Some 300 bird species can be found and one could expect a list of between 50 and 100 species in a full morning of birding. In 1995, several mammals were also reintroduced including the Southern Giraffe, Greater Kudu, Plain’s Zebra and Blue Wildebeest.
The contour road above the main dam traverses a large area of open country. This area is particularly good for grassland and savannah species including the Blue Waxbill, Red-faced Mousebird, Rattling and Croaking Cisticolas, Rufous-naped Lark, Little Bee-eater and occasionally the Red-throated Wryneck. Take the road in the direction of the dam, bypassing the no-entry contour road to your right. At the dam, turn to the right and follow this road to the fenced picnic and camping area on the north bank of the dam. The dam itself supports Hamerkop, African Fish Eagle, African Black Duck, and both Giant and Pied Kingfishers. African Finfoot and White-backed Night Heron also occur and are best searched for by inspecting overhanging vegetation by canoe. Watch carefully in the extensive reedbeds for the shy Little Bittern, Black Crake and Common Moorhen.
A suggested route is to park at the picnic site and to follow the trail along the fence and up the hill. Note that this route is separate from the Ntini Trail, which starts further back. The suggested trail proceeds up the hill and joins the contour road. The cliffs here support a resident pair of both Black Stork and Verreaux’s Eagles, both of which are often seen soaring overhead. These rocky habitats may also yield the Mocking Cliff Chat, Cape Rock-thrush and Striped Pipit. Follow the contour road to the right for about 500m through an area of rich bushveld. Species to look for in this area include the Gorgeous, Grey-headed and Orange-breasted Bush-shrikes – all of which are best detected by their loud calls. Other species include the reclusive Southern and Black-crowned Tchagras, Black Cuckoo, both the Grey and Black Cuckooshrikes, and White-bellied Sunbirds. Wait patiently near patches of seeding grasses as both Grey and Swee Waxbill occur. Flowering trees attract an interesting diversity of sunbirds including the Grey, Olive, Amethyst, White-bellied and Collared Sunbirds. Further along, follow the Ntini trail back in the direction of the campsite. Species to look for along this stretch include the Narina Trogon, Tambourine and Lemon Doves, and Buff-spotted Flufftail; the latter requiring luck and patience. Listen for the buzzing display calls of the African Broadbill in the summer months, and for the echoing call of the Narina Trogon. The regal Crowned Eagle is often seen soaring over this section and, occasionally, Martial Eagle may also be seen.
Another suggested route is to start at the picnic site and, while looking back up the hill, to follow the road to the right. This road continues past the canoe club and up the hill, from where you can turn right in the direction of the dam wall. Here it is possible to scan the cliff face for a Mocking Cliff-chat and Cape Rock-thrush. Listen for the sweet call of the Striped Pipit, which calls from exposed perches here in the summer months. Continue towards the dam wall and park in the provided grassy area. The gorge below the dam wall occasionally yields the resident pair of Verreaux’s Eagles, as well as Black Stork and Lanner Falcon. Other notable species in this section of the reserve include the Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills, African Emerald Cuckoo (summer), Southern Boubou, Green-backed Camaroptera, and the Red-capped Robin-chat. Depending on water-levels, the old water purification ponds may also yield Little Grebe, African Black Duck, African Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Reed Cormorant, African Darter and Giant Kingfisher. However, note that this section is closed on weekdays.
Key species:
Verreaux’s, Martial and Crowned Eagles, African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron, African Broadbill, Gorgeous Bush-shrike