodationFeaturing 3 exclusive-use, contemporary, luxurious bushveld houses, each comprising of a main house with 4 private guest suites. Each house boasts 2 lounges, dining areas, outdoor boma, wine cellars & heated swimming pool as well as a private game viewing vehicle & designated field guide for the duration of your stay. -
Ekala Guest Farm and Eco Tours
AccommodationSouth Africa & Johannesburg Tours that will satisfy any traveller’s desires. Specialising in South Africa Safaris & birding tours… -
Jaci's Safari Lodge
AccommodationAt Jaci’s Lodges, we offer a range of accommodation to suit every need and preference, from our one-of-a-kind romantic Starbed Suites, luxury tented-style rooms and bespoke family-friendly Nare and Safari suites at Jaci’s Safari Lodge, to the custom-built designer Treehouse Suites at Jaci’s Tree Lodge.
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Mpho Phiri - Mafikeng Birding Blog
BLOGLast updated 2015 - The aim of the blog is to showcase the species and birding spots in and around Mahikeng…