report of a mammal- and (not a hardcore) bird watching ... · south africa is a modern and well...

Report of a mammal- and (not a hardcore) bird watching trip to

South Africa 18 December 2014 to 7 January 2015

by Inge and Dick Meijer

Leopard, Shingwedzi, Kruger NP.

Black-browed Albatross, Simon’s Town pelagic.

Introduction

We (Inge and Dick Meijer) made a trip to South Africa from 18 December 2014 to 7 January

2015. We visited the northern part of South Africa – the Khalahari, Upington and

Johannesburg – in 2006 and decided this time to focus on the Cape of Good Hope area and

the Kruger NP. We had our flight, rental car, motor home and two hotels (Road Lodge, Cape

Town and Lord Charles, Somerset West) organized by WTC (www.WTC.nl ) which was

carried out perfectly. All other hotels, camping sites and bed & breakfasts were booked by

ourselves. Making reservations beforehand is recommended as the end of December and

the beginning of January is high season in South Africa. Especially Kruger is a very popular

destination then and we had to change our initial itinerary because a few of the rest camps

(Satara, Skukuza, Letaba) in the southern part of the park were already fully booked at the

time we tried to make our reservations. It’s easy to make on line reservations for Golden

Gate NP and Kruger NP via www.sanparks.org, a guarantee for accommodations with

excellent facilities. We used www.bookings.kznwildlife.com and

[email protected] for reservations of sites at camping sites in Dullstroom and

Chelmsford, the quality of which didn’t please us very much. We used

www.bedandbreakfast.eu for accommodation in St. James near Kalkbaai, Somerset West

and Agulhas, we really enjoyed staying in these rooms. The hotel we booked in Malagas was

found by surfing the internet. The Malagas Hotel was okay, though the room was rather

small, the atmosphere there was great though. We used www.places.co.za and

[email protected] to book hotel Sunbird in Phalaborwa, a very comfortable place to

stay with an extremely friendly staff.

Our goal was primarily to enjoy and photograph South African wild life and its often

imposing scenery. Besides we hoped to find new mammals and new endemic and near-

endemic birds. A pelagic from Cape Town was scheduled to enhance our chances to see new

seabirds and mammals.

We look back to a very pleasant trip. South Africa is a modern and well organized country

with good and safe roads and excellent hotels, bed & breakfasts and camping sites. We did

not feel unsafe anywhere and the food was generally very much okay.

We recorded 46 species of mammal. In Cape Province, the Golden NP and Kruger NP we

succeeded in finding a few new mammals having visited the major wild parks in Tanzania,

Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Tanzania previously, such as Bontebok, Cape Mountain

Zebra, (Cape Province), Black Wildebeest (Golden Gate NP) and Large-spotted Genet, Small-

spotted Genet, Sharpe’s Grysbok, Side-striped Jackal and White Rhinoceros (Kruger). We

recorded 315 species of bird of which 15 were endemic and 25 were near-endemic species;

2 species were introduced (European Starling and Common Myna) and 2 species were heard

only (Common Quail and Red-chested Cuckoo).

http://www.wtc.nl/

http://www.sanparks.org/

http://www.bookings.kznwildlife.com/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bedandbreakfast.eu/

http://www.places.co.za/


Recorded endemic species (15) Recorded near-endemic species (25)

Bald Ibis Jackass Penguin

Ground Woodpecker Crowned Cormorant

Black Bustard Bank Cormorant

Sentinel Rock-Thrush Cape Cormorant

Cape Rockjumper Black Harrier

African Pied Starling Jackal Buzzard

Victorin’s Warbler Cape Francolin

Cape Bulbul Blue Crane

Yellow-breasted Pipit Karoo Bustard

Cape Weaver African Oystercatcher

Cape Sugarbird Hartlaub’s Gull

Orange-breasted Sunbird Southern Tchagra

Greater Double-collared Sunbird Southern Boubou

Cape Siskin Karoo Prinia

Drakensberg Siskin Pink-billed Lark

Karoo Scrub-Robin

Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Cape Rock-Thrush

Short-clawed Lark

Swee Waxbill

Gurney’s Sugarbird

Bokmakierie

Fiscal Flycatcher

White-throated Robin-Chat

Cape Canary

The Simon’s Town pelagic ([email protected] or www.capetownpelagics.com)

was the ornithological highlight whereas Kruger was not surprisingly by far the best place to

see mammals. In Kruger NP mammals are not always easy to be found though especially in

the day-time when it’s very hot many animals seek shelter under the many trees and in the

bush. We participated in night drives from 20.00 to 22.00 hrs. (4), early morning drives from

4.00 to 7.30 hrs. (2) and once in a sunset drive from 16.00 to 19.30 hrs. The early morning

safaris are the best since animals are more active then because it is still cool. We had bad

weather in The Golden Gate NP (rain) and near Dullstroom (fog) which resulted in not

finding a few of the much sought after species of bird. In Wakkerstroom we missed much

sought after species because of time pressure. To a lesser extent the same applies to Kruger

NP as much time is needed to travel from one rest camp to another with a maximum speed

of 50 kilometers (tar roads) or 40 kilometers (gravel roads) in combination with the

impossibility to leave your vehicle outside the rest camps and the parking areas.

Thus we have at least one reason to visit South Africa once more!


http://www.capetownpelagics.com/

Itinerary

Date Activities and accommodation

18 December Flew from Amsterdam to Cape Town. Slept in Road Lodge Cape Town.

19 December Walked in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden (Cape Town) and near Boulders Beach, Kalkbaai Slept in Blue on Blue Bed & Breakfast in St. James near Kalkbaai.

20 December Pelagic from Simon’s Town, Kalkbaai with vessel named ‘Destiny ’and drove to Kommetje, West Cape. Slept in Blue on Blue Bed & Breakfast in St. James near Kalkbaai.

21 December Drove to Kommetje, West Cape and to West Coast NP and back to Cape Town. Slept in Eco Self Catering in West Somerset.

22 December Drove to Sir Lowry’s Pass and made a walk there. Drove to Stony Point, Betty’s Bay. Slept in Trail House Bed & Breakfast, Betty’s Bay.

23 December Drove to Stony Point again and to Harold Porter Botanical Garden. Made a walk there. Drove to Agulhas. Slept in The Gift, Self Catering, Agulhas.

24 December Drove from Agulhas to De Mond NR. Made a walk there. Drove to De Hoop NR and drove all roads of the park including the road to Potberg. Went to Malagas. Slept in hotel Malagas.

25 December Drove from Malagas to Potberg in De Hoop NR. Walked uphill the Klipspringer trail and drove to West Somerset. Slept in hotel Lord Charles, West Somerset.

26 December Drove from West Somerset to Cape Town International Airport. Flew from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Drove from Johannesburg to Golden Gate NP. Slept in our motor home at the camping site of Glen Reenen Rest Camp in Golden Gate NP.

27 December Drove the roads and loops of Golden Gate NP and left the park to drive to Chelmsford. Slept in our motor home at the camping site of Chelmsford Nature Reserve.

28 December Drove from Chelmsford to Wakkerstroom and from Wakkerstroom to Dullstroom. Slept in our motor home at the camping site of Dullstroom Nature Reserve.

29 December Drove from Dullstroom through the Strijdom Tunnel to Phalaborwa. Slept in hotel Sunbird in Phalaborwa.

30 December Drove from Phalaborwa into the Kruger NP via Mopani to Punda Maria. Slept in our motor home at the camping site of Punda Maria, Kruger NP.

31 December Explored the roads around Punda Maria and drove to Pafuri Border Post and back to Punda Maria. Slept in our motor home at the camping site of Punda Mari, Kruger NP.

1 January Drove from Punda Maria to Shingwedzi. Slept in our motor home at the camping site of Shingwedzi, Kruger NP.

2 January Drove from Shingwedzi via Letaba to Olifants. Slept in a bungalow of Olifants, Kruger NP.

3 January Drove from Olifants to Satara. Slept in our motor home at the camping site of Satara, Kruger NP.

4 January Drove from Satara via Skukuza to Berg-en-Dal. Slept in our motor home at the campingsite of Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP.

5 January Stayed at Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp. Slept in our motor home at the camping site of Berg-en- Dal, Kruger NP.

6 January Drove from Berg-en-Dal to Malelane Gate out of the Kruger NP to Johannesburg. Flew from Johannesburg to Amsterdam. Slept on the plane.

7 January Arrived by plane in Amsterdam in the morning. Went home by train and car.

Daily log

18 December

Flew with direct (and turbulent) KLM flight KL0297 from Amsterdam to Cape Town (11

hours and 15 minutes). Arrived in Cape Town at 22.10 hrs., picked up our car at Europcar

and drove to the nearby Road Lodge Cape Town opposite the entrance of the airport. Slept

in the Road Lodge Cape Town, which was just okay.

19 December

Went to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden after breakfast in the Road Lodge, walked around in

the Garden from 9.30 to 14.30 hrs. Best birds in Kirstenbosch: Spotted Eagle-Owl, Rameron

Pigeon, Cape Canary, Cape Batis, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Francolin (common), Olive Thrush,

Sombre Greenbul, Karoo Prinia, Orange-breasted Sunbird and Knysna Warbler.

Unfortunately the endemic Cape Siskin, Forest Canary and Ground Woodpecker remained

unseen for the time being. Went to St. James, Kalkbaai to check in at Blue on Blue Bed &

Breakfast. Drove to Boulder’s Beach to watch the Jackass Penguin colony (500+ birds),

walked there from the parking site to the main colony (African Oystercatcher and Cape

Bulbul) and drove to Simon’s Town to inspect the starting-place of our pelagic of the 20th.

The weather was pleasant with 20 - 22 C°, dry and virtually no wind. Slept in Blue on Blue

Bed & Breakfast in St. James ([email protected] and www.BlueonBlueSa.com ), which was

okay.

20 December

Did a Simon’s Town pelagic with the ‘Destiny’ with skipper Alan Blacklaws, guide Rob Leslie

and 4 other passengers from 8.15 to 15.30 hrs., organized by Cape Town Pelagics

(www.capetownpelagics.com). Guide Rob was very sharp at sea but less punctual concerning

the scheduled departure time. He was also brilliant in taking so called ‘habitat photographs‘

at sea. The trip was spectacular and the sea bumpy (especially in the ‘washing machine’ just

south of Cape of Good Hope) but not too rough. No cases of seasickness. We went out 19

kilometers from Cape of Good Hope and had birds around our vessel the whole day. Once

we found a trawler the show began: Black-browed Albatross, hundreds of White-chinned

Petrels and Cory’s Shearwaters, 1 Great Shearwater, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels

(Northern more numerous than Southern), Wilson’s and (only a few) European Storm-

petrels, 1 Spectacled Petrel (best bird of the trip), 1 adult Sabine’s Gull, Arctic Terns,

Subantarctic Skuas, White-capped and Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses. Some White-

chinned Petrels were aberrant in coloration with white markings on the head and even with


http://www.blueonbluesa.com/

http://www.capetownpelagics.com/

white wing-patches. Drove to Kommetje, West Cape on the way back, which was not very

eventful. Slept in Blue on Blue, St. James again. Beautiful, sunny weather and a calm sea.

Simon’s Town, Cape Province.

Cape of Good Hope, Simon’s Town pelagic.

21 December

Went again to Kommetje from 6.45 to 7.15 hrs. which produced Crowned Cormorant and

Greater Flamingo. Drove to the West Coast NP where we stayed from 8.30 to 14.00 hrs. Best

birds of West Coast NP: Black Harrier (on arrival), Karoo Scrub-Robin, Cape Weaver, White-

throated Swallow, Cape Bulbul, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, White-fronted Plover, Karoo

Prinia and Black Crake. African Rail, Cape-Penduline Tit and Southern Black Bustard

remained unseen. Inspected the road to Darling, opposite Grotto Bay, on the way back and

found Blue Crane and African Pied Starling. Drove back to Cape Town and beyond to West

Somerset and slept in Eco Self Catering (great accommodation!) in West Somerset where the

landlady Maggie Howes ([email protected]) provided us with wine and beer.

A very nice and warm longest day.

22 December

Visited Sir Lowry’s Pass from 7.30 to 11.30 hrs. Had beautiful weather during our walk there,

survived the risky cross of the N2 from the parking to the trail. Found Cape Rockjumper and

Victorin’s Warbler immediately when we started to walk and found Sentinel Rock-Thrush

near the canons higher up the trail as well as Orange-breasted and Greater Double-collared

Sunbird and Cape Siskin. Had neither luck with the endemic Hottentot Buttonquail and

Ground Woodpecker nor with the always difficult Striped Flufftail which are also occasionally

seen at the pass, Drove to Betty’s Bay where we checked in at the Trail House Bed &

Breakfast, (Pipe Road, owned by the very enthusiastic landlady Fransel Scheepers) at 13.30

hrs. Visited the Jackass Penguins at Stony Point (1000+ birds) from 14.00 to 15.00 hrs. and

walked to the beach which produced Cape Rock-Thrush and at least 10 Cape Sugarbirds on

flowering Proteas. Slept in the Trail House Bed & Breakfast ([email protected]) which

was more than okay.

23 December

Went to Harold Porter Botanical Garden early in the morning to find it not yet opened. Went

to Stony Point again and had breakfast at 8.00 hrs. in the Trail House. Went to the Harold

Porters Botanical Garden again and walked there to the Leopard Kloof from 9.00 to 12.30

hrs., had lunch there and drove to Agulhas via Bredasdorp. Visited the southernmost point of

Africa where Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet. Very good weather today. Best species:

Ground Woodpecker, Cape Batis, Black Sawwing, Cape Grassbird, Karoo Prinia, Cape Siskin,

Swee Waxbill (Harold Porter) and Blue Crane (en route) and Cape Sugarbird (on the

feeders of The Gift). Perhaps because the Disa Kloof trail was closed after a flood destroyed

part of it missed Olive Woodpecker, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, African Black Duck and Cape

eagle-Owl in Harold Porter Botanical Garden. Slept in The Gift, Wesselstraat, Agulhas with a

very friendly landlord Mike and landlady Liz ([email protected] ). A more than okay

accommodation.




Leopard Kloof, Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Cape Province.

24 December

Left Agulhas at 6.40 hrs. and drove to De Mond NR Walked along the beach from 7.45 to

10.45 hrs. and found Damara Tern, Olive Bush-shrike, Greater Striped Swallow, Stanley

Bustard (north of De Mond NR) and Southern Tchagra. Continued our way to De Hoop NR

and explored the park from 12.30 to 15.30 hrs, which produced Cape Vulture, Bokmakierie,

Caspian Tern, Pied Barbet, Southern Boubou, Cape Weaver as well as Bontebok for our list

of mammals. Paid the parking of Potberg in the northeast corner (no sign of the skulking

Knysna Woodpecker there) of De Hoop NR a short visit and drove to Malagas, where we had

our Christmas Eve dinner in hotel Malagas, where we also slept. Our room was just okay.

25 December

Drove around Malagas from 6.40 to 8.30 hrs. and found Karoo Bustard and our only

Secretary-bird of the trip, went back to Potberg and walked the steep Klipspringer trail from

8.45 to 11.15 hrs. Went back to Malagas, had our car inched across the Breede River on the

ferry and drove to Swellendam on gravel roads flanked by wheat fields and fallow lands in an

undulating landscape which produced Black Korhaan, Cloud Cisticola and Agulhas Long-

billed Lark. Didn’t spend enough time in the area to find Agulhas Clapper Lark and Gray-

winged Francolin as well. Continued our way to West Somerset , where we had our

Christmas dinner in St. Andrews pub of the luxurious Lord Charles hotel where we also slept.

Excellent accommodation. A windy day with rain in the afternoon.

26 December

Left West Somerset at 6.45 hrs. and arrived at Cape Town International Airport at 7.15 hrs.

Returned our rental car and flew from Cape Town to Johannesburg with South African

Airways flight SA0322 from 9.50 to 11.35 hrs. Were taken to the Maui garage and were

meticulously instructed about the use of our motor home by Daniel. Drove from

Johannesburg to the Golden Gate NP where we initially expected to be able to enter the

park through a non-existent northern gate. Via a detour we drove to the eastern gate and

found the Glen Reenen rest camp in the dark. Because reception was already closed at the

time of our arrival we found ourselves a place to put our motor home and went to sleep.

Very windy in the evening.

27 December

Drove a number of loops several times in the Golden Gate NP. Had very bad – rainy and

windy – weather as a result of which we didn’t see much. Still we found Ground

Woodpecker, Drakensberg Siskin, South African Swallow, Cape Longclaw, Amur Falcon, Cape

Grassbird, Bokmakierie, Olive Thrush, Red-collared and Long-tailed Widowbird. Failed to find

most of the endemics (Gray-winged Francolin, Hottentot Buttonquail, Blue Bustard,

Drakensberg Rockjumper, Bush Blackcap, Buff-streaked Chat, Mountain Pipit and Yellow-

tufted Pipit) and near-endemics (Gray Tit and Sickle-wing Chat) also occurring in the area.

Black Wildebeest was a new mammal, also saw Black-backed Jackal. Left the park at 13.30

hrs. and drove to Chelmsford. Again the entrance of the camping Chelmsford Nature Reserve

was not easy to be found. Eventually – after a 25 kilometer detour – we found a sign along

the main road (N11) and discovered that the ‘Nature Reserve’ was a camping site with

moderate bathroom facilities, surrounded by interesting meadows. Slept in our motor home

at the camping of Chelmsford Nature Reserve.

28 December

Explored the meadows around Chelmsford Nature Reserve till 8.30 hrs., drove the long way

to Wakkerstroom, where we had insufficient time to do justice to the road to Amersfoort

with Bald Ibis as our best bird. Dipped on too many much sought after endemic (Gray-

winged Francolin, Blue Bustard ,Rudd’s Lark, Botha’s Lark, Drakensberg Prinia, Bush

Blackcap, Buff-streaked Chat and Yellow-tufted Pipit) and near-endemic species (Chorister

Robin-Chat) possible around Wakkerstroom. Continued our way to Dullstroom where

Dullstroom ’Nature Reserve’ turned out to be a fishing camp with moderate facilities again,

but the nearby town of Dullstroom seemed to go well because of the many visiting trout

fishermen.

29 December

Left Dullstroom Nature Reserve at 6.45 hrs. (no water, dirty bathrooms) and took a shortcut

from the R540 to the R577 as suggested in the Southern African Birdfinder. Again we had

bad luck with the weather in this high land (over 2000 m) where rain and fog hindered good

birding. Yellow-breasted Pipit, Greater Double-collared Sunbird and Gurney’s Sugarbird (on

flowering Proteas along the R577 to Lydenburg/Mashishing) were our best birds. Could not

find the much sought after endemic Buff-streaked Chat. Drove north to the Abel Erasmus

pass and Strijdom tunnel to find out that the famous eyrie of the rare Taita Falcon had beeb

abandoned by the birds 6 months ago. Continued to Phalaborwa at the western border of

Kruger NP and soon found our hotel Sunbird where we slept. Excellent accommodation and

very helpful staff (Samantha and Dave Lockhart).

30 December

Entered the Kruger NP through Phalaborwa Gate and drove mainly on tar roads to the very

north of the park via Mopani – where the restaurant with a fabulous view on the river was

irresistible to us – to Punda Maria. Drove on gravel roads around Punda Maria and to

Klopperfontein and found our first Lion and Hyenas. Checked in at Punda Maria and found a

site at the camping where we slept in our motor home. Good facilities but somehow not

always easy to find at night. Dry and warm weather.

Tzengze river, Mopani, Kruger NP.

31 December

Drove on the S60 gravel road to Klopperfontein and beyond to Pafuri area, visited the picnic

site (guiding possible by Frank Mabasa, cell phone 0781265876 or 0787931150) where it was

rather quiet at midday and went to the Pafuri Border Post, the very north-eastern corner of

Kruger NP, at the border with Zimbabwe. Drove back to Punda Maria where we slept again

in our motor home at the camping site. Slept when 2015 started.

1 January

Drove from Punda Maria to Shingwedzi beyond Babalala on the S56 gravel road where we

had a very cooperative Leopard in a tree. Checked in at Shingwedzi. Southern Carmine Bee-

eater was a nice addition to our bird trip list. Did a night drive from 20.00 to 22.00 hrs. which

produced Bronze-winged Courser, Water Thick-knee, Spotted Thick-knee, Fiery-necked and

Square-tailed Nightjar as well as Hyena, Lesser Bushbaby and Large-spotted Genet. Beautiful

and hot weather. Slept in our motor home at the camping of Shingwedzi.

2 January

Drove from Shingwedzi on the S50 gravel road to the H1-6 tar road to Letaba, where we

lunched, continued our way to Olifants on the H1-5 and H 8 tar roads. Failed to find a

reported Cheetah along the road. Did another night drive from 20.00 to 22.00 hrs. which

produced Rufous-cheeked Nightjar and African Wild Cat. Slept in one of the bungalows as

Olifants does not have a camping site. Beautiful and hot weather again.

3 January

Drove from Olifants to Satara on the H1-4 tar road. Had a distant view of Leopard. Could find

neither the reported African Wild Dogs just south of Olifants nor the Cheetahs south of

Satara, did find 3 Lions though along the S100 gravel road. Did another night drive from

20.00 to 22.00 hrs, which produced African Wild Cat again. Slept in our motor home at the

camping site of Satara. Fine weather.

4 January

Drove from Satara on the H1-3 tar road to Skukuzi – the biggest rest camp of Kruger NP and

the administrative centre – lunched at Skukuzi with a view on the river with Hippos

swimming by and continued our way on the H3 tar road to Berg-en-Dal, the very south-

western corner of Kruger NP. Took the S110 gravel road near Berg-en-Dal and had our first

encounters with White Rhino, a little later Giraffe and African Elephant respectively

temporarily blocked our way. Did a night drive from 20.00 to 22.00 hrs. again, which

produced Small-spotted Genet and many White Rhinos. Slept in our motor home at the

camping site of Berg-en-Dal. Fine and hot weather.

5 January

Did an early morning drive from 4.00 to 7.30 hrs., which produced our first African Wild Dogs

of the trip attacked by a very angry African Elephant, re organized our motor home and

luggage for the way back to Johannesburg and rested a bit in the day-time. Did a sunset

safari from 16.30 to 19.30 hrs. Slept again in our motor home at the camping site of Berg-

en-Dal. Fine and hot weather again.

6 January

Did another early morning drive from 4.00 to 7.30 hrs., which produced a male Lion along

the road, Hyena and Side-striped Jackal. Left Berg-en-Dal after breakfast. Drove a bit north

on the H3 tar road where we heard roaring Lions all the time, didn’t find the Lions but were

happy with at least 4 African Wild Dogs. Left the Kruger NP through the Malelane Gate at

10.15 hrs. and took the N4 high way for the 4 hours and 45 minutes- drive (about 400

kilometers) to Johannesburg. Returned our motor home at the Maui garage and were taken

to Tambo International Airport of Johannesburg. Flew from Johannesburg to Amsterdam

with direct KLM flight (10 hours and 45 minutes) KL0592 at 00.45 hrs. after a 50-minute

delay because of a malfunctioning air-conditioning system. Slept on the plane.

7 January

Arrived at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam at 10.30 hrs. Took a train to Dordrecht and drove

home with our own car.

Weather

The weather was fine throughout with the exception of the Golden Gate NP where it was

very windy and it rained constantly at the time of our stay and Dullstroom where we had fog

and occasionally light rain. It was dry and quite hot in Kruger NP with temperatures between

30 C° and 35C°.

Annoyances

Without question South Africa is a very pleasant place to be. Prices of accommodations

were somewhat higher than we expected maybe due to the time of the year. Prices of meals

were fair. We are sure South Africa could very well survive with less bureaucracy. Malaria is

said to be a risk in Kruger NP so we took our Malarone pills, never saw one sticking insect

though. We didn’t even touch our DEET.

References

In the field we used:

(Sasol) Birds of Southern Africa, Third edition by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick

Tarboton. Struik Publishers (2002). ISBN 1868727211. Perfect field guide.

(Pocket Guide) Mammals of South Africa by Chris & Mathilde Stuart. Struik Nature (2011)

ISBN 9781770078611. (www.randomstruik.co.za ). A useful photographic identification

guide.

Road Atlas South Africa, 18th edition. Map Studio (2003) (www.mapstudio.co.za).

Excellent maps!

Gateway to Kruger, Map & Guide, 5th edition. Tinkers (www.tinkers.co.za). Essential in

Kruger NP.

While preparing our trip we used:

(Sasol) Southern African Birdfinder by Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode and Jonathan

Rossouw. Struik Publishers (2006) ISBN 1868727254. Loaded with infromation, on a few

occasions we also used this info in the field.

Where to watch birds in Africa by Nigel Wheatley. Christopher Helm (1995) ISBN

0713640138. The good old guide, still helpful while outlining your trip.

Trip reports :

o Rob Goldbach, August 1995

o Eldert Groenewoud, UAE & South Africa February-March 2012

o Jan Vermeulen, Okt-Nov 1996

o Vincent de Boer, South Africa trip September 19th-October 26th 2008

o Hans Westerlaken, July 13-August 2 2012

o Henk Hendriks, July 30-August 28 2003

http://www.randomstruik.co.za/

http://www.mapstudio.co.za/

http://www.tinkers.co.za/

Acknowledgements

We thank Eldert Groenewoud and Hans Westerlaken for providing us with their trip reports

and for answering our questions about birding in South Africa and we are grateful to the late

Rob Goldbach for his inspiring enthusiasm for birding in the region. We thank Kees Verburg

and Peter van Scheepen for their proof reading of and comments on an earlier version of

this report.

Dick Meijer, January 2015

[email protected]

Jackass Penguins, Boulder’s Beach, Cape Province.


Systematic list of recorded birds

Sequence and taxonomy follow Clement’s 2014.

E = South African Endemic I = Introduced to South Africa

NE = South African Near-Endemic HO = Heard only

1. Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

25 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 10 near De Mond NR and 40 in De Hoop NR on 24

December and 15 Kruger NP on 3 January.

2. White-faced Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)

Up to 50 daily in Kruger NP.

3. Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)

1 and 2 near Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 31 December and on 1 January.

4. Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

Frequently seen, up to 50 daily.

5. Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis)

40 in De Mond NR and 20 in De Hoop NR on 21 December, 10 around Malagas on 25

December and 2 near Wakkerstroom on 28 December.

6. Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)

6 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 1 in Betty’s Bay on 22 December, 4 in Golden Gate

NP on 27 December, 2 in Chelmsford on 28 December and 2 in Dullstroom on 29

December.

7. Cape Shoveler (Anas smithii)

2 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 10 in De Hoop NR on 24 December.

8. Cape Teal (Anas capensis)

1 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 5 in De Hoop NR on 24 December.

9. Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

Frequently seen, commonest in and around De Hoop NR, up to 25 daily.

Helmeted Guineafowl, Kruger NP.

10. Crested Francolin (Francolinus sephaena)

In Kruger NP up to 10 daily.

11. Cape Francolin (Francolinus capensis) NE

Common in the Cape Province, up to 25 daily.

Cape Francolin, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town.

12. Natal Francolin (Francolinus natalensis)

Common in Kruger NP, up to 20 daily.

13. Swainson’s Francolin (Francolinus swainsonii)

In Kruger NP up to 6 daily.

14. Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) HO

Several heard in the fields around Chelmsford on 28 December.

15. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

2 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 2 in De Hoop NR on 24 December, 4 at Chelmsford

on 28 December and 4 in Dullstroom on 29 December.

16. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

40 in De Hoop NR on 24 December.

17. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

20 at Kommetje and 5 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 20 in De Mond NR on 24

December.

18. Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor)

100 in West Coast NP on 21 December.

19. Jackass Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) NE

500+ at Boulder’s Beach on 19 and 20 December and 1000+ in Betty’s Bay on 22 and 23

December.

Jackass Penguin, Boulder’s Beach, Cape Province.

20. (‘Atlantic’) Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchus chlororhynchus)

1 adult and 1 juvenile during Simon’s Town pelagic on 20 December.

21. White-capped Albatross (Thalassarche cauta cauta)

30 during Simon’s Town pelagic on 20 December.

White-capped Albatross, Simon’s Town pelagic.

22. Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris impavida)


Black-browed Albatross, Simon’s Town pelagic.

23. Southern Giant-Petrel (Macronectes giganteus)


Southern Giant-Petrel, Simon’s Town pelagic.

Northern Giant-Petrel, Simon’s Town pelagic.

24. Northern Giant- Petrel (Macronectus halli)

8 during Simon’s Town pelagic on 20 December .

25. White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis)

500+ during Simon’s Town pelagic on 20 December. At least 2 birds had aberrant

coloration with white on the head and on the wings.

White-chinned Petrels, lower one aberrant, Simon’s Town pelagic.

26. Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata)

1 during Simon’s Town pelagic on 20 December. Bird of the trip!

27. Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis)


Great Shearwater, Simon’s Town pelagic.

28. Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)


29. Wilson’s Storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanites)


30. European Storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)


31. Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)

20 near Phalaborwa on 29 December.

32. Wooly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)

Up to 3 in Kruger NP daily.

33. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

100+ north of De Hoop NR on 24 December, 30 between Johannesburg and Golden Gate

NP on 26 December, 50 around Chelmsford on 27 and 28 December and 30 in Kruger NP

on 4 January.

34. Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiohynchus senegalensis)


35. Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)


36. Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis)


37. Cape Gannet (Morus capensis)

2 in Simon’s Town on 19 December, 100+ during Simon’s Town pelagic on 20 December

and 2 in De Mond NR on 24 December.

38. Great (‘White-breasted’) Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus)

10 on rocks near Cape of Good Hope on 20 December, 10 at Cape Agulhas on 23

December, common in De Mond NR on 24 December and 2 at Chelmsford on 28

December.

39. Cape Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis) NE

Up to 500+ in the Cape Province daily.

Cape Cormorant, Cape of Good Hope.

40. Bank Cormorant (Phalacrocorax negelctus) NE

30 on rocks near Cape of Good Hope on 20 December.

41. Long-tailed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus)

1 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 4 at Chelmsford on 28 December, 4 at Dullstroom

on 29 December and up to 10 in Kruger NP daily.

42. Crowned Cormorant (Phalacrocorax coronatus) NE

3 at Kommetje, West Cape on 21 December.

43. African Darter (Anhinga rufa)

2 at Dullstroom on 29 December and 1 in Kruger NP on 30 December.

44. Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)


45. Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)

1 near Chelmsford on 27 and 28 December, 1 at Dullstroom on 29 December and 1 or 2

in Kruger NP daily.

46. Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea)

1 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 1 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December and 1 or 2 in

Kruger NP daily.

47. Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala)

Up to 20 throughout daily, surprisingly no records in Kruger NP.

48. Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)

1 or 2 in Kruger NP daily.

49. Great Egret (Ardea alba)

2 at Chelmsford on 28 December, 2 in Kruger NP on 30 December and 1 there on 31

December and 2 January. Distant birds might be mistaken with Intermediate Egret.

50. Intermediate Egret (Mesophox intermedia)

30 in tree in Kruger NP on 4 January.

51. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

1 at Kommetje on 20 and 21 December, 2 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 5 between

Johannesburg and Golden Gate NP on 26 December, 5 in Golden Gate NP on 27

December and 1 and 2 in Kruger NP on 30 December and 4 January.

52. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Common throughout, though more scarce in Kruger NP.

53. Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

1 or 2 in Kruger NP daily.

54. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

2 in West Coast NR on 21 December.

55. Sacred Ibis (Threkiornis aethiopicus)

Common throughout, not in Kruger NP.

56. Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) E

2 at Wakkerstroom on 28 December.

57. Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)

Common throughout, up to 25 daily.

58. African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)

5 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 1 near Malagas on 25 December and 1 Kruger NP

on 2 and 3 January.

59. Secretary-bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

Just 1 near De Hoop NR on 25 December.

60. Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

3 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 1 near Malagas on 25 December, 2 in Golden Gate

NP on 27 December, 5 at Wakkerstroom on 28 December and 1 in Kruger NP on 31

December.

61. African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)

1 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December and 3 at Wakkerstroom on 29 December.

62. White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)

2 near Phalaborwa on 29 December.

63. Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus)


64. Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)

Just 1 in Kruger NP on 30 December.

65. White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)


66. Cape Griffon (Gyps coprotheres)

3 and 15 near breeding colony in De Hoop NR on 24 and 25 December.

67. Bateleur (Terathopius eaudatus)


68. Black-breasted Snake-Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis)

1 in Kruger NP on 2 January and 2 there on 4 January.

69. Brown Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinereus)

1 in Kruger NP on most days.

70. Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicossus)

4 and 1 in Kruger NP on 31 December and 1 January.

Martial Eagle, Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP.

71. Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina)

Just 1 in Kruger NP on 3 January.

72. Wahlberg’s Eagle (Hieraaetus wahlbergi)

2 flying birds at Punda, Maria, Kruger NP on 31 December and one perched individual at

Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP on 5 January.

73. Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

Up to 4 in Kruger NP on most days.

74. Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Just 1 near De Hoop NR on 25 December. Not positively identified In Kruger NP.

75. African Marsh-Harrier (Circus ranivorus)

1 male between Johannesburg and Golden Gate NP on 26 December.

76. Black Harrier (Circus maurus) NE


77. Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)

1 female in Kruger NP on 30 December.

78. Little Sparrohawk (Accipiter minulus)

1 tiny Accipiter near Olifants, Kruger NP on 2 January was most likely this species.

79. Ovampo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

1 subadult near Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 30 December.

80. Black (‘Yellow-billed’) Kite (Milvus migrans parasiticus)

Common, up to 20 birds daily. Did not check all birds for colour of bill.

81. African Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

1 near Phalaborwa on 29 December, 1 in Kruger NP on 2, 4 and 5 January.

82. Common (‘Steppe’) Buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus)

Common in Cape Province and Wakkerstroom and Dullstroom area with up to 15 daily,

just 1 in Kruger NP on 1 January.

83. Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus) NE

1 in West Coast NP and 1 near Darling on 21 December, 2 in De Hoop NR on 24

December and 1 between Johannesburg and Golden Gate NP on 26 December.

84. Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)

1 near Satara, Kruger NP on 3 January.

85. Stanley Bustard (Neotis denhami)

1 near De Mond NR and 3 near De Hoop NR on 24 December.

86. Karoo Bustard (Eupodotis vigorsi) NE

5 near Malagas on 25 December.

87. Red-crested Bustard (Eupodotis ruficrista)

2 near Satara, Kruger NP on 2 January.

88. Black Bustard (Eupodotis afra) E

1 near Malagas on 25 December.

89. Black-bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster)

1 and 2 in Kruger NP on 3 and 4 January.

Black-bellied Bustard, Satara (night drive), Kruger NP.

90. Black Crake (Amaurornis flavirostra)


91. Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Just 1 in West Coast NP on 21 December.

92. Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)

2 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 40 in De Hoop NR on 24 December, 10 and 20 near

Chelmsford on 27 and 28 December.

Red-knobbed Coot, West Coast NP.

93. Gray Crowned-Crane (Balearica regulorum)

2 at Wakkerstroom on 28 December.

94. Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) NE

8 near Darling, south of West Coast NP, on 21 December, 3 along N2 in Cape town on 21

December, 8 near Agulhas on 23 December, 10 in De Mond NR and 50 in De Hoop NR on

24 December, 60 near Malagas on 25 December and 2 at Dullstroom on 29 December.

95. Water Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus)

4 in Kruger NP in the daytime and 5 at night, during night drives, on 1 January and 12 in

Kruger NP at night on 2 January.

96. Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)

2, 3 and 10 In Kruger NP at night, during night drives, on 1, 3 and 4 January.

97. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Just 2 near Darling, south of West Coast NP, on 21 December.

98. African Oystercatcher (Haematopus maquini) NE

4 at Boulder’s Beach on 19 December and 1 at Betty’s Bay on 22 December.

99. Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

3 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 5 in De Mond NR on 24 December.

100. Blacksmith Plover (Vanellus armatus)

Common, seen almost daily, up to 20 birds.

101. Senegal Lapwing (Vanellus lugubrus)

8 in Kruger NP on 3 January.

102. White-crowned Lapwing (Vanellus albiceps)


103. Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)

4 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 15 in De Hoop NR on 24 December, 4 near

Malagas on 25 December and 3 in Kruger NP on 2 January.

104. Kittlitz’s Plover (Charadrius pecuarius)

4 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 5 in De Hoop NR on 24 December and 6 at

Agulhas on 25 December.

105. Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris)

6 and 4 in Kuger NP on 31 December and 2 January.

106. White-fronted Plover (Charadrius marginatus)

5 in West Coast NP , 2 at Agulhas on 23 December and 2 in De Mond NR on 24

December.

107. African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus)

1 at Wakkerstroom on 28 Dcember, 2 at Mopani, Kruger NP on 30 December and 1 at

Olifants, Kruger NP on 2 January.

108. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

1 at De Hoop NR on 24 December and 1 or 2 in Kruger NP daily.

109. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

1 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 1 in De Mond NR on 24 December and 1 or 2 in

Kruger NP daily.

110. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)


111. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)


112. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

Heard at Boulder’s Beach on 19 December and 2 in West Coast NP on 21 December.

113. Ruddy Turnstone ( Arenaria interpres)


114. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

20 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 5 in De Mond NR on 24 December.

115. Sanderling (Calidris alba)

4 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 1 at Agulhas on 23 December.

116. Little Stint (Calidris minuta)


117. Bronze-winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus)

1 at Shingwedzi, during night drive on 1 January.

118. Brown Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus)


119. Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)


120. Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabini)

1 adult during Simon’s Town pelagic on 20 December.

121. Hartlaub’s Gull (Chroiocephalus hartlaubii) NE

Very common around Cape of Good Hope with 1000+ birds on 19 December.

122. Kelp (‘Çape’) Gull (Larus dominicanus vetula)

Common around Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas with up to 250 birds daily.

123. Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)


124. Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum)

12 at De Mond NR on 24 December.

125. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)


126. Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

2 at Dullstroom on 28 December and 1 at Wakkerstroom on 29 December.

127. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

25 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 100 at De Mond NR on 24 December.

128. Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)


129. Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

15 and 20 at Simon’s Town on 19 and 20 December, 20 at Kommetje on 20

December, 20 in West Coast NP on 20 December and 10 at Betty’s Bay on 22

December.

130. Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicenis)

3 during Simon’s Town pelagic on 20 December and 100 at De Mond NR on 24

December.

131. Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea)

Up to 25 in Cape Province daily.

132. Rameron Pigeon (Columba arquatrix)

2 at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December.

133. Mourning Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)

Common in Kruger NP.

134. Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

4 at St. James, Kalkbaai on 19 and 20 December and 4, 2 and 2 in Kruger NP on 1, 2

and 3 January. Always near buildings.

135. Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola)

Up to 20 in Cape Province daily.

136. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)

4 at Agulhas on 23 December, 3 near Malagas on 25 December and up to 20 in

Kruger NP daily.

137. Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur chalcospilos)

Up to 4 In Kruger NP daily.

138. Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

4 near Darling, South of West Coast NP on 21 December, 2 in De Hoop NR on 24

December and 1, 2 and 4 in Kruger NP on 30 December, 3 January and 4 January.

139. Gray Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides concolor)


140. Pied Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus)

1 in Kruger NP on 1 and 2 January.

141. Levaillant’s Cuckoo (Clamator levaillantii)

2, 1 and 1 in Kruger NP on 30 December and 1 and 2 January.

142. Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius)

3, 1 and 1 in Kruger NP on 31 December and 2 and 4 January.

143. Red-chested Cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius) HO

Heard at Wakkerstroom on 28 December, at Dullstroom and Phalaborwa on 29

December and in Kruger NP on 1 December and 5 January.

144. African Cuckoo (Cuculus gularis)

1, 2 and 2 (1 perched during night drive) in Kruger NP on 2, 3 and 4 January.

145. Klaas’s Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas)


146. White-browed (‘Burchell’s’) Coucal (Centropus superciliosus burchellii)

1 in Kruger NP on 31 December and 1 January.

147. Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus)

2 (adult and juvenile) in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December, and 1, 2

and 2 In Kruger NP during night drives on 2, 3 and 4 January

Spotted Eagle-Owl, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town.

148. Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (Caprimulgus rufigena)

2 in Olifants, Kruger NP during night drive on 2 January.

149. Fiery-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus pectoralis)

6 in Kruger NP during night drives on 1 and 2 January.

150. Square-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus fossii)

1 in Shingwedzi, Kruger NP on 1 January and 10 in Olifants, Kruger NP on 2 January.

151. Bat-like Spinetail (Neafrapus boehmi)

4 spinetails around Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 30 December most likely this species.

152. Alpine Swift (Apus melba)

8 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 4 Sir Lowry’s Pass on 22 December, 3 in De

Hoop NR on 24 December and 5 there on 25 December.

153. Common Swift (Apus apus)

10 in De Hoop Nr on 24 December and 10 there on 25 December. Probably common

in Kruger NP, didn’t check diagnostic back of every swift.

154. African Swift (Apus barbatus barbatus)

2 in De Hoop NR on 24 December. Probably common in Kruger NP, didn’t check

diagnostic back of every swift.

155. Little Swift (Apus affinis)

6 at Agulhas on 23 December, 10 in De Hoop NR on 24 December and common in

Kruger NP.

156. Horus Swift (Apus horus)


157. White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer)

Up to 2 in Cape Province daily and

common in Kruger NP.

158. African Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus parvus)


159. Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus)


Speckled Mousebird, Kruger NP.

160. White-backed Mousebird (Colius colius)

3 in Kalkbaai on 19 December, 5 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 10 in de Hoop

NR on 24 December and 5 there on 25 December.

161. Red-faced Mousebird (Urocolius indicus)


162. Malachite Kingfisher (Corytornis cristatus)

Just 1 in West Coast NP on 21 December.

163. Gray-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala)

4 near Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 31 December.

164. Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis)

Common in Kruger NP, up to 30 daily, more often heard than seen.

Woodland Kingfisher, displaying, Kruger NP.

165. Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti)


166. Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maximus)


Giant Kingfisher, Kruger NP.

167. Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

1 at Kommetje, West Cape on 20 December and common in Kruger NP with up to 6

daily.

168. White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides)

5 and 4 near Punda Maria and Pafuri, Kruger NP on 31 December and 1 January.

169. Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillius)

1 and 2 near Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 30 and 31 December.

170. European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

5 in West Coast NP on 21 December and common in Kruger NP with up to 15 daily.

171. Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides)

3 south of Pafuri, Kruger NP on 1 January, also more south in Kruger NP up to 2 daily.

Surprised to find this species also in southern part of Kruger NP.

172. European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

1 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December and common in Kruger NP with up to 20 daily,

outnumbering Lilac-breasted Roller there on most days.

173. Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus)

Common in Kruger NP with up to 15 daily.

174. Broad-billed Roller (Eurystomus glaucurus)

4 near Puvluvu river, Pafuri, Kruger NP on 31 December.

175. Eurasian (‘African‘) Hoopoe (Upupa epos africana)

1 near Phalaborwa on 29 December and 1 and 1 in Kruger NP on 30 December and 2

January.

176. Common Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas)


177. Southern Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus rufirostris)


178. Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)


179. African Gray Hornbill (Tockus nasutus)


180. Trumpeter Hornbill (Ceratogymna bucinator)

2 at Pafuri, Kruger NP on 31 December.

181. Southern Ground-Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)

5 near Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 30 December, 2 at Shingwedzi,

Kruger NP on 2 January and 8 near Satara, Kruger NP on 3 and 4 January.

Southern Ground-Hornbill, Kruger NP

182. Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii)

Up to 5 in Kruger NP daily, more often heard than seen.

183. Pied Barbet (Tricholaema leucomelas)


184. Bennett’s Woodpecker (Campethera bennettii)


Bennett’s Woodpecker, Kruger NP.

185. Ground Woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus) E

2 at Harold Porters Botanical Garden on 23 December and 3 in Golden Gate NP on 23

December.

186. Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)


187. Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)


188. Eurasian (‘Rock’) Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus rupicola)

Individuals at Kalkbaai on 19 December, at Sir Lowry’s Pass on 22 December, at

Agulhas on 23 December, in De Hoop NR on 24 December and at Dullstroom on 29

December.

189. Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis)

Huge numbers of wintering birds in Transvaal with peak of 550 birds in Kruger NP

on 31 December.

190. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

1 at Simon’s Town harbor on 19 December, 2 in Harold Porter Botanical Garden and 1

at Agulhas on 23 December and 2 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December.

NB: Eyrie of Taita Falcon (Falco fasciinucha ) at van Strijdom tunnel was deserted.

Birds had not been seen for 6 months at the time of our visit.

191. Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus)

3, 2 and 2 in Kruger NP on 1, 4 and 5 January.

192. Cape Batis (Batis capensis)

1 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December and 1 seen and 1 heard in

Harold Porters Botanical Garden on 23 December.

193. White Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus)

5 and 10 In Kruger NP on 2 and 4 January.

194. Retz’s Helmetshrike (Prionops retzii)


195. Brubru (Nilaus afer)


196. Southern Tchagra (Tchagra tchagra)

1 obliging bird at De Mond NR on 24 December.

197. Brown-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra australis) NE


198. Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus) NE

Heard in West Coast NP on 21 December and in Kruger NP on 31 December and 3

January, seen in De Hoop NR on 24 December.

199. Olive Bushshrike (Telophorus olivaceus)

1 at De Mond NR on 24 December and 1 in De Hoop NR on 25 December.

200. Bokmakierie (Telophorus zeylonus) NE

2 in De Hoop NR on 24 December, 1 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December and 1 at

Dullstroom on 29 December.

201. Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla)

4 in Kruger NP on 31 December.

202. Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)


203. Lesser Gray Shrike (Lanius minor)

Individuals in southern part of Kruger NP on 3 and 4 January.

204. Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris collaris)

Common in Cape Province and east and south-east of Johannesburg, not in

Kruger NP.

205. Magpie Shrike (Corvinella melanoleuca)


206. White-crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus anguitimens)

2 at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP on 6 January.

207. African Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)


African Black-headed

Oriole, Berg-en-Dal, Kruger

NP.

208. Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis)

1 near Agulhas on 23 December, 1 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December, 1 at

Wakkerstroom on 28 December and common in Kruger NP with up to 15 daily.

209. African Paradise-Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis)

Individuals in Kruger NP on 29 December, 30 December and 5 January.

210. Cape Crow (Corvus capensis)

2 at Simon’s Town on 19 December, 2 at Agulhas on 23 December, 4 in De Mond NR

and 12 in De Hoop NR on 24 December, 20 around Malagas on 25 December and

common south-east and east of Johannesburg.

211. Pied Crow (Corvus albus)

Up to 10 birds in Cape Province daily and common in Transvaal and in

Golden Gate NP.

212. White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis)

2 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December, 10 around Malagas on 25

December, 6 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December and 4 near Phalaborwa on 29

December.

213. Cape Rockjumper (Chaetops frenatus) E

6 at Sir Lowry’s Pass on 22 December.

214. Rufous-naped Lark (Miafra africana)

1 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December.

215. Sabota Lark (Calendulauda sabota)

Individuals seen and more heard in Kruger NP on 1, 2 and 3 January.

216. Easter Long-billed Lark (Certhilauda semitorquata)

At least 1 around Malagas on 25 December.

217. Pink-billed Lark (Spizocorys conirostris) NE

At least 1 at Wakkerstroom on 28 December.

218. Short-clawed Lark (Certhilauda chuana) NE

1 near Shingwedzi, Kruger NP on 2 January.

219. Plain Martin (Riparia paludicola)


220. Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula fuligula)

4 in West Coast NP on 21 December, 4 at Sir Lowry’s Pass on 22 December and 4 at

Harold Porters Botanical Garden on 23 December.

221. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Common throughout.

222. White-throated Swallow (Hirundo nigrito)


White-throated Swallow, West Coast NR.

223. Pearl-breasted Swallow (Hirundo dimidiata)


224. Greater Striped -Swallow (Cecropis cucullata)

2 in De Mond NR and 6 in de Hoop NR on 24 December, 10 near Malagas on 25

December and common in Golden Gate NP on 26 December and at Chelmsford,

at Wakkerstroom and at Dullstroom on 26, 27 and 28 December.

225. Lesser Striped-Swallow (Cecropis abyssinica)

Common in Golden Gate NP and at Chelmsford, Wakkerstrrom and Dullstroom on 26,

27 and 28 December and up to 10 in Kruger NP daily. Breeding in laundry of Punda

Maria, Kruger NP.

226. Rufous-chested Swallow (Cecropis semirufa)

4 in Kruger NP on 3 and 4 January.

227. South African Swallow (Petrochelidon spilodera)

4 in Golden Gate NP on 26 December, 20 en route to Chelmsford on 28 December

and 10 in Kruger NP on 1 and 2 January.

228. Black Sawwing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera)

1 at Cape Town International Airport on 19 December and 4 at Harold Porters

Botanical Garden on 23 December.

229. Fairy Flycatcher (Stenostira scita)

Just 1, but probably overlooked, Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 31 December.

230. Sombre Greenbul (Andropadus importinus)

25 at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19

December.

231. Common (‘Dark-capped’) Bulbul (Pycnonotus

barbatus tricolor)

Up to 10 south-east and east of Johannesburg

and in Kruger NP daily.

232. Cape Bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis) E

Common in Cape Province with up to 15 daily.

233. Cape Grassbird (Sphenoeacus afer)

2 in Harold Porters Botanical Garden on 23

December and 1 Golden Gate NP on 27

December.

234. Victorin’s Warbler (Cryptillas victorini) E


Cape Bulbul

235. Knysna Warbler (Bradypterus sylavaticus) E

Glimpse of singing individual in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December.

236. Green-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura brachyura)

1 Phalaborwa on 29 December, 1 Pafuri, Kruger NP on 1 January and 1 Satara, Kruger

NP on 3 January.

237. Cloud Cisticola (Cisticola textrix)

At least 1 near Malagas on 25 December.

238. Wing-snapping Cisticola (Cisticola ayresi)

1 south of Chelmsford on 27 December.

239. Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)

Very common in Kruger NP.

240. Red-faced Cisticola (Cisticola erythrops)

1 at Satara, Kruger NP on 3 January.

241. Croaking Cisticola (Cisticola natalensis)

1 Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP on 5 January.

242. Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

4 south of Chelmsford on 27 December.

243. Karoo Prinia (Prinia maculosa) NE


244. a. Cape White-eye (Zosterops pallidus capensis

Common around Cape Town with up to 30 daily.

b. Orange-river White-eye (Zosterops pallidus sundevalli)

2 at Phalaborwa on 29 December.

245. Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii)


246. Gurney’s Sugarbird (Promerops gurneyi) NE

2 on flowering Proteas at Dullstroom on 29 December.

247. Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer)

1 in Kirstenbosch Botanical garden on 19 December, 10 at Betty’s Bay on 22

December and at least 6 on feeder of The Gift, Agulhas on 23 December.

Cape Sugarbird, Agulhas, Cape Province.

248. Southern Black-Flycatcher (Melaenomis pammelaina)

2 individuals in Kruger NP on 30 and 31 December.

249. Fiscal Flycatcher (Sigelus silens) NE

Just 1 in De Hoop NR on 24 December.

250. Dusky-brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta)

10 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December and 20 in Harold Porter

Botanical Garden on 23 December.

251. Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)


252. Ashy Flycatcher (Muscicapa caerulescens)


253. Karoo Scrub-Robin (Erythroygia coryphaeus) NE


254. Red-backed Scrub-Robin (Erythropygia leucophrys)

Individuals in Kruger NP on 1 and 2 January.

255. Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra)

2 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December, 2 at Sir Lowry’s Pass on 22

December, 3 in Harold Porters Botanical Garden on 23 December and 1 at Dullstroom

on 28 December.

256. White-throated Robin-Chat (Cossypha humeralis) NE

Just 1 at Satara, Kruger NP on 4 January.

257. White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini)

Just 1 at Pafuri, Kruger NP on 1 January.

258. Sentinel Rock-Thrush (Monticola explorator) E


259. Cape Rock-Thrush (Monticola rupestris) NE

3 at Betty’s Bay on 22 December.

260. African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus torquatus)

Common in eastern Cape Province and Transvaal with up to 15 daily.

261. Southern Anteater-Chat (Myrmecocichla fromicivora)

Very common in Transvaal with up to 50 daily and 1 in Kruger NP on 2 January.

262. Mocking Cliff-Chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris)

Just 1 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December.

263. Familiar Chat (Cercomela familiaris)

1 or 2 in southern part Cape Province daily.

264. Mountain Wheatear (Oenanthe monticola)

2 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December and 5 at Dullstroom on 29 December.

265. Capped Wheatear (Oenanthe pileata)

2 near Darling, south of West Coast NP , 2 in De Hoop NR and 5 near Malagas on 25

December.

266. Groundscraper Thrush (Psophocichla litsipsirupa)

2 at Dullstroom on 28 December and 1 at Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 31 December.

267. Olive Thrush (Turdus olivaceus)

3 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December, 4 at Dullstroom (in town) on 28

December and 3 and 2 in garden of hotel Sunbird Phalaborwa on 29 and 30

December.

Olive Thrush, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

268. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) I

Common in Transvaal.

269. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) I

Common in Cape Province.

270. Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea)

50 at Olifants, Kruger NP on 3 January.

271. Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)


Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, Kruger NP.

272. Meve’s Glossy-Starling (Lamprotornis mevesii)

4 at Pafuri, Kruger NP on 31 December and 10 at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP on 4

January.

273. Burchell’s Glossy-Starling (Lamprotornis australis)


274. Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyrirhynchus leucogaster)

8 and 20 around Punda Maria and Pafuri, Kruger NP on 31 December and 1 January.

275. African Pied Starling (Spreo bicolor) E

Common in Cape Province and Transvaal with up to 20 birds daily, not in Kruger NP.

276. Red-winged Starling (Onychognathus morio)

Common throughout with up to 20 daily, not in northern part of Kruger NP.

277. Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus)

Up to 8 in Kruger NP daily, more frequently seen than Yellow-billed Oxpecker

278. Yellow-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus africanus)

10, 1 ,4 and 4 on 31 December, 2, 3 and 4 January, outnumbered by Red-billed

Oxpecker.

279. Orange-breasted Sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea) E

5 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December, 6 at Sir Lowry’s Pass on 22

December and 1 at Malagas on 25 January.

Orange-breasted Sunbird, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town.

280. Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis)

6 at Satara, Kruger NP on 3 January, many more heard in Kruger NP on 4 January.

281. Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus) NE

3 at Cape Agulhas on 23 December.

282. Greater Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris afer) E

1 at Cape Town International Airport on 19 December, 1 at Sir Lowry’s Pass on

December and 2 at Dullstroom on 29 December.

283. White-breasted Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)


284. Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis)


285. African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp)

2 at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP on 6 December.

286. African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus)

2 near Darling, south of West Coast NP on 21 December, 5 at De Mond NR and 5 in

De Hoop NR on 24 December, 3 in Kruger NP on 2 and 3 January.

287. Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)

2 near Phalaborwa on 29 December and 1 near Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 1

January.

288. Bush Pipit (Anthus caffer)

1 at Shingwedzi, Kruger NP on 2 January and at least 1 near Olifants, Kruger NP on 3

January.

289. Yellow-breasted Pipit (Hemimacronyx chloris) E

2 at Dullstroom on 29 December.

290. Orange-throated Longclaw (Macronyx capensis)

10 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December and 4 at Dullstroom on 29 December.

291. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi)

4 at Dullstroom on 29 December and up to 6 in southern part Kruger NP daily.

292. Cape Bunting (Emberiza capensis)

Just 1 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December.

293. Golden-breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris)


294. Cape Siskin (Pseudochloroptila totta) E

12 at Sir Lowry’s Pass and 2 at Betty’s Bay on 22 December, 1 in Harold Porters

Botanical Garden on 23 December and 2 in De Hoop NR on 25 December.

295. Drakensberg Siskin (Pseudochloroptila symonsi) E


296. Yellow-fronted Canary (Serinus mozambicus)


297. Cape Canary (Serinus canicollis) NE

3 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December, 1 at Agulhas on 23 December,

2 at Wakkerstroom on 28 December and 20 at Dullstroom on 29 December.

Cape Canary, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

298. Brimstone Canary (Serinus sulphuratus)


299. Yellow Canary (Serinus flaviventris)

8 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 10 at Malagas on 25 December.

300. Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus)

Up to in Cape Province daily.

301. Southern Gray-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus)

2 at Simon’s Town on 19 December and common in Kruger NP with up to 10 daily.

302. Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver (Bubalornis niger)


303. Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps)


304. Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis) E

30 in West Coast NP on 21 December and 2 in Harold Porters Botanical Garden on

23 December.

305. Southern Masked-Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

2 at Malagas on 25 December and 10 at Dullstroom on 29 December.

306. Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea)


307. Red Bishop (Euplectes oryx)

Common in Transvaal. Occurrence contra Clements.

308. Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer)

Common in Transvaal.

309. Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne)

Very common at lower part of Golden Gate NP, Chelmsford and Wakkerstroom.

310. Red-collared Widow-bird (Euplectes ardens)

Common in Golden Gate NP.

311. Swee Waxbill (Coccopygia melanotis melanotis) NE

2 in Harold Porters Botanical garden on 23 December.

312. Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild)

4 in Harold Porters Botanical Garden on 23 December and 2 at Dullstroom on 29

December.

313. Bronze Mannikin (Spermestes cucullatus)

Just 1 in garden hotel Sunbird, Phalaborwa on 29 December.

314. Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura)

40 in Kruger NP on 31 December and individuals there on 1 and 4 January.

315. Blue-breasted Cordonbleu (Uraeginthus angolensis)

5 in Kruger NP on 30 December and 1 there on 1 January.

White Rhinoceros, Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP.

Systematic list of recorded mammals

Sequence and taxonomy follow ‘Mammals of Southern Africa’ by Chris and Mathilde Stuart.

1. Southern Lesser Galago or Bushbaby (Galago moholi)

1 or 2 during Shingwedzi, Olifants and Satara night drives.

Southern Lesser Galago, Kruger NP.

2. Chacma Baboon (Papio cyanocephalus)


Chacma Baboon baby, Kruger NP.

3. Vervet Monkey (Cercopithecus pygerytherus)


4. Plains (formerly Burchell’s) Zebra (Equus quagga)


Plains Zebra, Chelmsford, Transvaal.

5. Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra)

Up to 20 in West Coast NR and in De Hoop NR daily.

6. White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)

Up to 30 in Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP daily.

White Rhino with Red-billed Oxpecker, Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP.

7. Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious)


8. Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

Up to 10 in Kruger NP daily, more numerous in southern part of park.

9. Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)


10. African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)


African Buffalo, Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP.

Sunset at Berg-en Dal, Kruger NP.

11. Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)

3 at Punda Maria, 1 at Olifants and 10 at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP.

12. Common Eland (Tragelaphus oryx)

About 10 in De Hoop NR on 24 December.

Common Eland, De Hoop NR.

13. Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)

Just 1 at Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 31 December.

14. Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)


Bushbuck, Kruger NP.

15. Common Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)


16. Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou)

15 in Golden Gate NP.

Black Wildebeest, Golden Gate NP.

17. Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)

Up to 25 on most days in southern part Kruger NP.

18. Red Hartebeest (Alelaphus buselaphus)

Small numbers In West Coast NR and surroundings.

19. Bontebok (Damaliscus dorcas)

Common in De Hoop NR and surroundings.

20. Impala (Aepyceros melampus)

Very common in Kruger NP with up to 400 daily.

Impala, Kruger NP.

21. Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)

50 around Bredasdorp on 23 December.

22. Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)


23. Steenbok (Raphicerus camoestris)

3 at Satara, Kruger NP during night drive.

24. Sharpe’s Grysbok (Raphicerus sharpei)

4 and 1 in Shingwedzi and Olifants, Kruger NP during night drives.

25. Common Duiker ( Sylvicapra grimmia)

Up to 3 In Kruger NP daily, mostly during night drives.

26. African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)


African Elephant, Kruger NP.

27. Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas)

4 in Golden Gate NP on 27 December and 1 at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP on 3 January (night

drive).

28. Side-striped Jackal (Canis adustus)

3 at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP on 6 January (early morning drive).

29. African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)

Seen twice at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP, 2 on 5 January and 4 on 6 January, both times

early in the morning.

African Wild Dog, Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP.

30. Gray Mongoose (Galerella pulvverulenta)

5 in West Coast NR on 21 December.

31. Slender Mongoose (Garerella sanguinea)


32. Water Mongoose (Atilax paludinosus)

2 Mongoose seen near penguin colony at Stony Point, Betty’s Bay were most likely this

species.

33. Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula)

2 and 4 near Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 21 December and 1 January.

34. Suricate (Suricata suricata)

Just one individual at Wakkerstroom on 28 December.

35. Common Large-spotted Genet (Genetta maculata)

1 at Shingwedzi and 2 at Olifants, Kruger NP during night drives on 1 and 2 January.

36. Small-spotted Genet (Genetta genetta)

3 at Satara, Kruger NP during night drive on 4 January.

37. Spotted Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta)

3 at Punda Maria on 31 December, 1 at Shingwedzi on 1 January, 3 at Satara on 3 January

and 1 at Berg-en-Dal on 4 January, all in Kruger NP, mostly during night drives.

Spotted Hyena, Kruger NP.

38. African Wild Cat (Felis silvestris)

1 at Olifants on 2 January, 2 at Satara on 3 January and 1 at Berg-en-Dal on 4 January, all

in Kruger NP, during night drives.

39. Leopard (Panthera pardus)

1 obliging animal in tree along gravel road S56 north of Shingwedzi and bad views of

another one in tree along S39 gravel road north of Satara. Only in Kruger NP.

40. Lion (Panthera leo)

Heard everywhere in Kruger NP, 1 seen along S60 gravel road near Punda Maria on 31

December, 3 along S100 gravel road near Satara on 3 January and 1 male along H3 tar

road near Berg-en-Dal on 6 January. Only in Kruger NP.

41. Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis)

8 at Boulder’s Beach on 19 December, 10 in West Coast NR on 21 December and 15 at

Stony Point, Betty’s Bay on 23 December. Surprisingly not in Kruger NP.

42. South African Springhare (Pedetes capensis)

25 at Olifant’s and 1 at Satara during night drives on 2 and 3 January. Only in Kruger NP.

South African Springhare, Olifants, Kruger NP.

43. South African Ground Squirrel (Xerus inauris)

Common in Kruger NP, especially in the rest camps.

South African Ground Squirrel, Kruger NP.

44. Scrub Hare (Lepus saxatilis)

Up to 30 during night drives in Kruger NP.

45. Smith’s Red Rock Rabbit (Pronolagus rupestris)

2 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town on 19 December.

46. Cape Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus)

Common around Cape of Good Hope, also at open sea during pelagic.

Cape Fur Seal, Cape of Good Hope.

Other animals

1. Tree Snake (Dispholidus typus)

1 at Olifants, Kruger NP during night drive on 2 January and 1 dead specimen on parking

of Satara, Kruger NP on 3 January was most likely this venomous species.

2. Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Common in major rivers of Kruger NP.

3. Flap-necked Chameleon (Chaermeleo dilepsis)

Several seen crossing – at ease – tar roads in Kruger NP.

4. Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)

2 at picnic site of Letaba rest camp.

5. Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata)

2 in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on 19 December.

6. Hingled Tortoise (Pelomedusa subrufa)

2 on tar roads around Punda Maria, Kruger NP on 30 and 31 December.

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