Introduction
Well over 650 species have been recorded in the small province of KwaZulu-Natal, a product of its habitat diversity and its coastal position on the beautiful eastern seaboard of South Africa. From mangrove-fringed estuaries to the peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains, from the cool mist belt forests to the bird-rich savannah of Zululand, KZN offers some of the best birding on the African continent. Of particular interest to the international birder are the more than 50 species endemic to the Southern African Sub region, a handful of which are only found here and in adjacent Mozambique.
KZN`s broad vegetation types of forest, savannah and grassland may be further subdivided into:
Subtropical, broad-leaved forest that runs the length of the coast, extending up to an altitude of 450m above sea level. It is home to numerous coastal specials, notably Spotted Ground-Thrush and Woodward`s Batis, and is well protected in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and Ngoye Forest.
Patches of temperate, Afro-montane forest (mist belt forest) which occur in a narrow altitudinal belt between 900m and 1200m above sea level, and host a handful of Southern African endemics, notably Cape Parrot, Knysna Turaco, Chorister Robin-Chat, Bush Blackcap and Cape Batis. Highly threatened by felling for timber and conversion to commercial agro-forestry, accessible patches are protected in Weza-Ngele Forest and the Creighton Valley.
Savannah woodland, or bushveld, which covers much of the northern and inland areas, and supports a very rich avifauna. This habitat is widespread in eastern Africa and endemics are few, notable exceptions in KZN being Sabota Lark, Fiscal Flycatcher and White-throated Robin-Chat. Large areas of bushveld are protected in Mkhuze Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, and a host of smaller reserves.
Grasslands that blanket KZN`s inland western regions, from sour grassland at medium altitudes to the Afro-Alpine grasslands in the Drakensberg massif. A number of regional endemics occur here, notably Drakensberg Rock-jumper and Drakensberg Siskin, both of which are easily seen on Sani Pass, the most accessible high-altitude site in Southern Africa.
Coastal grassland that occurs as part of the mosaic of habitats known as the East Coast Littoral, and is of interest to the birder for such tropical species as Swamp Nightjar and Rosy-throated Long claw. The best example of this habitat is found in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.
Wetlands that range from estuaries to tropical pans and flooded grassland, from fast-flowing mountain streams to man-made impoundments. Warm oceanic waters off the coast support a variety of tropical seabirds, especially after cyclonic conditions in the Mozambique Channel.
Creighton Valley
The Creighton Valley in southern KZN provides superb access to the endemic-rich mist belt forests and grasslands. The pristine forest supports endemics such as the endangered Cape Parrot (the brown-headed nominate race, now considered a separate species, which numbers fewer than 400 individuals); Knysna Turaco, Chorister Robin-Chat, Bush Blackcap, Barratt`s Warbler, Cape Batis, Lesser Double-collared Sunbird, Swee Waxbill and Forest Canary. Other notable species are Forest Buzzard, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Orange Ground-Thrush and White-starred Robin. The rolling grasslands, which are interspersed with wetlands, rocky outcrops and stands of Protea support all 3 species of Southern African cranes (Blue, Grey Crowned and Wattled); as well as Denham`s and Black-bellied bustards, Cape Grass bird, 9 species of Cisticola, Broad-tailed Warbler, Drakensberg Prinia, Gurney`s Sugarbird, Red-headed Quelea, Cuckoo Finch and the globally threatened Blue Swallow. Similar birds may be found in the Karkloof area, Impendle Nature Reserve and Weza-Ngele Forest.
Drakensberg Park
The 243,000ha Drakensberg Park is a perennial favourite of hikers and incorporates the world famous Royal Natal National Park, Giant`s Castle Nature Reserve and a host of lesser known reserves. The rest camps at the foot of the mountains are productive, though birders with little time are advised to head straight for Sani Pass, which traverses the park and offers easier access to the full complement of Drakensberg specials. The public road winds up the Great Escarpment from Himeville to the Lesotho border at the crest of the pass, with Ground Woodpecker, Cape Rock Thrush, Buff-streaked Chat, Barratt`s Warbler, Bush Blackcap, and Gurney’s Sugarbird commonly seen on the ascent, and Southern Bald Ibis, Drakensberg Rock-jumper, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Mountain Pipit and Drakensberg Siskin plentiful in the area around the Sani Top Chalet. The chalet boasts the highest pub in Africa (2874m); selling the local Maluti Lager - no better place to toast those highland lifers!
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a proclaimed World Heritage Site, is the most important conservation area in the province and supports the highest concentrations of breeding water birds in South Africa. The Eastern Shores section is the most accessible site in the country for coastal forest specials. Here, the world`s tallest forested sand dunes support populations of Buff-spotted Fluff tail, Southern Banded Snake-Eagle, as well as African Crowned Eagle, Livingstone`s Turaco, Green Malkoha, Spotted Ground-Thrush (winter only); Brown Scrub-Robin, Rudd`s Apalis, Woodward’s` Batis and Green Twin spot. The seasonally flooded wetlands are home to African Pygmy-Goose, White-backed Duck, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Red-chested Fluff tail, Lesser Jacana, Swamp Nightjar, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Short-tailed Pipit (winter only) and Rosy-throated Long claw. Forests on the western shores of the lake hold additional specials, notably African Broadbill, Neergaard`s Sunbird and Pink-throated Twin spot. Water birds can be seasonally abundant, and Pink-backed Pelican, Greater Flamingo (up to 30 000); African Spoonbill, African Fish Eagle (at very high densities) and a variety of herons, egrets, storks, ducks and terns can be found whilst exploring the lake, preferably by boat. African Finfoot, Pel`s Fishing Owl, Mangrove Kingfisher (winter only) and Black-throated Wattle-eye can be found in the mangroves and forests fringing the lake. Other sites with productive coastal forest and mangroves are Kosi Bay, Sodwana Bay and Umlalazi Nature Reserve.
Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve
The oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa which became famous for successfully saved the White Rhino from extinction. The reserve hosts the Big Five and several other interesting antelope species. Birds are plentiful and not difficult to see. Birds of note include Bearded Woodpecker, Redbilled Oxpecker, Red throated Wryneck, Bateleur, Ground Hornbill, Rudd`s Apalis and White-browed Robin-chat. White-browed Robin-chat and Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill.
Lake Sibaya
The largest freshwater lake in South Africa, situated on the eastern side of the forest covered dunes which separates the lake from the Indian Ocean. Birds of interest include African Yellow White-eye, Yellow-throated Long claw, Pink-throated Twin spot, Red-capped Robin-chat, Brown Scrub-robin, Terrestrial Brownbul, Narina Trogon, Goliath Heron and Woodward`s Batis.
Mkhuze Game Reserve
The Holy Grail of Southern African birders, Mkhuze Game Reserve boast a bird list of over 450 species and are the top site for a host of highly sought-after Zululand specials. The best birding areas in the park are the subtropical Nsumo Pan, the Fig Forest along the Mkhuze River and the sand forest. The unique Tonga land Sand Forest around the hides of Kubube and Kumasinga, close to the park`s main camp, is excellent for Crested Guineafowl, African Broadbill, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, (Eastern) Bearded Scrub-Robin and three of the reserve`s near-endemics: Rudd’s Apalis, Neergaard`s Sunbird, and the beautiful Pink-throated Twin spot, all of which are common here. The Fever Tree-lined Nsumo Pan attracts a wide variety of water birds, notably African Fish-Eagle, Great White and Pink-backed pelicans, Yellow-billed, Open-billed and Woolly-necked storks, and Goliath Heron, whilst the surrounding thorn thickets are home to the near-endemic White-throated Robin-Chat and Pink-throated Twin spot.
Mkhuze Game Reserve A guided walk through the Fig Forest along the Mkhuze River should reward the birder with White-eared Barbet, Scaly-throated Honey guide, Trumpeter Hornbill, Narina Trogon, Purple-crested Turaco, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, and Grey Tit-Flycatcher. With effort and a bit of luck, Green Malkoha, Pel`s Fishing Owl, Buff-spotted Fluff tail, the scarce Southern Banded Snake-Eagle, Black-throated Wattle-eye and Green Twin spot may be added. More open Acacia savannah bushveld in the reserve supports many widespread woodland birds typical of much of Eastern Africa, notably Bearded Woodpecker, Black-bellied Bustard, White-headed and Lappet-faced vultures, Bateleur, Lizard Buzzard, Martial Eagle, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Flapped and Sabota larks, as well as the localised Bushveld Pipit. The tiny Ndumu Game Reserve, a gem of a park 100km to the north on KZN`s border with Mozambique, shares Mkhuze`s forest specials, whilst a similar suite of bushveld birds may be found in the well-known Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, Ithala Game Reserve and Weenen Game Reserve to the west. The latter two reserves, located at medium altitudes, also offer the opportunity of finding the endemic Barrow`s Korhaan.
Mtunzini
The Umlalazi Nature reserve offers mangrove forests, swamps, dune forests and the well known Raffia Palm (Raphia australis) stands. This area is home to the vegetarian Palm-nut Vulture with bonus birds of the area which include Mangrove Kingfisher, Pel`s Fishing-owl, Spotted Ground-thrush, African Finfoot and Grey Waxbill.
Ndumu Game Reserve
A game reserve with sub-tropical forests, floodplains, sand forest open grasslands with one of the highest checklists in South Africa. African Wood-owl, Eastern Nicator, Pink-throated Twin spot, Neergaard`s Sunbird, African Broadbill, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Retz`s Helmet-Shrike and Brubru are only a few of the special birds to be seen in this reserve.
Ongoye Forest Reserve
Ongoye Forest Reserve protects prime coastal scarp forest and grassland. This reserve is famous for its isolated population of Woodward’s` (Green) Barbet, the only other population being in SW Tanzania. This vocal species is easily located, whilst other forest species which are present include Eastern Bronze-napped Pigeon, Narina Trogon, Olive Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Spotted and Orange ground-thrushes, Red-capped and Chorister robin-chats, Brown Scrub-Robin, Olive Bush-Shrike, Southern Tchagra and Grey Waxbill. The surrounding grasslands support Black-rumped Buttonquail, African Grass-Owl and Plain-backed Pipit. Other coastal scarp forests are Dhlinza Forest in Eshowe (an excellent site for Green Twin spot); Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (which holds one of the northern-most populations of Knysna Woodpecker) and Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve (the extensive grasslands at this reserve support additional species including Striped Fluff tail, Broad-tailed Warbler and Short-tailed Pipit.)
Sani Pass
With an altitude ranging from 1,600m above sea level to 3,480m above sea level, it is an excellent locality for altitudinal migrants. Birds occurring on this pass include Bush Blackcap, Black Harrier, Southern Bald Ibis, and Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler, Mountain Pipit, Lammergeier and Cape Grass bird.
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