Birding along the East Coast - Rooi-Els and Betty’s Bay

Our first stop along this scenic coastal drive, skirting the Hottentots Holland Mountains on the eastern shores of False Bay, is the picturesque village of Rooi-Els. This location is renowned for the endemic Cape Rockjumper and Cape Rock Thrush where they occur at low altitude in the mountain Fynbos. Verreaux’s Eagle, Ground Woodpecker, Black Swift, Orange-breasted Sunbird, and Rock Kestrel can also be seen along the mountain range.

From July to December, visitors are treated with citings of the Southern Humpback Whales that visits the shores during this period.

Part of this tour includes the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens with its Fynbos and forest habitat that offer birdwatchers good citings of Swee Waxbill, Victorin’s Warbler, Black Saw-wing Swallow, Cape Batis, and the Orange-breasted Sunbird. In summer the magnificent red Disa uniflora (endemic orchid) flowers on the moss-covered cliff face.

We include a visit to the nearby Stony Point, the second mainland colony of African Penguin.   The penguins and a variety of local Cormorant species can be viewed from close range.

On our way home, we are likely to come across flocks of magnificent Blue Cranes, South Africa's national bird, as well as Denham’s Bustard.

The journey takes us over the Highlands of the Kogelberg Biosphere, through the Apple Orchards of Grabouw, before we descend via Sir Lowry’s Pass towards Cape Town.

This tour can be extended into a second day that includes the Tanqua Karoo tour.