Our hosts were Patrick and Marie-Louise Cardwell, and their mission were to show us as many birds as they could in the time allotted... which they wasted no time in doing.

Our itinerary, based on years of work that Patrick had spent doing bird atlas surveys, took us to some on the best spots for spotting South Africa’s endemics.

They brought us to strandveld, succulent karoo, montane and lowland fynbos, and even a bit of deciduous evergreen forest.

Although we traveled roughly 3800 km in ten days, the roads were excellent. Even the metal-graded roads were not very dusty. With Patrick’s help, we always managed to spend just the right amount of time at each spot looking for just the right things.

Everyone had their favorite birds of the trip; mine were Hottentot (Black-rumped) Buttonquail and Scaly Weaver; Knysna Woodpecker, Knysna and Victorin’s Scrub-Warbler, Sclater’s Lark and White-winged Seedeater were other seldom-seen highlights. Sixteen of the 288 species recorded on our trip were listed in the Red Book as near-threatened, three are vulnerable. Of the 93 endemics and near-endemics possible for the area, we recorded 83.

Great birds, wonderful Africaans food, nice (sometimes historic) accommodations and splendid scenery made this trip a memorable one.

A trip report has been prepared and can be downloaded in PDF format here. A cassette tape (one side of a 60-minute cassette) was produced with 38 species (including the remarkable Jackass Penguin) is available through us. Members who wish to repeat this trip should contact the Cardwells directly, or should contact us to discuss setting a trip up through Ornifolks in early November 00 or 01.