Birding the grasslands and gardens around Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge is worthwhile for species such as Familiar Chat, Malachite Sunbird, Rock Kestrel, Red-winged Starling, African Olive Pigeon, Drakensberg Prinia, Cape Sparrow, Wing-snapping Cisticola, African Pipit and Mountain Pipit (summer).
The lodge also maintains a vulture restaurant which regularly attracts Bearded Vulture, particularly in the mornings. Other regulars at the vulture feeding programme include Cape Vulture, White-necked Raven and Lanner Falcon.

The spectacular drive from Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge up to the viewpoint at the Sentinel often rewards one with White-necked Raven, Wailing cisticola, Cape Grassbird, Cape Canary, Nicholson’s Pipit, Jackal buzzard and Rock Kestrel.

The gravel road from Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge to the Sentinel car park (approx. 7 km), as well as the trail towards Sentinel Peak offers an excellent opportunity for seeing high altitude Drakensberg specials. The endemic Drakensberg Rockjumper favours the rock-strewn slopes beyond the car park. Other species to look out for include majestic flyovers of Bearded Vulture and Verreaux’s Eagle, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Nicholson’s Pipit, Cape Bunting, African Black Swift, Alpine Swift and Wing-snapping Cistocola. Drakensberg Siskin favour the higher reaches (particularly towards the chain ladder).

Key species:

Bearded Vulture, Cape Vulture, White-necked Raven, Nicholson’s Pipit, Mountain Pipit (summer), Drakensberg Rockjumper, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Drakensberg Siskin, Cape Bunting, Rock Kestrel