TOYOTA CONNECT


PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE, NORTH WEST PROVINCE


Situated in the bowl of an extinct volcano just a couple of hours’ easy drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria, this is a dream destination for birders. You could tick off more than 300 species in the area’s variety of habitats, which range from


grasslands and woodland to rocky ravines, dams and bushveld. Tarred and dirt roads criss-cross the park, the fourth-largest in SA, and there’s plenty of accommodation for all budgets, from Manyane – where you can camp or stay in a safari tent or chalet – to luxurious bush lodges such as Kwa Maritane and Tshukudu.


Sun City is right next door so you can even brush up on your birds there, particularly at the big dam. In the grasslands you’ll find grassveld pipits and other LBJs, and you stand a good chance of seeing the secretary birds that breed here. In the woodlands, look for Swainson’s spurfowl, the southern black tit and, in summer, up to 15 species of shrike, including the dazzlingly beautiful crimson-breasted one.


At Mankwe Dam – or any of the excellent bird


hides – discover dozens of water birds, including the ubiquitous blacksmith lapwing, the tallest heron in the world, the Goliath, Egyptian geese, cormorants, darters and pied kingfishers.


Pilanesberg birding specials: Crimson-breasted shrike and Verreaux’s (black) eagle (above).


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