Birding is a challenge. The key challenge is to identify the birds you see, and to find and identify particular birds you want to see. Birding grows from being an interest to being a skill. The skill of finding and identifying birds involves knowledge about the habitat, habits, plumage and shape of a bird. The more you get to know about birds, the greater the degree to which you can judge size and shape from a distance, or pick up a fast moving bird quickly and notice the key features which tell you with certainty, what kind of flying animal it is.

If ever you want to meet someone who has seen the country, and knows every hidden treasure – just find a serious bird watcher. Quite apart from forests and mountains, bushveld and vleis, some of the most sought after birds are found out in the open ocean, in remote river valleys, and close to famous waterfalls, all of which are encompassed by the wonder of Zululand.

The forest of Zululand is a unique tourism concept that was launched in August 2005. Nowhere else in South Africa can you experience mist belts, wetlands and dune forests all within one area. Rich beyond your imagination, the forests teem with a treasure trove of over 600 bird species, some of which are extremely rare. The forests form part of an exciting eco-tourist route that is being developed along with other products such as the Heritage Route.

The forests include the Ongoye Forest, which has a large array of rare and endemic tree and plant species as is of great importance as a water catchment area; Dlinza Forest, which is a 250ha forest within the urban development of Eshowe and is famed for the number of bird species found here; Enthumeni forest consists of a gorge covered by forest and has a particularly high and impressive canopy provided by trees; The Nkandla and Qhudeni Forests also boast an impressive variety of birds, plants and mammals.

Zululand has a spectacular 605 bird species and a wonderful range of destinations where they occur. It is a treasure trove of ’specials’ from the green barbet (found only at Ongoye Forest outside Eshowe), the globally threatened Spotted Ground Thrush in Dlinza Forest, Eastern Bronze Naped pigeons, Crowned Eagles, Green Twinspots, the little known, rare, mangrove Kingfisher to the magnificent Palmnut Vultures of Mtunzini.
The Zululand Birding Route lights this jewel, marketing a service for birders, a natural evolution in response to the rapidly increasing demands of Birding tourism in South Africa by both domestic and international clients. A project of BirdLife SA, the Zululand Birding Route is focused on conserving our birds and their habitats by promoting and developing birding tourism in the region. Currently managed under the BirdLife SA Rio Tinto Avitourism programme, The Zululand Birding Route is helping conserve birds in Zululand by giving them direct financial value. In short, the Zululand Birding Route makes sure that you get your bird and go far beyond the big five.

Through training as bird guides, the Zululand Birding Route is also helping previously disadvantaged South Africans to create new careers. The birding guides don’t only work with birders but each guide is also expected to ‘adopt a school’ and run a variety of educational programs, which have reached nearly 5,000 school children to date.

To date the Zululand Birding Route has trained over 30 local guides, marketed the area nationally and internationally, been a finalist for the Smithsonian Institute sustainable tourism awards in 2003, and has made considerable progress developing birding infrastructure in the region.

The Zululand birding route is kept running by the exceptional support from sponsors such a Richard’s Bay Minerals, Rio Tinto PLC as well as Zululand and Uthungulu District Municipalities. Areas covered by the Zululand Birding Route include exceptional sites such as Ongoye Forest, where a smaller bird camp will be opened shortly, the Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk, Richard’s Bay Wetlands, Nkandla Forest, as well as another 60 plus phenomenal sites across Zululand.

The Zululand Birding Route is equipped to provide birders and casual visitors with up to date information on where to go and what to see, as well as provide brochures and bird lists. In addition to this, BirdLife Travel can also prepare itineraries for birders visiting the area, from a few days to a few weeks, including all the specials you want to see, while linking you up with local guides as well as make all your accommodation bookings at recognised “birder friendly establishments,” and any other travel bookings or arrangements you may need.
Numerous expert local guides are on hand to help you make the most of your birding trip. Zululand as a whole offers exceptional accommodation and recreation. Come and see for yourself what Zululand has to offer.