Plett for bird lovers

Plettenberg Bay, situated along the Garden Route region of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, is internationally renowned as a tourist destination – and understandably so.  Plett offers visitors the delights of the Cape Floral Kingdom’s 9 000 fynbos species, spectacular forest, mountain and seascapes, whale and dolphin watching, cultural history and cultural diversity.

One of the region’s greatest assets is the diversity of bird species found here.  It hosts a range of often sought-after endemic bird species. In fact, 50% of the endemic bird species found in South Africa, can be seen in Plettenberg Bay.

Many exciting birding opportunities exist: Forest birding at Nature’s Valley, the Kelp Gull breeding colony at Keurbooms Beach, the migratory waders on the Bitou River floodplain, and the seabirds along the Keurbooms estuary;  all present excellent birding opportunities. The region further boasts a well-established tourism infrastructure that offers a broad spectrum of accommodation alternatives to suit every budget.  The area is well equipped to cope with the demands set by local and international birders and offers qualified and experienced bird guides and birding checklists for the intrepid and experienced twitcher.

e-Bird List

Birdlife Plett has submitted an e-Bird List compiled for the use of local and visiting birders to Plett.

You can download it here.

Why Birding?

Many visitors to the Plettenberg Bay area are attracted by the diversity of bird species in the region. This diversity has two basic characteristics: On the one hand, a variety of endemic species are to be found and, on the other, many species not usually associated with the Western Cape are fairly common in the Plettenberg Bay region.

Endemism refers to species that are restricted to a certain region and that can be found nowhere else in the world. Southern Africa is fortunate to have a high level of endemism in all forms of life and South Africa, as a country, is considered by some to be the third most biologically diverse country in the world.

For more information about birds and birding in South Africa, visit BirdLife South Africa.

Are you planning a birding trip in South Africa? GoBirding is your one-stop-shop of birding information, with birding sites, local guides and tour operators, accommodations, bird blogs, and more.