Potchefstroom is located 120 km south-west of central Johannesburg in South Africa’s Grassland Biome. Local variations in vegetation types such as: the Rand Highveld grassland, Carletonville dolomite grassland, Andesite Mountain bushveld, mixed bushveld in the Boons area and the Klerksdorp thornveld offer suitable habitat for 383 bird species recorded in SABAP2 data base (July 2023) for the 100 km radius from the city centre. River systems such as the Vaal- and Mooi Rivers, complemented by wetlands, pans and dams add to the avian diversity of the area.
The Potchefstroom 100 km challenge often yields 300+ species per year, while Birding Big Day events often exceed 200 birds per event.
KEY BIRDING SPOTS AND ROUTES
The best-known birding spots within the 100 km radius around Potchefstroom are: The Vredefort Dome and Vaal River system, the Eleazer Road, Faan Meintjes Municipal Nature Reserve, the Inyala Lodge area, the Boskop Dam Provincial Nature Reserve and the Boons area, as well as various dams and wetlands around Potchefstroom.
THE VREDEFORT DOME AND ELGRO RIVER LODGE
The Vredefort Dome is located due east of Potchefstroom and straddles the Vaal River which is the boundary between the North-West and Free State provinces (see Fig 3).
It is the largest land-based impact crater in the world. The concentric rings of hills, the kloofs and the Vaal River offer varied avian habitats with 345 bird species recorded in the 18 SABAP2 pentads (see Fig 4).
Special birds of the Vredefort Dome are: two batis species, five bee-eater species, little bitterns, Brubru (Bontroklaksman), both Dark-capped Bulbul (Swartoogtiptol) and African Red-eyed Bulbul (Rooioogtiptol), four bunting species, White-bellied Korhaan (Witpenskorhaan), three canary species, three chat species, seven cisticola species, both Temminck’s Courser (Trekdrawwertjie) and Double-banded Courser (Dubbelbanddrawwertjie), seven cuckoo species in summer, six duck species, seven eagle species, four falcon species, three firefinch species, five flycatcher species, four francolin species, two goshawk species, two harrier species, eight heron species, three indigobird species, three kestrel species, six kingfisher species, eight lark species , four martins, three nightjar species including the Freckled Nightjar (Donkernaguil), five pipit species, four sandpipers, six starling species including the Common Starling (Europese Spreeu) that migrated up the Vaal River, seven swallow and seven swift species, eight warbler species and five waxbill species amongst others.
Birding site
The best way to bird the Vredefort Dome is to drive specific routes through the dome on both the North-West and Free State sides of the Vaal River and to gain access to pre-arranged private properties in the hills and on the Vaal River. Plan your route and contact the establishments mentioned in this article to arrange access and services (see Fig 5).
A good birding drive from Potchefstroom is south-east along the rural road towards the hamlet of Venterskroon and onwards to the Thabela Thabeng Guest Farm. There is good birding all along the way to Thabela Thabeng and in the hamlet of Venterskroon. One can access Thabela Thabeng and do hikes in the hills and valleys. Thabela Thabeng also offers accommodation as well as refreshments and light meals. The road is tarred for some way and then it is gravel the rest of the way.
Drive slowly back towards the Elgro River Lodge via Venterskroon and bird along the way. Elgro River Lodge offers good birding along the Vaal River and in the dome with accommodation, refreshments and birding drives.
Turn right when leaving the Elgro River Lodge and again right towards the Vaal River, passing Schoemanshof which also offers accommodation. Stop before the low water bridge that crosses the Vaal River and scan the water, reeds and trees for birds.
Drive across the Vaal River, turning right at theT-junction onto the S713. Turn right again on the S646 that meanders along the Free State side of the Vaal River up to Limerick Lodge. Turn right on the R501 and cross the high bridge over the Vaal River to the Scandinavia Drift Hotel on the North-West side of the river. Stop at the hotel and walk to the bridges that span the Vaal River to see all the swifts and swallows.
Turn right when exiting the hotel and drive slowly to the Elgro River Lodge birding all along, returning to Potchefstroom or overnighting at any of the fine establishments in the Vredefort Dome. It may be worth your while to scan the short grass on the R501 south of the cattle kraals just west of the hotel on the R501 for pipits and even larks before proceeding to the Elgro River Lodge.
The Elgro River Lodge is a premier birding destination in the Vredefort Dome. It offers a range of accommodation options next to the Vaal River, refreshments, meals and birding drives along the Vaal River and in the hills of the of the Vredefort Dome.
By July 2023, 253 bird species were recorded in the Elgro-Lodge pentad number 2655_2710. This pentad hosts most of the special species listed in the Vredefort section of this guide.
The Elgro River Lodge is located 30km east of Potchefstroom on the Vaal River (see Fig 5) – the red marker indicates the location of the Elgro River Lodge. The dome area offers numerous alternative birding drives such as Kopjeskraal, Rooipoort and the Kromdraai road west of the Scandinavia Drift Hotel.
THE ELEAZER ROAD TO FAAN MEINTJES NATURE RESERVE
The Potchefstroom -north, -west and -eastern birding routes stretch from the Boskop Dam Provincial Nature Reserve, along the Eleazer Road to the Faan Meintjes Nature Reserve and the Inyala Lodge. This birding area of 27 SABAP2 pentads recorded 352 avian species (July 2023). The Faan Meintjes Nature Reserve and Inyala Lodge route is a prime birding route with 263 species recorded in the Faan Meintjes pentad 2640_2640 alone (see Fig 6).
Special birds on the Eleazer road to Faan Meintjes Nature Reserve areAfrican Quail-finch (Gewone Kwartelvinkie), Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Swaelstertbyvreter), six species of cisticola, Coqui Francolin (Swempie) and Orange River Francolin (Kalaharipatrys), Pale Chanting Goshawk (Bleeksingvalk), Greater Honeyguide (Grootheuningwyser) and Lesser Honeyguide (Kleinheuningwyser), Eastern Clapper Lark (Hoëveldklappertjie), Melodious Lark (Spotlewerik), Red-capped Lark (Rooikoplewerik), Rufous-naped Lark (Rooineklewerik), Sabota Lark (Sabotalewerik) and Spike-heeled Lark (Vlaktelewerik), African Pipit (Gewone Koester), Buffy Pipit (Vaalkoester), Plain-backed Pipit (Donkerkoester) and Nicholson’s Pipit (Nicholsonkoester), Cape Robin-chat (Gewone Janfrederik) and White-throated Robin-chat (Witkeeljanfrederik), Kalahari Scrub Robin (Kalahariwipstert) and White-browed Scrub Robin (Gestreepte Wipstert), Streaky-headed Seedeater (Streepkopkanarie), Lesser Grey Shrike (Gryslaksman), both Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark (Rooiruglewerik) and Grey-backed Sparrow-lark (Grysruglewerik), Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Ovambosperwer), Ashy Tit (Akasiagrysmees), Icterine Warbler (Spotsanger), Barred Wren-Warbler (Gebande Sanger ) as well as numerous water birds and waders. The yellow form of the Crimson-breasted Shrike (Rooiborslaksman) has been recorded a number of times along this route.
Birding sites
Drive out on the R53 towards Ventersdorp and turn left immediately after the SANDF base on the Eleazer Road (see Fig 7). The military cemetery to the right is a good spot to scan for coursers, pipits and lapwings. Drive slowly along the Eleazer road and scan the fences, overhead lines, road verges, trees and shrubs, water troughs and puddles (in season) as well as the sky for birds. Drive past the Eleazer Mine and stop at the pan on the right that often has water. Scan for water birds and waders. Drive along the road to the Muranti Venue and scan the lawns as well as the farm dam to the right for birds. Turn right at the Muranti road crossing and scan the dam and seepage to the right.
Return to the Eleazer Road, turn right and drive slowly to the Faan Meintjes Nature Reserve. This is quite a delightful reserve to bird. Pay your entrance fee and drive the circular route in a clockwise fashion. Bird the camp site, the picnic site as well as the lapa on the way out.
When you exit Faan Meintjes turn left and drive back on the Eleazer road towards the left turn to Inyala Lodge. Bird the Klerksdorp thornveld to the west and north of the Lodge. This is a good area for spot ictirine and white-throated warblers as well as Amur Falcons in season.
The pine tree area next to the hostel of the Ventersdorp High School is a well-known Amur Falcon roosting site offering good views of arriving and departing birds at dawn and dusk.
Slow birding of the Eleazer Road and Faan Meintjes with a braai or picnic at the picnic site can easily take a full day. Overnighting at Inyala Lodge, before returning to Potchefstroom may be a good option.
Birding the farm roads from Inyala Lodge to the Boskop Dam Nature Reserve is a good option for grassland species. The Boskop Dam Nature Reserve is an underrated birding destination offering fine water, shore and dolomite grassland birding. The roads in the grassland area to the west of the reserve manager’s house can be rough, requiring a high clearance vehicle.
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