Set against a backdrop of mountains and forests, ancient ruins and sacred lakes, Shiluvari welcomes you to the warm heart of ancient Venda. Situated on the banks of the Albasini Dam overlooking the Luonde Mountains Shiluvari is the ideal place from which to explore this “Land of Legendâ€�. Excellent birding on-site includes 8 different heron species including Black-crowned Night Heron and White-backed Night-Heron. African Finfoot and Osprey (summer months) are commonly seen on the dam, Buff-spotted Flufftail is heard and occasionally Grey-headed Kingfisher and Honey Buzzard are seen. Shiluvari specialises in birding and offers guided trips into Afro-temperate Forest, Lowveld Riverine Forest and Miombo Woodland. On these outings specials are Arnot´s Chat, Bat Hawk and Pel´s Fishing-Owl. Shiluvari´s cool, thatched chalets overlook the Dam and mountains, and can be booked on a B&B or DBB basis and focuses on the special requirements of the birding fraternity, namely: flexible catering arrangements and organising local qualified birding guides. Rates: RRR (c)

Set against a backdrop of mountains and forests, ancient ruins and sacred lakes, Shiluvari welcomes you to the warm heart of ancient Venda. Situated on the banks of the Albasini Dam overlooking the Luonde Mountains Shiluvari is the ideal place from which to explore this “Land of Legendâ€�. Excellent birding on-site includes 8 different heron species including Black-crowned Night Heron and White-backed Night-Heron. African Finfoot and Osprey (summer months) are commonly seen on the dam, Buff-spotted Flufftail is heard and occasionally Grey-headed Kingfisher and Honey Buzzard are seen. Shiluvari specialises in birding and offers guided trips into Afro-temperate Forest, Lowveld Riverine Forest and Miombo Woodland. On these outings specials are Arnot´s Chat, Bat Hawk and Pel´s Fishing-Owl. Shiluvari´s cool, thatched chalets overlook the Dam and mountains, and can be booked on a B&B or DBB basis and focuses on the special requirements of the birding fraternity, namely: flexible catering arrangements and organising local qualified birding guides. Rates: RRR (c)

Golwe Picnic and Campsite is a large shady site situated in a secluded valley in Venda off the Masisi Road. The site is rural and tranquil, an ideal place to get-away to. Bird watching is good in and around the campsite. At dawn one can hear African Broadbill around the campsite. Other special birds are Pink-throated Twinspot, Scaly-throated Honeyguide and Crowned Hornbill. Marked circular trails lead from the campsite up the valley and to a waterfall. The campsite offers a convenient base from which to visit Mpaphuli Cycad Reserve, Makhuya Park and the Gundani Brachystegia Woodland. We recommend booking Christopher Nethonzhe, who is the local site guide (Birdlife SA accredited) to guide you along the trails. Golwe is owned and run by members of the Vhurivhuri community. All proceeds go towards the development of the community and supporting unemployed people in the village. The campsite has ablution facilities with hot/cold water and flushing toilets, braai stands, picnic tables and 4 camp sites. Firewood is available to buy. The area is multifunctional and can accommodate people who want to have open-air meetings and parties. The site is accessible to 2-wheel drive vehicles and caravans. How to get there: From the south - Turn off the R524 towards Thohoyandou. Drive through Thohoyandou to Sibasa and straight on to the T-junction indicating Donald Fraser Hospital (left) and Masisi (right). Go right towards Masisi. Continue towards Masisi for another 37 km. (At time of writing the last 25km of this road which is gravel was to be tarred) Turn right off the road towards Lambani/ Gunda and follow the signboards to the site for another 1,8 km. From the north - Turn off the R525 at Masisi towards Tshikondeni Mine. Do not take the left turn to the mine but continue straight on towards Sibasa/Thohoyandou for another +/- 25km. The site is sign posted off this road to your right. Contact details: Booking is not required, but notice of your arrival is appreciated, so that preparations can be made. Christopher Nethonzhe: 076 302 9383 (Community Representative) Ernest: 076 196 3691 (Community Representative) Rates/Entry Fee: R5 per adult entry. R5 per vehicle. R30 per adult camping. Day visitors welcome.

This is the only known patch of Miombo (Brachystegia) woodland in South Africa. Miombo woodland is common in Zimbabwe and further north. A number of bird specials associated with Miombo have been seen here. These are White-breasted Cuckooshrike and Southern Hyliota. Frequently seen is Pink-throated Twinspot. If you are lucky you might find Blue-spotted Wood-Dove. There are unconfirmed reports of Red-throated Twinspot and Spotted Creeper (so please send reports of sightings of these species). A charming campsite has been opened at the woodland, funded by the Jensen Charity Foundation and facilitated by the birding route. The campsite will assist the community derive economic benefit from tourism, especially avi-tourism. The people who manage the campsite live in the village and are otherwise unemployed. All proceeds go directly into maintenance of the campsite and into a community fund. There are hot/cold showers, flush toilets, firewood for sale and 6 cleared tent sites. To make the best of the birding in the woodland, you should spend at least one night, preferably two, there. It can get hot, so use the late afternoon and early morning to bird. There is a marked trail into the woodland and thus 4x4´s are not required. However do be careful in the campsite, as the area is very sandy! If you do get stuck the camp assistants will help push you out. To get there: From the south - Turn off the R524 towards Thohoyandou. Drive through Thohoyandou to Sibasa and straight on to the T-junction indicating Donald Fraiser Hospital (left) and Masisi (right). Go right towards Masisi. Continue on this road for 12 km and turn left towards Thengwe. Continue for 5.1 km until and turn right towards Mutale. Continue for 21 km until you see the signboard to Gundani to your right. From this turn off it is 3 km to the campsite. It will take about 45min from Thohoyandou. From the north (Pafuri/ Musina) turn off the R525 and get onto the road that runs past Sagole Spa and the Big Tree. West of the Big Tree is a road to the south marked ´Sibasa´. Take this road, past Shakadza, to where the tar road begins. Follow the tar road until you see the signboard to Gundani, indicating left. Booking is not required, but notice of your arrival is appreciated, so that preparations can be made. John Thavhanyedza: 072 222 9154 (Community Representative) Vho-Musanda Miranda: 072 214 0258 (Community Headman) Rates: Entry Fee: R30 pp camping. R5 pp for day entry. R5 per vehicle.

Whether you are a beginner birder or an experienced birder, you have to visit the Mapungubwe National Park. The abundance of birdlife is quite spectacular and there are lots of specials to find. Two large hides have been built, one in bushveld habitat and one on the Limpopo River. A Tree Top walkway through the forest canopy on the banks of the Limpopo River has also been developed especially for bird watching. All hides are wheelchair-friendly. The other attraction of the park is the great number and variety of archaeological sites. These date from early Stone Age and Iron Age to the present. The most notable of the sites is Mapungubwe Hill. The artefacts found on these sites reflect one of the most complex social and political entities in Africa during the 8th and 9th Centuries. Guided night drives are offered, but no walking trails, as there are dangerous animals in the Park. For an additional fee the park also offers an Eco-route, which is a self-drive route through some of the remoter parts of the park, and a guided trail into a limited motorised zone. The park offers a number of self-catering accommodation options: Leokwe Rest Camp (14 units), Limpopo Forest Tented Camp (7 units), Tshugulu Lodge (sleeps 12). Rates: RRR - RRRR (s/c)

Buzzard Mountain Retreat was one of the first privately owned areas in the Soutpansberg to become known to the birding fraternity. To this day it is still one of the best-known birding spots in this area. It is situated on the southern slopes and top of the mountain. Habitat varies from Sweet Mixed Bushveld to Afrotemperate Mist-belt Forest to Afromontane Grasslands with Proteas where Cape Rock Thrush, Cape Grassbird, Malachite Sunbird and Gurney´s Sugarbird are found. From the high cliffs, overlooking the mountains one gets excellent views of a variety of raptors especially falcons. Look out for Lanner & Peregrine Falcon, Verreaux´s Eagle and Jackal Buzzard. Before descending from the cliffs keep a sharp eye out for the Cape Eagle-Owls as they live on this rocky plateau. Walk along the trails through the forests below the cliffs and look out for Orange-winged Pytilia, Green Twinspot, Lemon Dove, Forest Buzzard and Aryer´s Hawk-Eagle to name just a few. The very affordable accommodation consists of fully equipped self-catering stone cottages and basic wooden cabins for camping. Day visits must be booked in advance. Rates: R - RR (s/c)

Medike Mountain Reserve is nestled deep in the Sand River Gorge in the heart of the Soutpansberg Mountains. Marietjie and Hannes Underhay, the owners, have a deep love for the region as well as a broad knowledge of the natural history of the Soutpansberg. The best way to savour Medike´s rich ecological diversity is on foot. More than 30 km of marked hiking trails meander through forested kloofs, rugged gorges, waterfalls, archaeological sites and mountain streams. The diversity of natural habitats (Afrotemperate Forest, Woodlands, Riverine forest, Montane Grassland and Arid Mountain Bushveld) found on Medike, affords a large variety of fauna and flora. Nearly 200 bird species have been identified, including the Crested Guineafowl, Peregrine Falcon, Lanner Falcon, African Crowned Eagle, Eastern Nicator and the Narina Trogon. Other bird specials include the African Fish-Eagle, Osprey, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Little Sparrow-Hawk, Gabar Goshawk, Purple Crested and Knysna Turacos. Accommodation is fully equipped self-catering or with the option of meals. Murango Boulder Cottage sleeps 7 and is built into gigantic boulders on the banks of the Sand River. Dzhiawolala Pioneer Cottage sleeps 7 and is a restored old trading post, dating from the early nineteen thirties. Masianoke Log Cabin sleeps 4 and is nestled in the mountainside with a wooden deck overlooking the cliffs of the Sand River Gorge. Rates R-RR (s/c) RRR (c)