Wilderness Lakes system – Woodville Big Tree/Hoekwil

About the Birding

The trail is named after a particularly spectacular Outeniqua Yellow-wood and offers some of the Garden Routes best and most accessible forest birding. Knysna Warbler, Knysna Turaco, Chorister Robin-Chat, Yellow-Throated Woodland Warbler, Forest Canary, Grey Cuckooshrike and Narina Trogon as well as White-Starred Robin are all found here. It is also a very good spot for African Cuckoo Hawk, especially early in the morning.

Lemon Dove can often be seen as it is flushed off the pathway and Buff-Spotted Flufftail can be heard hooting in the undergrowth.

Key species:

Knysna Warbler, Knysna Woodpecker, Knysna Turaco, Narina Trogon, White-starred Robin, Cape Batis, Chorister Robin-chat, Cape Siskin, Orange-Breasted Sunbird, Victorin’s Warbler

About the Birding Site

Situated at the Western end of the Garden Route National Park and named by early settlers as a perceived Garden of Eden, the Wilderness Lakes offer superb birding including 2 Ramsar sites and an IBA. Comprising  4 reed fringed lakes, Fynbos and Afro-Montane Forest as well as drier coastal scrub Forest, numerous walking trails plus 2 hides allow for easy access to the region’s birds.

Key species:

Knysna Warbler, Knysna Woodpecker, Knysna Turaco, Narina Trogon, White-starred Robin, Cape Batis, Chorister Robin-chat, Cape Siskin, Orange-Breasted Sunbird, Victorin’s Warbler

Other Related Information

Access and facilities:
Permits are needed and maps are available with the permit (use a Wild Card)
The trail is not wheelchair friendly but a good selection of birds may be seen along the first 200m that are accessible.
Bathrooms are available at the start.
GPS coordinates: -33.9356, 22.6456

Other related information:

Contact SANParks
Tel: +27 (0)44 877 1197

Text prepared by:
Tim Carr

Key species:

Knysna Warbler, Knysna Woodpecker, Knysna Turaco, Narina Trogon, White-starred Robin, Cape Batis, Chorister Robin-chat, Cape Siskin, Orange-Breasted Sunbird, Victorin’s Warbler

Contact details:

SANParks
Tel: +27 (0)44 877 1197