In late March of this year, BirdLife South Africa and WildEarth hosted the inaugural birding safari to raise funds for the Avitourism Project. Our destination was the magnificent Welgevonden Game Reserve in the rugged and scenically spectacular Waterberg – one of South Africa’s most famed wilderness destinations, not only for birding but also for allowing visitors to experience nature in its purest form.
African Grey Hornbill. Credit Giles Elliot
Welgevonden’s varied habitats provided incredible birding.
Co-led by BirdLife South Africa Accredited (Community) Bird Guide and Waterberg birding extraordinaire, Lucas Namanyane, and myself, the tour delivered consistently rewarding birding throughout the central and northern parts of Welgevonden. The group recorded an impressive 132 bird species over five days, all of which were seen exceptionally well.
However, what made the trip particularly special were the moments when the group was able to slow down and appreciate the smaller wonders of the bushveld. Participants spent time refining their photographic skills, recording sounds, enjoying the remarkable diversity of butterfly species and even dabbling in some track and sign identification, all of which added another layer of appreciation for the region’s intricate beauty. These quieter moments complemented the exceptional birding experience and highlighted the richness of the Waterberg’s biodiversity.
The young male lion known as Lahletsoe. Credit Giles Elliot
Despite the trip’s strong birding focus, Welgevonden delivered unforgettable sightings of some of Africa’s most iconic mammals. Guests were fortunate to enjoy excellent encounters with lion and leopard, adding an exciting dimension to an already extraordinary experience. One particular lion sighting was that of a familiar WildEarth virtual safari character, Lahletsoe, a young adult male lion that is currently doing his best to stake his claim over his preferred portion of the reserve.
Accredited (Community) Birding Guide Lucas Namanyane.
Another highlight was the opportunity to learn from Lucas Namanyane, a veteran of BirdLife South Africa’s bird-guide training programme. His involvement demonstrated the long-term impact and success of this initiative, while his skills and knowledge, honed over years spent in the field, added invaluable insights to the overall experience.
The trip proved to be a truly spectacular inaugural travel collaboration between BirdLife South Africa and WildEarth Travel, and also served as an important fundraising opportunity for the Avitourism Project and its efforts to empower and support the network of Accredited Birding Guides across South Africa.
We look forward to the next instalment and exploring more wonders of South Africa’s birds through the eyes and ears of our Accredited Bird Guides and WildEarth Travel.
A comprehensive checklist of the species recorded can be found at ebird.org/tripreport/491279.
JOHN KINGHORN, AVITOURISM PROJECT MANAGER
