This habitat also boasts a number of small seedeaters, including Scaly-feathered Finch (Weaver) and Green-winged Pytilia, Blue Waxbill, Violet-eared Waxbill and Black-cheeked Waxbill, whydahs, Yellow Canary and Black-throated Canary. Look out for Green Wood-hoopoe and Red-throated Wryneck in the poplar trees in the picnic site just before entering the reserve to the north of the dam.
Take a short walk from the road to the viewing point on top of the koppie. From here you will have a wonderful panoramic view over the reserve below, and across Allemanskraal Dam. Look out for swifts and swallows; Alpine Swift, African Black Swift, Little Swift and White-rumped Swift may be seen feeding together. This is also a good spot to search for game in the thornveld and grasslands below.
The dam environment is host to many waterbirds. A heronry is usually present during the summer months on the island near the two resorts; more than ten species of large birds, including herons, egrets, ibis, cormorants and African Darter may breed here. Small waders may be found along exposed stretches of shoreline, and waterfowl, including South African Shelduck, Spur-winged Goose and Egyptian Goose, Cape Shoveler and Southern Pochard are also present. Listen for the call of the African Fish Eagle.
Reedbeds bordering the narrow eastern parts of the dam host Southern Red Bishop and various skulking warbler species. Martial Eagle and Gabar Goshawk are sometimes found in the wooded valleys where white stinkwood trees dominate, and many other interesting species can be present here such as Violet-backed Starling (summer).
Open grassland habitats in the southern section of the reserve provide habitat for Northern Black and Blue Korhaan, Double-banded Courser, Melodious, Pink-billed, Spike-heeled and Red-capped Lark and various cisticola species. Other birds to look out for here include Secretarybird, Black Harrier and Orange River Francolin.
A good diversity of game species are also found here. Larger mammals include Cape buffalo, Giraffe, Eland, Black Wildebeest (one of the largest populations in South Africa), Red Hartebeest, Common Reedbuck and Burchell’s Zebra.
Key species:
Orange River Francolin, Blue Korhaan, Double-banded Courser, Melodious Lark, Pink-billed Lark, Karoo Scrub Robin, Pririt Batis, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Blue Crane and Martial Eagle