Greater Limpopo Birding Route

---

Eastern Soutpansberg

Timber plantations, nut orchards and avocado orchards dominate the land use in the Eastern Soutpansberg. Yet nestled in between the agricultural lands are some of the best birdwatching sites in the region. In this area one finds three forest types: Afrotemperate Mistbelt Forest, Semi-deciduous Scrub Forest and Semi-deciduous Mixed Forest. On the upper reaches of the mountain there are a few patches of Afromontane Grasslands forming a mosaic between the forest pockets. Most of these forests are easily accessible and fall within State Land. These are Hanglip Forest, Roodewal Forest and Entabeni Forest. Birds like Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Green Twinspot and African Broadbill are mostly found in the Semi-deciduous forest types and Yellow-streaked Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Orange Ground Thrush, Knysna Turaco and Scaly-throated Honeyguide are mostly found in the Mist-belt forests. Many species are common in all forest types such as Narina Trogon, Chorister Robin-Chat and Crested Guineafowl. In this area it is best to book into one of the establishments mentioned on this website and visit the different forests and dams from your base. You can also drive to some of the sites in Levhubu and visit Ben Lavin Nature Reserve from here. The Muirhead Dams is the best place to find Blue-spotted Wood-Dove. The birds seen in these forests are the most elusive but sought-after species.

Albasini Dam

The Albasini Dam is the biggest waterbody in this area. From the north one can visit the Department of Water Affairs Picnic Site, which has a fair bit of waterfront and an extensive piece of sour bushveld. Birding around the dam is best done by boat. The accommodation establishments on the dam offer pontoon trips usually including drinks and even dinner if arranged in advance. It is well worth taking one of these trips, as the guides know where to see many of the specials. Birds such as White-backed Night-Heron and African Finfoot can often be seen from the pontoon. There are also many other water birds to be found on the dam and birding here is always rewarding. The vegetation around the dam also offers good birding.

Levubu is a sub-tropical fruit farming area. The little town of Levubu itself is the centre of this area and caters for the farming community in the district. The area is has two major rivers, the Lotonyanda River and the Levhubu river. Both are fringed by Lowveld Riverine Forest and Semi-deciduous Mixed Forest and are alive with birds. Access to the rivers is difficult as much of this area is under private ownership. Three sites, Jacana Dam, the Levubu Post Office Tree and Levubu Caravan Site are described for day visits. The area has an impressive species total of over 300 birds. It abounds with Purple-crested Turaco and African Green-Pigeon. The African Paradise-Flycatcher is a common visitor in the summer and look out for Grey-headed Parrot, which is in the area from August to November.

North East Venda

North-eastern Venda stretches from Thohoyandou across to the Kruger National Park boundary and up north to the Limpopo valley and includes villages such as Thengwe, Sagole and Masisi. Drive from Thohoyandou north to Thengwe and on to Sagole or drive from the north off the Tshipise-Pafuri road into the area to the south. Remember the roads and signage are poor in this area. The vegetation type that dominates the North Eastern Venda area is Arid Mountain Bushveld and Mopane Woodland. Along all the major rivers one will find Lowveld Riverine Forest with elements of Semi-deciduous Forest. This is also the area where the isolated patch of Brachystegia Woodland is found. This area is relatively poorly known, as the roads are bad and the area is quite remote, but has in the past come up with the most interesting birds. Look out for Southern Hyliota, Crowned Hornbill, Pink-throated Twinspot, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove. More common species are: White-browed Scrub-Robin, Bearded Scrub-Robin, White-crested Helmet-Shrike and Golden-breasted Bunting. At the Sagole Big Tree there is a chance of seeing Mottled Spinetail and some out-of-range Miombo specials at the Gundani Brachystegia Woodland.

Limpopo River Valley

The Eastern Limpopo River Valley is the area that stretches from Crooks Corner in the Kruger National Park to Musina. Much of the river is not as accessible as the Western part (described below). However access to the river itself is possible if organized in advance through the concession area in the northernmost part of Kruger and through other private farms that border on the river. On the river one can find the two largest owls in Southern Africa: Pel's Fishing-Owl and the Verreaux's Eagle-Owl. The river also provides a corridor for the Trumpeter Hornbill and Lemon-breasted Canary. The wide-open sandy river bottom is ideal habitat for the White-fronted Plover, Ruff, Marsh Sandpiper, Comb Duck, Spur-winged Goose and Saddle-billed Stork. One often sees the Bateleur, Lappet-faced Vulture and African Hawk-Eagle soaring in the skies above the river valley. The gallery forest on the banks of the river has Meyer's Parrot, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Trumpeter Hornbill, Retz's Helmet-shrike and Black-throated Wattle-eye. If you do not stay at one of the accommodation establishments, then you will spend much of your time travelling through Mopane Woodland or Mixed Bushveld. An interesting road to travel is the Malaladrift/Musina road that follows the Limpopo River, crossing a number of its tributaries and passing through small patches of farmland. Take the drive slowly, stopping frequently along the way, and you will find it rewarding.

Western Limpopo River Valley

The western part of the Limpopo River Valley stretches from Musina to Platjan opposite Botswana. There are a great number of access points to the river, the easiest being through Mapungubwe National Park. Mapungubwe is situated opposite the Shashe River confluence and offers visitors a number of birding facilities. Various private farms on both sides of the border offer excellent birding along the Limpopo River. A visit to the Den Staat wetlands, which is one of the best water-bird sites in the country, can be organized if you stay at one of the private establishments in the area. In the Tuli area of Botswana you can also book onto guided wilderness trails, which will give you the best of the birding and the wildlife of the area . Two habitat types dominate the Limpopo valley; these are Lowveld Riverine Forest and Mopane Woodland. On the plains, around the river the area is dominated by Mopane Woodland and is broken by extensive Woodland and is broken by extensive patches of Acacia thickets in the low lying parts and Commiphera dominated vegetation on the rocky outcrops. Gallery Forest on the riverbank is home to Woodland Kingfisher, African Mourning Dove, Broad-billed Roller, Senegal Coucal, Meves Starling and Pel's Fishing-Owl. On the plains on either side of the river are Swainson's Spurfowl, Red-crested Korhaan, Southern Ground Hornbill and Secretarybird.