As this is private property a permit and a route map must be obtained at the Natures Way Farm Stall. Birders are welcome and access is free but is only allowed from January to November.

Further along the plateau, through the fynbos reserve, there are several spots for Victorin’s Warbler, (listen for their call) and African Cuckoo-hawk, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk and Long-crested Eagle may be seen from time to time on the telegraph wires/poles or flying over the Fynbos reserve. Also look out for Red-necked Spurfowl along the road verges and Cape Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird on the Proteas and other flowers, along with Karoo Prinia.
Just before the Grootrivier Pass there is a parking area (-33.9673, 23.5397) for the Salt River hiking trail through the fynbos reserve. A 20/30 minute walk along this trail and back to the car park is another good area to look for these species and Southern Tchagra.

Travelling down the pass there are several places to stop and scan the forest and large trees for African Olive Pigeon, Grey Cuckooshrike, Green-backed Camaroptera and Tambourine Dove.

From the Nature’s Valley Rest Camp entrance (-33.9706, 23.5616) you can bird along the road to the Groot River bridge checking for White-starred Robin, Grey Cuckooshrike, Terrestrial Brownbul and Knysna Turaco. At the bridge look for African Finfoot, Half-collared Kingfisher and African Black Duck then follow the Grootrivier Trail along the boardwalk and loop through the forest back to the bridge. The resident Scaly-throated Honeyguide should be at least heard while you look for Forest Canary, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Narina Trogon, Knysna and Olive Woodpecker, Collared Sunbird, Chorister Robin-chat, Lemon Dove, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Cape Batis, Black-backed Puffback and Olive Thrush.

In summer, African Emerald, Klaas’s and Red-chested Cuckoo and Black Saw-wing are present and raptors that occur are African Goshawk, Crowned Eagle, Forest Buzzard and African Fish-eagle, while Peregrine Falcon and White-necked Raven patrol the cliffs in the gorge.

Take a drive along the estuary (Lagoon Drive -33.9784, 23.564) for some water and shore birds. Reed and White-breasted Cormorant are often sitting on exposed rocks or dead trees, while near the mouth African Oystercatcher and Water Thick-knee may be present. On the beach, look out for White-fronted Plover and Greater Crested and Sandwich Tern over the sea. Driving through the village of Nature’s Valley look out for Swee Waxbill, Collared and Amethyst Sunbird, Tambourine and Lemon Dove, Cape Bulbul and Sombre Greenbul.

At night the Groot River Bridge is a good place to watch for African Wood, but they can be also be found in the Rest camp and in the village along the forest edge. Water Thick-knee are also abundance on the roads alongside the lagoon.

Key species:

Victorin’s Warbler, Cape Sugarbird , Cape Grassbird, Knysna Turaco, Knysna Woodpecker, Cape Batis, White-starred Robin, Chorister Robin-chat, African Finfoot, Forest Buzzard