Kruger National Park.
One of the largest parks in Africa, the Kruger National Park is about 360km from north to south and 60km east to west. With a wide variety of habitats, the bird list for the park is extensive and over 500 species have been recorded. Where does one start birding the Kruger? The rest camps and picnic spots are always a good bet, with francolins, robins, starlings, sunbirds, hornbills, flycatchers, finches, firefinches and weavers all being attracted to the habitat one finds around camps and picnic sites. Pafuri camp in the northern-most part of the park is home to Mottled and Bohm’s Spinetail. Cape Parrot and Lemon-breasted Canaries breed near here. Around the dams near Letaba watch for Bat Hawk and Hobby Falcon in the late afternoon. These two bird species are also found near the camp at Skukuza. The roads through the Kruger offer very good chances of sighting Kori Bustard as they walk through the open grasslands. Raptors are abundant throughout the park and over 50 species have been recorded here. Particularly during the dry months (April – October) a visit to a waterhole can always be productive. A wide variety of birds will come down to drink, and if one is patient, you can add a good number to your list. Of course it is not just birds that one can see here. Animals abound. Check out giraffes and buck for Red-billed and Yellow-billed Oxpecker. The Yellow-billed is more likely to be found in the northern part of the park. Other birds are also attracted by animals, as they graze.
Kaapsehoop.
This small village just 30 minutes due west of Nelspruit is at a considerably higher altitude and offers a very different habitat to that of the Lowveld. Timber plantations, Afromontane forest, grasslands and sandstone outcrops are home to a wide variety of birds. The target bird here has to be the endangered Blue Swallow, which comes here to breed in summer. This is one of a very few reliable sites to see these birds in Southern Africa. Around the village, watch for Malachite Sunbirds, Gurney’s Sugarbirds Cape Canary, Cape Robin-Chat and Cape Weaver. In the sandstone areas, Buff-streaked Chat, Mocking Cliff-Chat, Long-billed Pipit and Cape Rock-Thrush are all relatively common. The grasslands are host to Cape Grassbird, Cape Longclaw and Croaking, Wailing, Zitting and Wing-snapping Cisticolas. The Afromontane forest can be accessed on a timber track. The upper fringes of the forest are excellent for Bush Blackcap and Barratt’s Warbler. In the forest look for Narina Trogon, Olive Bush-Shrike, African Emerald Cuckoo, Cape Batis, White-starred Robin and Orange Ground-Thrush.
Lowveld Botanic Gardens and Nelspruit Nature Reserve.
These two reserves have similar habitats and as both are close to each other on the northern side of town, off the R539 to White River, can be birded together in a morning. Target birds in the Botanical Garden include African Finfoot. This shy and elusive bird can be looked for on the Crocodile River, which meanders through the edge of the Gardens. Half-collared Kingfishers are also found there. Buff-spotted and Red-chested Flufftails, Tambourine Dove, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Bearded Scrub-Robin and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird are all noteworthy residents. In the Lowveld Nature Reserve, look for Gorgeous, Olive, Grey-headed and Orange-breasted Bush-Shrikes. All occur here and can be readily found. Red-backed Mannikin, Green Twinspot and Lemon Dove are all seasonal visitors. Gymnogene, African Goshawk and Long-crested Eagle are all frequently sighted.
Wakkerstroom.
This town in the south eastern part of the state has a wide variety of habitats. The wetland on the edge of the town is home to Red-chested Flufftail, and White-winged Flufftail have also been recorded here. The chances of seeing either though are fairly remote. The short grasslands to the east of the road to Amersfoort are good for Larks, particularly the scarce Botha’s and Rudd’s. Yellow-breasted and Short-tailed Pipit are also short grassland birds and are found around here. Bald Ibis and Blue and Crowned Cranes are relatively common, while Blue and White-bellied Korhaans and Stanley’s Bustard are found in the area, but not so frequently seen. About 30km to the south of the town, on the road to Utrecht, there are a couple of areas that have forested valleys. Starred Robin is found here along with a number of other more lowland forest birds. Birding the Wakkerstroom area requires time, and at least two days is required to see most of the birds.