Scan any areas with termite mounds and low shrubs for Eastern Clapper Lark, easiest to locate in the breeding season by their characteristic display flights. Pay close attention around any of the dolerite ridges, as Short-toed Rock-thrush favours these areas. Dense stands of thornveld in this section good for seedeaters and Green-winged Pytilia, Violet-eared Waxbill, Red-billed Firefinch, Sociable Weaver and Blue Waxbill can be found, whilst Marico Sunbird and Pearl-spotted Owlet occur here, they’ll not as confiding and may take a bit of work to pick up.

Moving northwest towards the Doornlaagte and Knietjie loops, one passes more dolerite ridges and beautiful valleys where Sabota Lark, Short-toed Rock-Thrush, Mountain Wheatear, Grey-backed Cisticola, Nicholson’s Pipit and both Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and Cape Bunting can be found side-by-side. In more open thornveld habitat, Yellow-bellied Eremomela and Ashy Tit can often be found foraging alongside Pririt Batis, Neddicky and Long-billed Crombec. For those who put in the time, Fairy Flycatcher, Plain-backed Pipit, Rufous-eared Warbler and African Rock Pipit can all be found here too. Shaft-tailed Whydah and Village Indigobird are best picked up here in summer whilst in full breeding dress, and these warm summer months along this route are also good for passage migrant cuckoos, and Jacobin Cuckoo and Black Cuckoo are regular here. Keep your eyes to the skies on warm days, White-backed Vulture, Cape Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture and various other raptors can often be picked out as they use thermals to cover ground.

For those who access the Lilydale section of the park (query access and road conditions at reception or the main gate), you’re in for some interesting birding as you edge nearer to riverine habitat. Along the Riet River here and in damper areas, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Levaillant’s Cisticola, White-fronted Bee-eater and the enormous Goliath Heron can all be found. Martial Eagle, Lesser Kestrel (summer), Greater Kestrel, Gabar Goshawk and African Pygmy Falcon all occur in the area, and the scrubby and thornveld areas along the Vaalbos Loop are home to Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Orange River White-eye, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Violet-eared Waxbill, Pririt Batis, Swallow-tailed Bee-Eater, Red-crested Korhaan, Lark-like Bunting (more common in dry seasons), Lesser Grey Shrike (summer), Fawn-coloured Lark and many more. As you loop west back towards the main camp, the habitat opens up again and Eastern Clapper Lark, Kori Bustard, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Scaly-feathered Weaver, Black-faced Waxbill, Ashy Tit, Namaqua Dove, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Common Scimitarbill, Sociable Weaver and Golden-breasted Bunting all occur here.

This park not only shines when it comes to birds, but those visiting can also enjoy some of the larger, and scarcer herbivores such as Black Rhino and White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Tsessebe, Roan, Mountain Reedbuck, Giraffe, Gemsbok, Eland, Red Hartebeest and many of the smaller species like Steenbok, Grey Duiker and Springbok.

Key species:

Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler, Ashy Tit, Black-chested Prinia, Red-crested Korhaan, Kalahari Scrub Robin, Acacia Pied Barbet, Fawn-coloured Lark, Sociable Weaver, African Pygmy Falcon, Eastern Clapper Lark