Birding in Mpumalanga: Kruger, Wakkerstroom and the Escarpment
Mpumalanga rises from the hot lowveld of the Kruger National Park to the high, cool grasslands of the escarpment. In one trip you can go from Saddle-billed Storks to some of the rarest larks in the world. These are four places that make the most of it.
1. Southern Kruger National Park
The southern part of Kruger is in Mpumalanga, and it is superb for birds as well as big game. Lake Panic, a hide close to Skukuza, is one of the best bird hides in the country. We wrote about staying at Talamati Bushveld Camp in central Kruger.
Look for: Saddle-billed Stork, Southern Ground Hornbill, Kori Bustard, Lilac-breasted Roller and several vulture species. At Lake Panic, kingfishers, herons and African Jacanas.
Tip: Spend an hour or two in a hide rather than driving. The birds come to you.
2. Wakkerstroom
A small town in the southern highveld, surrounded by grassland and wetland, and one of the most important birding destinations in South Africa. Local bird guides operate in the area.
Look for: Rudd’s Lark, Botha’s Lark and Yellow-breasted Pipit, all rare grassland specialists, plus all three of South Africa’s crane species: Blue, Grey Crowned and Wattled Crane.
Tip: Hire a local guide. The rare larks are hard to find without one.
3. Verloren Vallei Nature Reserve, Dullstroom
A high-altitude wetland and grassland reserve near Dullstroom, and a Ramsar site. It is an important place for Wattled Cranes, and in summer the grasslands are full of wildflowers.
Look for: Wattled Crane, grassland birds such as larks and pipits, and wetland species in the marshes.
4. Graskop and the Blyde River Canyon
Along the escarpment, the grassland and protea-covered slopes around Graskop and the Blyde River Canyon hold their own special birds, with dramatic views as a bonus.
Look for: Southern Bald Ibis feeding on the grassland and Gurney’s Sugarbird on the flowering proteas.
When to go birding in Mpumalanga
Summer is the time for the highveld grasslands, when larks and pipits are displaying and the cranes are active. In Kruger, summer brings migrants and breeding plumage, while the dry winter months make birds easier to see and concentrate animals at water.
What to pack for Mpumalanga birding
You will want a warm hoodie for misty mornings on the escarpment and a light outback shirt for the lowveld heat. A game drive sign comes in handy on Kruger game drives, and a cap embroidered with your lifer count is the perfect souvenir once you have ticked off those Wakkerstroom larks.
