Grootbos - Private Nature Reserve

Birding Tours on the Reserve

Grootbos offers birders of all levels a great opportunity to experience the fauna of the Southern Cape, Overberg and Hermanus. Knowledgeable guides are at hand to take you on birding tours, on and off the reserve and our information centers are stocked with a wide variety of the latest birding literature and multimedia. A birding file with all relevant checklists and information is available to all birders as well as would-be birders.

Almost 30% of the birds on the reserve alone are endemic or near endemic to Southern Africa. These include specials such as Black Harrier, Knysna Woodpecker , Cape Clapper-lark and Southern Tchagra. The gardens are especially productive and it is quite common to identify up to 25 different species in one hour.

The nearby agricultural fields are home to the largest percentage of Blue Cranes in South Africa while the subspecies of Denhams Bustard and the recently described Agulhas Long-billed Lark are also common in the same area.

Coastal Birding Tours

A trip to the Hermanus coastline or an outing with the Dyer Island boat could produce birdwatchers with endemics such as African Black Oystercatcher, Hartlaubs Gull, Crowned-, Cape- and Bank Cormorant, African Penguin as well as Cape Gannet. Some pelagic species such as Shy Albatros, Sooty Shearwater and Giant Petrels are also seen from time to time.