Tour OverviewA trip slightly further away from the Kruger National Park is to the beautiful Magoebaskloof area. It is a major tourist attraction area, offering spectacular scenery, many forest hiking trails and fantastic accommodation and restaurant options.
It is one of the most important hotspots for local and international birders alike, with several fantastic species occurring. Habitats include pristine, majestic Afromontane forest patches, with small streams that cascade down the hills in ferns and moss-rich gullies, along with upland grassland and alien plantations. Magoebaskloof, and especially the famous Woodbush Forest section, is often touted as the best forest birding spot in all of Southern Africa.
Specials of the area include Crowned Eagle, Bat Hawk, Cape Parrot, Black and African Emerald Cuckoo, Narina Trogon, African Olive Pigeon, Tambourine and Lemon Dove, Orange Ground Thrush, Black-fronted Bushshrike (probably the best place in South Africa to see this species), Grey Cuckooshrike, Square-tailed Drongo, Olive Woodpecker, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Barratt’s Warbler and Green Twinspot.
Other fantastic species that could be seen are Long-crested Eagle, Jackal and Forest Buzzard, African Goshawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Hobby, African Wood Owl, Knysna Turaco, Yellow-billed and African Black Duck, Reed Cormorant, Little Grebe, several cuckoo species in summer, Olive Bushshrike, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Black-collared Barbet, Olive Thrush, Striped and Buffy Pipit, Mountain Wagtail, Thick-billed Weaver, Yellow Bishop, Cape Grassbird, Chorister and Red-capped Robin-Chat, Bearded Scrub Robin, Sombre Greenbul, Terrestrial Brownbul, Collared Sunbird, Red-faced Cisticola, African Dusky and Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Cape Batis, Bar-throated Apalis, Red-backed and Bronze Mannikin, Forest Canary, African Firefinch, Cape White-eye and African Stonechat.
Magoebaskloof makes for an extremely worthwhile stopover to or from the Kruger National Park, and apart from stunning scenery, will add some very special species to your trip list.
To book your expert-guided birding tour in the Kruger Park and surrounding areas, get in touch at info@naturetravelkruger.com