Hottentot’s Holland Day Trip

Birding Africa guide Ethan Kistler reports back on an excellent day birding around the Hottentot’s Holland mountains, finding 95 species.

On this beautiful and sunny midsummer’s morning, we met in Camps Bay and headed east along the scenic ocean drive. It promised to be windy but we were keen to see our target species.

We started at Rooiels and ticked off every species we had hoped for, including Cape Rockjumper, Ground Woodpeckers and a pair of magnificent Verreaux’s Eagles.

In Betty’s Bay, Harold Porter Botanical Gardens provided excellent views of showy birds such as Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatchers, African Paradise Flycatchers, Swee Waxbills and this Orange-breasted Sunbird.

At the Stoney Point penguin colony we saw all coastal cormorants, African Oystercatchers, Cape Gannet and a surprise Giant Kingfisher.

Finally, at Strandfontein Water Works we added flamingos, various ducks and waders and an African Fish-Eagle, boosting our trip list to 95 species.

For details about Birding Africa day trips from Cape Town, please click here.

To enquire or to book, please email Amanda Kropman or phone +27 (0)83 270 7452.