We have just bought a caravan in the Gauteng area. Alen Viljoen and myself became friends and he introduced me to birding as a hobby. He said we should visit Ndumo Game Reserve. My wife Cornelia is a teacher and we could only get on the road after 12h00. The Mthuba road is very busy on a Friday. It was a tedious and long journey. Close to Ndumo they were working on the road. It was still a dirt road. I had to travel at a tortoise pace. We were tired when we at last got to the turn off to Ndumo.
We booked in and it was an exciting challenge to setup my caravan.
The next day we booked and did a walk next to the river. Joseph an experienced game Warden drove us to the river and guided us. The river forest is beautiful with lots of plants, insect and bird species. The foliage is dense and makes birding difficult. It is best to identify the birds with the sounds they make.
The Saturday afternoon we asked Joseph to take us along the Ndumo Pan. What an awesome experience. We saw most of the waterbirds with highlights like the White-backed Pelican, Storks, Herons, Waders and the Osprey.
Saturday evening, we braaied together. We are so blessed to listen to the Africa sounds, the crackling fire, the smell of meat and the stars so bright it seems you can touch them.
The Sunday morning, we did another guided tour and asked Joseph to help us to see as many bird species as possible.
Ndumo is a must for any birder. In two days, we saw and heard 125 bird species. I am new to birding and saw so may specials and first-time birds for me.
It was time to pack up and go home.
Some Highlights.