Bird Watching in the Helderberg

The Helderberg is one of the world’s greatest biodiversity hot spots and is home to a remarkable variety of bird spices. The Helderberg is an fantastic destination for enthusiastic birders. The Helderberg area has a wide diversity of birding habitats including the unique Fynbos, and wetlands. Popular birds include Lesser collared Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Spotted Eagle Owl, Yellow Billed Duck and many more..

For birders who manage to schedule their bird watching tours, birding in the Helderberg is spectacular at the end of August. The best birding months are September, October and November.

Birding Tips for Beginners

• Avoid wearing bright coloured clothes & wear clothes that blend well with nature as much as possible.
• Turn your phone to silent
• Avoid sudden movements, keep your voice down, and try not to point or move around too much.
• Locate a good birding spot. The more invisible you are, the better bird watching experience you will have, as disturbing the birds just causes them to leave.
• For best results try to keep still so as not to scare the birds into hiding. If you’re going out in the woods, wear boots and maybe leech socks to keep insects away.
• Wearing a dark coloured hat isn’t just good for keeping warm, it can help camouflage you.
• Be equipped with telescopes, binoculars and cameras for enhanced sight.
• Use of a guide improves birding

Bird Watching Spot in Helderberg

Helderberg Nature Reserve

The Helderberg Nature Reserve is a well known birding spot in Somerset West.  the reserve can be visited for Bird watching during the following times:

1 November – 30 November : 07:30 – 19:00

1 December – 28 February : 07:30 – 20:00

1 March – 31 March : 07:30 – 19:00

1 April – 31 October : 07:30 – 17:30

Early Riser key

To walk in the Reserve before the gate is opened in the morning, become a Friend and buy an Early Riser key at the Information Centre. Please note: The key can only be used by the person who bought it.

Click here for a list of Birds in the Nature Reserve.

Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary

Situated in Strand, the Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary offers bird watchers, and wildlife photographers the opportunity of viewing many birds in their natural environment. The sanctuary is natural wetland and has conservation status as it is part of the Lourens River Protected Natural Environment. The sanctuary stretches over 25 acres, and is home to the Ethiopian snape, migrant waders, water-fowl and one of the only mute swans that are left in the area.

Click here for Bird sighting information in the sanctuary.