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.

Matamba bush camp and lodge is situated within the Waterberg biosphere and is part of the Waterberg conservancy. Malaria free and with easy access from Johannesburg, Pretoria and Polokwane, Matamba is on the R33 between Vaalwater and Lephalale.

Matamba has two different accommodation options. The bush campsite offers a unique camping experience with individual campsites nestled under wild syringa trees, the family ablution block built from natural material blends into the surrounding bush.

The lodge accommodation is luxurious, a large central dining and living area with a bar and pool. There are four tasteful chalets each with a king size bed. The lodge is set in a magnificent indigenous garden which attracts an incredible variety of birdlife. Matamba is owner run, Sue and Alan offer their guests a farm stay experience with freshly prepared wholesome meals which can be served either in the dining room or under the stars in the lapa.

Matamba’s habitat comprises Terminalia bushveld, open plains where Bushveld pipit, lizard buzzard, Black breasted snake eagle are frequently seen. There are over 30 km of walking and mountain biking trails with spectacular views of the Welgevonden Game Reserve in the mountains. The birdlife is prolific; and with relaxed plains game, Matamba offers bushveld birding at its best!

This RAMSAR site is a unique seasonal flood plain that is the largest and most intact in the country. It is surrounded by typical bushveld savannah. The area has over 365 bird species recorded, with 104 of these being water birds. The flood plain is inundated every two to four years and when it floods, several rare and endangered water birds breed here. All three of the bittern species occur and breed here and all of the southern African herons have been recorded here. The largest recorded breeding concentrations in South Africa of Great Egret, Black Heron, Squacco Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron occur at Nylsvley. Streaky breasted Flufftail have been recorded here and Striped Crake and Lesser Moorhen and Allan’s Gallinule breed here. Pygmy Goose, White-backed Duck and Comb Duck are some of the 15 duck and goose species that occur at Nylsvley in the wet years. In the dry years, the area is still a prime birding destination for bushveld birding. Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Olivetree Warbler and Tinkling Cisticola all occur here. There is a large concentration of Pearl-spotted Owlet along with 7 other owl species. This is a birding stop not to missed. There is a camp site and accommodation in the reserve as well as a variety of birder friendly accommodation around the reserve and in Modimolle and Moogophong, less than half an hour’s drive away.

This wonderful national park is 30km north-east of Thabazimbi and covers 45 000 hectares of the Southern Waterberg. This huge area is not all accessible to the public, but the parts that are hold a fantastic variety of birds. The cliffs have the largest Cape Vulture breeding colony in the country and there is access to the highest point of the Waterberg via a concrete road. On top of the peak, you can find Gurney’s Sugarbird, Malachite Sunbird, Buff-streaked Chat and many other high-altitude specialists. The rest of the park is dominated by bushveld and patches of broadleaved woodland and riverine habitats. You can see Pied Babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Red-crested Korhaan, Kori Bustard and Secretary Bird at Kwagga’s Vlakte - a separate piece of the park where the campsite and tented camp is situated. There are many raptors in the park, with Booted Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Cuckoo Hawk being some of the more notable. The banks of the Matlabas and Sterkstroom rivers and the dams in the park have a variety of water bird and you may see Half-collared Kingfisher, African Darter or Red-faced Cisticola in the reeds. There are Elephant, Black and White Rhino and general game in the park, so walking is not permitted without an armed ranger-guide. The park has a variety of accommodation options, from camping to tented and bush camps.