The Bitou municipal area along the Garden Route region of the Western Cape Province of South Africa is internationally renowned as a tourist destination.
Plett offers year-round birding opportunities in a beautiful natural setting. Shaped by various landscapes, there are a variety of distinct different habitat zones and microclimates conducive to wintering and breeding birds. As a result, this area has excellent year-round recordings with over 300 recorded bird species to provide an outstanding birding experience.
"The study of nature is a limitless field, the most fascinating adventure in the world."
One of the region’s greatest assets is the diversity of bird species found here: it hosts a range of often sought-after endemic bird species, such as AFRICAN BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, PROTEA SEEDEATER, CAPE SISKIN, CAPE SUGARBIRD, ORANGE-BREASTED SUNBIRD, KNYSNA TURACO, KNYSNA and VICTORIN'S WARBLERS, KNYSNA WOODPECKER and many more.
Further to this, several under-utilised and ecologically varied birding destinations such as the Garden of Eden, Harkerville Forest, Robberg Nature Reserve, the Plettenberg Bay sewage works, the Bitou and Keurbooms Rivers and its estuary, Nature's Valley and others need to be properly exposed to a rapidly growing birdwatching fraternity. The Tsitsikamma National Park forms part of the Plettenberg Bay’s Hope Spot. It has also been proposed that the Tsitsikamma National Park Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) should in future include the Groot River Estuary and surrounding forests at Nature's Valley, parts of the Keurbooms River Estuary and Keurbooms spit, the Bitou Wetlands and the Robberg Peninsula.
“There is an unreasonable joy to be had from the observation of small birds going about their bright, oblivious business”
Come explore this extraordinary landscapes. Plett, bordered to the east by the warm Indian Ocean and Tsitsikamma Mountains and the west by indigenous forests, is in the heart of the Garden Route providing a heaven for many bird species.
"The study of nature is a limitless field, the most fascinating adventure in the world."
Birding is for all ages. Whether a beginner, intermediate or an advanced birder, Plett offers something for everyone. Add to or begin your Life List, learn to recognise birds by their calls and songs, gain valuable skills that can lead to an enjoyable, affordable lifetime activity.
"We can never have enough of nature"
http://www.westerncapebirding.co.za/garden/routes.php
http://www.plettenbergbayinfo.co.za/birding/index.html
http://www.outdoorphoto.community/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=337329
