South Coast Birding Route

About South Coast Birding Route

The South Coast Birding Route is a sub-section of the Southern KwaZulu-Natal Birding Route, which boasts not only all three of the country's crane species (blue, grey crowned, and wattled) but also includes the rare blue swallow, the crowned eagle, bearded vulture, mangrove kingfisher and the southern bald ibis. And a lot more besides.

Did you know? This is one of two major birding routes of the province. The other is the Zululand Birding Route.

The Southern KwaZulu-Natal Birding Route is extensive, incorporating beaches, forests, the Lowveld and the Drakensberg Mountains - a terrain of such extensive variety that it is not surprising to learn that it holds in excess of 550 bird species.

Which is why the route is subdivided into five shorter routes, making it easier for bird lovers to follow and to easily divide up to suit itineraries.

For the best forest birding in the country look no further than the South Coast Birding Route, for both Afromontane and rich tropical forest extends into the south coast of Durban, overlapping to attract an unbelievable combination of birds like the Knysna woodpecker and magpie mannican.

Highlights include

• Empisini Nature Reserve is named for its perennial stream that runs from here into the sea; expect an array of specials that include the Narina trogon, olive woodpecker, grey cuckooshrike and trumpeter hornbill

• Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve protects an incredible stretch of coastal grassland and forest alive with specials like the African crowned eagle, grey crowned crane, lazy cisticola, forest buzzard and crowned hornbill

• Umdoni Park has some outstanding birding with specials that include the white-stared robin and forest birds like the black sparrowhawk, lemon dove, Knysna turaco and ashy flycatcher.