Bird Watching

Grootbos is a BirdLife SA birder-friendly establishment, with more than 120 species recorded, around 30% of them endemic or near-endemic. Habitats range from fynbos and Milkwood forest to Afromontane forest, riverine scrub and mountain slopes, so a single morning can cover a lot of ground. Specials include Knysna Woodpecker, Cape Clapper-lark and Southern Tchagra. Raptors include Black Harrier, Jackal Buzzard, Forest Buzzard and African Fish-Eagle, and the sunbird list takes in Malachite, Orange-breasted and Southern Double-collared alongside Cape Sugarbird. Birders can extend the list with the Dyer Island cruise, which adds African Black Oystercatcher, Hartlaub's Gull, cormorants, African Penguin, Cape Gannet and occasional pelagics. Worth flagging at booking for clients who keep lists.