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 reserve that is owned by the Anglo-Plat mine, is the best place in the country to see the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse. Access is arranged via a mine employee, Jannie Willemse, who guides visitors to a waterhole where the birds come and drink. The birds can be seen in this area from the roads by scanning the black cotton soils. From Thabazimbi, take the R510 to Rustenburg. Several kilometers, out of town, take the turnoff to the left signposted Koedoeskop. Scan the agricultural fields along this road especially those found on black ´cotton soils´ This road eventually brings you out at the Koedoeskop village and ultimately the R511 Thabazimbi-Brits road. There is good general birding along this road with White & Abdims Storks, African Quail Finch, Amur Falcon, White-winged Widowbird and many more. Jannie can be contacted on 083 456 2279.

This is the over-wintering area of between 40 and 60 Blue Cranes. The area is mainly montane grasslands and besides Blue Cranes, you can see Denham’s Bustards, Barrow’s Korhaan, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Buff-streaked Chat ,Wailing Cisticola and many more. The Cranes gather on private farms and are monitored by the provincial officials who can organize outings to see the birds. You can also travel through the area on the public dirt roads and have good roadside birding. The recommended route is turn left at the second Alma turning on the R33 when traveling from Modimolle to Vaalwater, just after a small school. Follow this road for about 10km to a T junction, here turn left to Alma continue through Alma to Rankin’s Pass, just before the Police station in Rankin’s Pass turn right towards the mountain, this road will take you back to Alma, follow the signs, through some great habitat. About 7km along this road is a farmer Jan de Beer, who will allow access onto his farm with prior arrangement. Call him on 014 721 0833 or 082 903 2483 to organize access to his farm. Please note that these roads are not always maintained correctly so a vehicle with some clearance is recommended and after rain a 4 x 4 is sometimes needed. If you want to know where the Blue Cranes are between May and August, phone Joseph Heymans, the District biodiversity Monitor on 082 807 6741 and he may be able to organize an outing onto the private farm lands where the cranes gather in winter.