Suikersbosrand Nature Reserve
straddles a mountain about 50kms southeast of Johannesburg. A 60km route winds
across the mountain passing through grassland and rocky outcrops, acacia
woodland and rock-strewn hillside. It covers an area of over 28,000 acres and
boasts an eBird Hotspot list of 185 birds.
Another hotspot inside the park, Holhoek Picnic Area was my objective
for the visit as it would allow me to get out of the car and walk amongst the acacias, but I had to hurry to make it worthwhile.
My flight was delayed leaving just 3
hours to complete the 60km, one way circuit, so it was quite a whizz. I was
reluctant to stop for larks, cisticolas and pipits as taking the time to
identify them would not enable me to maintain my required 20km average speed. Foolishly
I had dawdled on the approach road and had nearly banjaxed the visit.
The lady
at the reception refused me entry at first, saying that I would not be able to
get around by 18.00 when the park closed, but I made a solemn promise that I
would be back by six and she relented.
The approach road at the northern
entry gate brought lots of Amur Falcons.
They like to watch for insects from the fence surrounding this part of the
reserve. A Black-breasted Snake Eagle
hovered high up and Long-tailed Widows
and Red-collared Widows flopped
about just above the grass. Once I got onto the circuit, a few birds made it
worth my while to stop.
A cisticola sat out on a signpost
allowing me to get a picture to peruse later on. I take it to be a Levaillant’s Cisticola, though they are
usually more associated with water than high grassland. I don’t recall seeing
any water nearby. Mountain Wheatears were
common along the roadsides and on rocky outcrops.
Many of the birds noted were seen at
the roadside as the long grass obstructed much of the view at times. My
favourite bird of the roadside today was the Southern Ant-eating Chat. They were very common and seen along most
of the drive. Their flight pattern is distinctive for its bold white primary
patches and the bird is very dumpy, looking like a slow feathery ball in
flight.
Game animals can be seen along the
route, though in my experience, they seem to prefer the southern stretches,
about half-way round. Zebra, Eland, Blesbok and Black
Wildebeeste were seen as I drew up to the Holhoek Picnic Area at Google Earth ref; 26 32 28.02S 28 13 37.60E.
The picnic area is sited amongst the
acacias which spill down the mountainside here. With very little time at my
disposal, I was only able to make a very cursory glance round Holhoek, but the
birds were very accommodating and 19 species showed themselves. Spotted Flycatchers and Fiscal Flycatchers liked to use the
posts as their hawking perches. A Hoopoe
and a Green Woodhoopoe flushed
as I drove in, but stayed nearby.
Cape Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow and White-browed Sparrow-Weaver were all very approachable.
As I pressed on from the picnic area,
more game animals were seen with small herds of Springbok and a Red
Hartebeest with a suckling youngster.
Time was really against me now and I
can hardly recall stopping along the second half of the circuit except to see
large numbers of Red-collared Widowbirds
gathering to roost in the tall grass and to listen very quickly to the
whistling call of a Bokmakerie.
The highlight came towards the end of
the road. I had seen a couple of Black-backed Jackals that had run ahead of the
car and disappeared into the long grass, but one dashed off the road as I
approached and stopped to look back over its shoulder in a thin area of wispy grass
enabling me to get a shot.
Birds seen; 47
Helmeted Guineafowl 4, Swainson’s
Francolin 13, Little Grebe 2, Long-tailed Cormorant 2, Cattle Egret 6,
Black-shouldered Kite 4, Black-breasted Snake-Eagle 1, Amur Falcon 162,
Red-knobbed Coot 5, Blacksmith Plover 2, Red-eyed Dove 4, Ring-necked Dove 13,
Laughing Dove 54, Little Swift 3, Sfrican Palm-swift 1, White-backed Mousebird
2, Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Green Woodhoopoe 1, Pied Barbet 1, Bokmakerie 1, Common
Fiscal 13, Rufous-naped Lark 3, Red-capped Lark 12, Bank Swallow 1, Barn
Swallow 12, Greater Striped Swallow 8, Common House Martin 1, Black-fronted
Bulbul 9, Cape White-eye 4, Fiscal Flycatcher 10, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Cape
Robin-chat 10, Stonechat 33, Southern Anteater-Chat 60, Mountain Wheatear 23,
Karoo Thrush 1, Orange-throated Longclaw 15, Cape Canary 17, Black-throated
Canary 8, Cape Sparrow 4, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow 1, White-browed
Sparrow-weaver 5, Southern Masked-weaver 40, Red Bishop 3, Red-collared
Widowbird 205, Long-tailed Widowbird 21, Pin-tailed Whydah 1.
Mammals seen; 8
Eland 30, Red Hartebeest 3, Black
Wildebeest 20, Springbok 25, Blesbok 5, Black-backed Jackal 4, Zebra 15,
Suikersbosrand can be accessed from
the N3 heading south from JNB. Take the R550 west and the north entrance is
signed 6kms from there at Google Earth ref; 26 26 16.32S 28 13 10.84E.
The
opening times are open to misinterpretation. Most sites agree that the gates
allow visitors in from around 07.00. Gates close at 16.00 on weekdays and 17.00
on weekends and holidays. However, I was asked to be out by 18.00 on this
Friday evening in March. Make of that what you will. Arrive in plenty of time
or risk being turned away. I would leave at least 4 hours to enjoy the park and
not have to rush.
Entry should cost RSA20. Perhaps my late arrival prompted a burst of generosity, but I was waved on when I tried to pay.
The circuit is 60kms around and is
one way only, so you can’t choose to just do a little bit and return; you have
to complete the full lap.
There are hiking trails and overnight
huts with basic accommodation for those who wish to trek for a couple of days
on the mountain. For details, visit; http://footprint.co.za/suikerbosrand.htm
If you are interested in the geology
and habitats of the Suikersbosrand range, this site offers an overview.
Visit the dedicated Africa Page for
more posts from JNB, including; Pilanesberg, Tswaing Crater and Marievale Bird Sanctuary.
Birding, Birdwatching, Safari, JNB
Johannesburg, South Africa
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