Buffelsdrift is a 430Ha Game farm with hiking trails, river and bushveld terrain offering a variety of habitats ranging from typical acacia thornveld, mixed acacia/broadleaf woodland and riverine vegetation along the Elands River. Buffelsdrift has a species list of over 350 and its network of roads, river trail and a lapa with picnic site provide good birding of most of the typical thornveld and riverine species such as African Pygmy-Kingfisher, Crimson breasted Shrike, Violet-backed Starling, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird and Southern Pied Babbler. Along the 2km stretch of the Elands River and extensive canal system, birding can be productive at all times of the year, African Finfoot may be seen by the lucky, but African Black Duck, Giant Kingfisher, Half-collared Kingfisher and Malachite Kingfisher are often seen. Special sightings recently were Dusky Larks and African Crake. Rust de Winter is renown for it´s raptors. Regular sightings of Fish Eagle, Brown and White Fronted Snake Eagles, African Hawk Eagles and Osprey occur. Night drives can be organised with the possiblilty of seeing six owl and up to four nightjars species including Fiery Cheeked and European Nightjar, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Southern White-faced Scops-Owl and, occasionally the Giant Eagle Owls. Other than birds you have game hiking amongst Rhino, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Kudu, Waterbuck, Rooi-Hartebeest, Inyala and many more. Tree spotters will enjoy the 65 plus species on the farm with huge Apiesdorings along the river. Accommodation, set along the river, is in the form of A frame self catering huts with a shady braai area. Cottages sleep four with gas stove, fridge, hot water and solar lighting, flushing loo and shower. Linen, cutlery crockery and wood supplied. Day birders or hikers are welcome and catered for with a new river lapa and braai facilities. Please phone in advance. Directions: Approximately 40Km north of Pretoria, exit N1 at sign Boekenhoutskloof/Hammanskraal, turn right over the N1and immediately turn left to Rust de Winter. After 30Km at the T junction, turn right to Rust de winter, after 10Km, turn right at green Steam Engine, sign Dave & Marie–Buffelsdrift, onto dirt road, follow the arrows for 1 km.

This small dam, just north of Mookgophong, is covered with water-lilies and so provides a perfect habitat for Pygmy Goose, they have been recorded here a few times. There are two bridges here and some nice reed beds that host a number of swallow, swift and martin species, other species to be seen here include White-backed Duck, African Fish Eagle, Purple Heron and Purple Swamp-hen. Look out for Giant Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe and Zitting Cisticola here as well. Directions: From Mookophong take the R520 out of Mookophong, you will turn left at the most northern traffic light in the town. After the 11 km turn left at the T junction, after less that 1km turn right on the Marken road, the dam is on the right along this road, just before the pass where the road crosses the Sterk River.