Birdwatching in Plettenberg Bay Area
Plett is the place South Africa’s biomes meet dramatically – so there is a great diversity of bird life to take in and tick off your list.
We have divided birding in this area into separate venues, with summaries and downloadable checklists that you can print out and take with. Enjoy!
- Bitou River Wetlands
- Kurland and Nature’s Valley
- Plett Golf Course
- Rietvlei Dam and Sewage Works
- Uplands
Bitou River Wetlands
Specials
African Darter, African Snipe, Black-winged Stilt, Blue Crane, Knysna Turaco, Olive Bush-Shrike, Olive Woodpecker, Pied Avocet, South African Shelduck.
Where to Look
From the N2 take the R340 turn-off towards Wittedrift. The road is mostly straight for about 3 km, but after the first bend, the most rewarding birding area starts – especially when the water level is close to the road. Look out for Pied Avocet and Black-winged Stilt. Hottentot Teal are also increasingly often spotted here.
Look out for Blue Crane on the opposite bank. To the right of the road, a tract of indigenous forest is home to many of the forest species.
Between the lakes and the bridge, en route to Wittedrift, try to spot White-faced and African Black Ducks. Red-chested Flufftail are often heard from the bridge.
Click here to download the full Bitou River Wetlands checklist.
Kurland and Nature’s Valley
Specials
African Jacana, Plain-backed Pipit, Red-capped Lark, Spur-winged Goose, White-backed Duck, White-faced Duck.
Where to look
Take the N2 highway towards Port Elizabeth. About 15 km from Plett, just beyond the turn-off to Nature’s Valley, turn into the entrance to the Kurland polo fields. Around this lake, expect to see African Jacana, Little Grebe and White-backed Duck.
This is also the best place to see Spur-winged Goose. Some unusual sightings include Red-billed Quelea and Red-capped Lark.
On the polo fields, look out for Black-winged Lapwing and Plain-backed Pipit.
Click here to download the full Kurland and Nature’s Valley checklist.
Plett Golf Course
Specials
African Olive Pigeon, Knysna Turaco, Knysna Warbler, Knysna Woodpecker, Olive Bush-Shrike, Olive Woodpecker.
Where to Look
Situated to the west of the Piesang Valley, Plett Golf Course contains almost all habitat types – forest, grassland, fynbos and wetland. It’s generally regarded as the prime Knysna Turaco viewing spot in the Garden Route.
On the other side of the road from the golf course is the Global Village. Here a bird hide offers viewing of many of the same birds that can be seen on the golf course.
Click here to download the full Plett Golf Course checklist.
Rietvlei Dam and Sewage Works
Specials
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Cape Shoveler, Cape Teal, Hottentot Teal, Knysna Turaco, Little Grebe, Little Rush-warbler, Maccoa Duck, Red-billed Teal, Reed Cormorant, Southern Pochard, White-breasted Cormorant.
Where to Look
The Rietvlei turn-off is opposite the turn-ff to Goose March, which is en route to Port Elizabeth on the N2. The dam itself is about 200 metres from the highway; it’s home to various ducks and teals. Watch out for Reed Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron and Red-Knobbed Coot.
To get to the nearby sewage works, take the turn-off the left, also off the N2 just before the “Old Nick” village. The fields before the works are reached are home to Plain-backed Pipit, and the various dams facilitate much closer views of the water birds than the Rietvlei dam.
Click here to download the full Rietvlei Dam and Sewage Works checklist.
Uplands
Specials
Amur Falcon, Black-winged Lapwing, Crowned Lapwing, Denham’s Bustard, Jackal Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard.
Where to Look
After turning onto the R340 towards Wittedrift, carry on until the road starts climbing up the Wadrift Heights pass. It will reach the Uplands plateau; the turn-off to the Uplands road is to the left of the R340 and carries on for about 5 km.
Look out for Denham’s Bustard, Crowned Lapwing and Bokmakierie.
Click here to download the full Uplands checklist
We’d like to thank Ray Goodwin, local birder extraordinaire, for supplying the bulk of the information which we’ve used for this article and checklists.