Starting at the eastern end of the wetland, take the turnoff from the R366 to Redlinghuys and stop at the bridge crossing the river that feeds into the wetland (-32.4717, 18.5425). Depending on the season and water levels a wide variety of both wetland species, including African Rail, and African Snipe and aerial insectivores, including Pearl-breasted Swallows (in summer), can be seen from the bridge.

Return to the R366 and travel in a westerly direction. The road is elevated above the wetland and in many places runs close to the wetland. Stop along the way and scan the open bodies of water and reedbeds for numerous wetland birds. Your targets should include Cape Shoveler, Cape Teal, Great White Pelican, Great Crested Grebe, Little Bittern and locally rare species like Purple Heron, Goliath Herons, Greater Painted Snipe, Red-chested Flufftail, Blue-billed Teal and African Rail. Don’t forget to look northwards as well especially where pockets of natural Strandveld vegetation occur for Southern Black Korhaan, African Hoopoe, Acacia Pied Barbet, White-backed Mousebird, Karoo Scrub-robin and several lark species: Large-billed, Karoo, Red-capped and Cape Long-billed.
About 20 km after the Redlinghuys turnoff on the northern side of the R366 is a small stand of gum trees (-32.3307, 18.4267). Stop and scan for African Fish-eagle that have a nest in one of the trees and are regularly seen here.

Travel along the R366 and take the turnoff to the left to Velddrif, travel across the bridge and scan the nearby reed beds (-32.3129, 18.3552). It is recommended turning right at the T-junction (-32.3156, 18.3551) as the road takes the visitor to Baboon point and travels along the edge of the wetland. Grey Tit is regular in the scrub around this junction.

Just after a sharp bend to the left, find a safe spot to stop (-32.3162, 18.3379) and scan the cliff faces to the south where a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles have a nest and are often seen perched on ledges or soaring along the cliff face.

Continue along the road which becomes a gravel road and stop at the parking spot (-32.3174 , 18.3210) and scan the beach below for African Oystercatchers and other smaller coastal waders like White-fronted Plovers.

After passing the Elands Bay fish factories on the right pull over onto the wide verge (-32.3152, 18.3165) and scan the rocks for Swift (Great Crested), Common (in summer) and Sandwich (in summer) Terns and Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gulls that usually roost on the rocks below. Cape fur seals can also be seen on the rocks closer to the sea.

You can either continue along the gravel road for another 7 km which joins with the road coming from Velddrif or return via the same route to Elands Bay.
For additional Strandveld birding, it is recommended that the route to Leipoldtville/Lamberts Bay off the R366 is taken There are multiple places where stops can be made enroute. When doing the first steep section of road, look back to get a beautiful vista of the length of the Verlorenvlei wetland.

Key species:

African Fish-eagle, African Rail, Little Bittern, and African Snipe, Goliath Herons, Cape Shoveler, Cape Teal, Blue-billed Teal