Birding – otherwise known as avitourism or ornithological tourism – is one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism market. And the province of KwaZulu Natal is no exception.

It enriches the province’s eco-tourism offering through a knowledgeable network of community-based birding guides who keep a watchful eye over the KZN Birding Route. 

Sakamuzi Mhlongo and Junior Gabela of Sakamuzi Bird Guides in Eshowe have been showing off the province’s birds for decades. Both are accredited guides with Birdlife South Africa and, as representatives of the KZN Birding Route, are regular attendees at Africa’s Travel Indaba.

They are quick to point out that, with over 650 different bird species in diverse habitats that stretch from coastal wetlands to African savannahs and the Drakensberg Mountains, KZN is the ideal destination for both domestic and international bird lovers.

A 2010 study by the Department of Trade notes that an estimated 8 000 to 16 000 international birders visited South Africa annually while between 21 000 and 40 000 local ‘twitchers’ brought out their binoculars.

According to the study, avitourists spent between R927 million (€46.5m) and R1.7 billion (€86.6m) per year. Of this, domestic avitourists contributed between R482 million (€24.2m) and R890 million (€44.7m), while international birders contributed between R309 million (€15.5m) and R618 million (€31m). The sector’s current contribution to GDP is estimated at between R1.2 billion (€60.5m) to R2.2 billion (€112.7m) annually.

Higher spend

Tourism KwaZulu Natal highlights that tourism service providers believe travelling birders spend more than most other visitors, take longer trips and use experienced local tour guides to help them find unusual species. This presents an important opportunity to grow tourism and provide jobs in rural communities across KZN.

The birding tourists that Mhlongo and Gabela host are split 50/50 between local and global. When Mhlongo started guiding 23 years ago, guests were mostly senior citizens. Now, bird watchers are younger.

Much of their marketing is done via social media and they get many return visitors. “People, with binoculars, which I took to see the Green Barbet 20 years ago are now returning with cameras. That’s now the big thing. We have a whole new market. People who have come back to take good photos are even returning for better shots,” Mhlongo says.

He adds that while travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic clipped the industry’s wings, guides are now hosting growing numbers of enthusiasts from the US, UK, Canada, Germany and France.

A new aspect of Mhlongo’s business has been hosting birding tours for passengers on cruise liners that stopover in the port of Richards Bay.

Zululand rich in potential

The Zululand Birding Route was the first Birdlife South Africa avitourism project and has been running for more than a decade. It is a network of 16 routes that offer a range of birding experiences that are grouped into four regions – North East Zululand, North West Zululand, Southern Zululand and the North Coast.

The route relies on over 30 local guides and a series of brochures and information packs linking the top 70 birding spots in the area across 14 hotspots. These include the Dlinza Aerial Boardwalk, which is close to Eshowe, one of the best places to spot birds (including the Palm-nut Vulture), hike and see Wild Fig and African plum trees.

Other top birding destinations include the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Mkuze, Ndumo, Tembe Elephant Park, Umlalazi Nature Reserve, Ongoye Forest, the Isimangaliso Wetland Park and various privately owned reserves.

Mhlongo and Gabela say tourists and tour operators should never underestimate the value of local knowledge.

“In a single trip, I can set up a top 10 of special birds. If you come alone and search yourself, it will take five to six months. We will make your trip shorter because we know exactly where they are,” says Gabela.

When these two guides reach the boundaries of their particular areas of operation, they simply pass on their birding customers to other expert guides.

Spreading their wings across KZN

Birders in the Drakensberg can expect to see many of the 350 species. The Midlands Birding Route starts in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg World Heritage Site and winds down through the foothills of the Drakensberg and over the rolling hillsides of the Midlands.

Highlights include the Hlatikulu Crane sanctuary, which is home to three different varieties of endangered cranes; the Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre in Champagne Valley; Highmoor, which offers the largest colony of breeding Bald Ibis in the Drakensberg; and the vulture hides at Giant’s Castle.

The Ugu South Coast offers a completely different and extremely diverse experience. Top spots include the Empisini Nature Reserve near uMkhomanzi, the TC Robertson Nature Reserve, the Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh, the Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve in Umzinto, Lake Eland Game Reserve at Oribi Gorge, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve and the Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide.  

Other must-see twitching spots are the River Valley Nature Reserve in Margate, Port Edward’s Red Desert Nature Reserve – one of the world’s smallest deserts – and Umtamvuna, also in Port Edward.