Free State (East) – Fouriesburg
About the Birding
Meiringskloof Nature Park has a network of walking trails (map can be found on their website). Mountain Wheatear and Ground Woodpecker often greet visitors at the entrance to the kloof and a pair of African Harrier-Hawks has bred here successfully for years. Other raptors include Lanner Falcon, Rock Kestrel, Jackal Buzzard, Verreaux’s Eagle and both Black and Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk. Red-chested, Diederik, Klaas`s and sometimes Black Cuckoos call in summer and African Paradise and Fairy Flycatchers are seen alongside Greater Double-collared Sunbird.
About the Birding Site
Fouriesburg is nestled in stunning sandstone mountains of the eastern Free State. The town environs and surrounding areas offer great birding, mostly on tarred roads and good district gravel roads, the best of which is certainly to be found at the nearby Meiringskloof Nature Park. This site, hidden in a kloof, is easily accessible from town and is situated in a valley bounded by impressive sandstone cliffs
Other Related Information
Access and facilities:
Meiringskloof Nature Park (-28.603611, 28.224556) is signposted from Fouriesburg. Entrance fee is payable.
Fouriesburg town: -28.624528, 28.208417
Key species:
Barratt’s Warbler, Southern Bald Ibis, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Cape Grassbird, Karoo Prinia, African Olive Pigeon, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Swee Waxbill and Jackal Buzzard
Contact details:
Meiringskloof Nature Park
Tel: +27 (0)58 223 0067
Website: http://www.meiringskloof.co.za/