Birding South Africa
by Marlys Bandy

In November '05 a group of ten birders on a Birding Tour Company trip, traveled from Saint Louis down to Atlanta, with Johannesburg, South Africa as our final destination. After an 18-hour flight, this weary group arrived ready to meet our South African guides. Half asleep birders were soon wide awake as we started our first birding experience in a wetland among the slag heaps of defunct gold mines. Maryville Sanctuary was a haven for hundreds of waterbirds. It was also our first view of male Weavers building their nests for the females to inspect. If the nest was not to her liking , the lady weaver would then tear it apart and he would have to start again.
Even with the chilly temperatures, the pristine grasslands in the hills and mountains near the highland town of Wakkerstroom, were a treat. Here we found many endemic larks and pipits and the rare endemic Blue Crane.
The night ride in Mkhuze Game Reserve had a dreamlike quality to it as a group of five giraffes and a baby came out of the bush and crossed the road in front of us. We were also thrilled with the views of the Fiery-necked Nightjar and a Spotted Eagle-Owl.
Our next day, in this diverse habitat in northern Zululand, was a birder's dream. There were often so many new birds at once, it was difficult to know where to focus our binoculars first. After an early morning walk, we rode in land rovers, going from blind to blind, and viewing wonderful birds and mammals. We were often cautioned to stay in the rover because of rhinos. The Lilac-breasted Roller was stunning as were the colorful Sunbirds.
Bonamanzi Game Ranch was our location for the Muzi Swamps or Pans, where we viewed thousands of waterfowl and hunted in vain for the rare Pels Fishing Owl. None of us could complain after one look at the Purple-crested Turaco or the African Emerald Cuckoo. The barking of the Bushbuck and the call of the Turaco are sounds never to be forgotten.
Passports were needed to enter the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, a country within a country. The Tundra wildflowers, the Rock-jumpers, Sugarbirds and raptors were spectacular.
Despite a broken down van, getting stuck on a mud flat where the big cats often roam, the member of our party who could not stay in the van when he spotted a good bird or share the scope, and some tension over all the roaming elephants and rhinos, our group returned home very happy, with more than 350 new birds to remember and enjoy.