I love birds, and I don’t get it when others don’t enjoy them and I envy those that can name even the LBJs.
We watch birds on our bird feeder every day, while we are having breakfast, and marvel at the colours of the goldfinches, the bullying tactics of the starlings and are amazed at the size of the woodpigeons.
When in Africa it is a whole new ball game, the variety and colours are astounding. Over 650 species of birds have been recorded in KwaZulu-Natal – making it one of the best birding meccas on the African continent. Of these, a whopping 605 of them can be spotted in Zululand, with over 50 of the country’s endemic and near endemic birds nesting in its grasslands and wetlands.
Mkuze in KwaZulu-Natal has over 420 different bird species and is a twitchers paradise. A great place to start, is from Ghost Mountain Inn.
Ghost Mountain offers a variety of experiences from Big 5 safaris to Cultural Experiences, and some of the best birding. Mkuze and Manyoni Game Reserve, both right on Ghost Mountain’s doorstep.
Mkuze and the surrounding area is renowned as a mecca for bird lovers. Some of the specials one might go in search of are: Mangrove Kingfisher, African Broadbill, Pink Throated Twin Spot, Blue Billed Fire Finch, Narina Trogon. Or perhaps the Golden Pipit, Lesser Moorhen, Black Coucal and Great Spotted Cuckoo.
Personally I am over the moon when I see the various birds of prey or the colourful bee-eaters. Hearing the Fish Eagle, the Redchested Cuckoo or the Burchells Coucal are so synonymous with Africa. Watching a Kingfisher hover over the water, a crowned lapwing trying to distract you away from her nest or the various weaver birds building intricate nests, how can you not be totally enthralled.
If you never imagined yourself as a birder, give it a go, a morning walk with an expert guide in either Mkuze or Manyoni, you will not be disappointed.
And if you don’t want to go too far, you can spot many birds in and around the indigenous gardens surrounding this beautiful 4-star family-run hotel. The flourishing old trees and succulent fruit attract many species and guests can happily while away the hours in the bird hide or down on the jetty overlooking the lake, which is a favourite spot for the Pygmy Goose and Allen’s Gallinule amongst the reeds. Some of the specials one might spot from your private patio include the Striped Kingfisher, Purple Crested Turaco, Green Pigeon and White-Eared Barbet. Ghost Mountain Inn also offers boating safaris on Lake Jozini and game drives to nearby reserves including uMkhuze Game Reserve with its incredible guided forest canopy walk – with sections of boardwalk meandering its way through the ancient forest of Sycamore figs, some of which are 900 years old with a circumference of 12m.
www.ghostmountaininn.co.za