– this being one of the premier sites in the country to see the latter. Grassland at the forest edge holds Lazy Cisticola, Red-necked Francolin and Burchell’s Coucal. Barratt’s Warbler sing from thickets at the forest edge, especially in winter. Verreaux’s Eagle-owl and African Wood Owl call at night, and Fiery-necked Nightjar feed over the grasslands at dusk.

The recommended forest trail starts at the office and follows a 7Km circular route through the grassland, forest edge and forest interior. Between 2 and 3 hours are required to do the trail proper justice. Alternatively, concentrate on the first few kilometres of road that runs towards the Langebos Huts in the centre of the forest. The Terrestrial Brownbul, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler, Trumpeter Hornbill, Dark-backed Weaver, Cape Batis, Grey Cuckooshrike, Forest Canary, White-starred Robin, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Olive Bush-Shrike, Lesser Honeyguide, Chorister Robin-chat, and Brown Scrub-robin are all relatively common in the forest interior. Narina Trogon are conspicuous in summer when males begin calling incessantly. Buff-spotted Flufftail call from thickets in spring and summer, particularly on overcast days and at night, though the species is not easy to see here. Red-chested, Black and African Emerald Cuckoos are all seasonal visitors during the summer months. Scaly-throated Honeyguide is present throughout the forest, though is generally scarce. Lemon and Tambourine Doves visit the shallow drinking pools, immediately behind the Langebos Huts. Watch open patches above the forest canopy for both the Martial and Crowned Eagles, which are resident year-round and nest nearby.

From the main offices, continue south along the main road towards the coast. Primary forest here supports many of the same species as previously mentioned, though the understory is noticeably denser in places. Several hills along this stretch of road serve as fantastic vantage points to scan across the forest canopy for Forest Buzzard, Crowned Eagle and African Olive Pigeon. Further along, the dune fields support a small population of migrant Siberian Peregrine Falcons. These birds spend the summers here and can occasionally be seen along the 2-day hiking trail through the dunes. The dry, unvegetated dunes and coastal slacks of the Woody Cape Section also hold c. 17% of South Africa’s breeding Damara Tern population, 2% of the global breeding population of African Oystercatcher, and small numbers of African Penguin occasionally roost along this coastline. Cape Bulbul is also present within the dune vegetation, at the very eastern limit of its distribution.

Other notable biodiversity in the area includes the Alexandria Cycad, restricted to sandy habitats of the coastal dune forest and bush in the Alexandria District. The global ranges of the Striped Sandveld Lizard, Algoa Dwarf Burrowing Skink and Tasman’s Girdled Lizard are virtually restricted to the Algoa Bay region of the Eastern Cape and a large proportion of their populations occur within the Woody Cape section of Addo Elephant National Park. There is suitable habitat for Albany Adder, an Algoa Bay endemic, but it is yet to be recorded here. The coastal thicket and dunes support Southern Dwarf Chameleon, Angulate Tortoise, Black Thread Snake and Cape Legless Skink. The endemic Forest Shrew, Least Dwarf Shrew, Short-legged Seps, Bronze Caco, Bushveld Rain Frog, Cape Sand Frog, Leopard Toad and Yellow-striped Reed Frog occur in Alexandria Forest and the surrounding coastal sandy habitats. Threatened mammals include the Tree Hyrax, Blue Duiker, Honey Badger and Samango Monkey.

Key species:

Narina Trogon, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Grey Cuckooshrike, Barratt’s Warbler, Damara Tern