The Limpopo Valley is a birding hotspot. In a single week in summer, a team of birders recorded 396 bird species in the area. Makulu Makete’s varied habitats - mountain, riverine and savannah - attract a large proportion of the birdlife of the Limpopo Valley. The Mogalakwena River, and the massive trees lining its banks, provide a rich habitat for many species likely to be found in wetter areas, such as Collared Sunbird, Spectacled Weaver, and a variety of Cuckoos and Kingfishers. Larger birds such as Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Black Stork, and Goliath heron are to be found along the river, whilst the drier bush country, with its impressive baobabs, has White-faced Owl, Kori Bustard, Pied Babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Barred Warbler, Great-spotted Cuckoo and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. Madia Pala Mountain and Kremetartkop, which dominate the landscape, are home to Verreaux’s Eagles and Cape Rock Thrush. Our list of positively identified birds already numbers over 270 species and increases weekly, especially with the help of keen birdwatching guests, who delight in adding another species to our list during their stay.

With no Big 5 to worry about, birders can walk freely anywhere on the reserve, and have the added thrill of seeing exciting mammals and reptiles during their birding outings. What could be better than recording a Redbilled Oxpecker on the neck of a magnificent bull giraffe, standing amongst thorn trees in the African bush?

Makulu Makete is an official Birdlife South Africa "Birder Friendly Establishment", and a founding member of the Soutpansberg-Limpopo Birding Route. (see www.limpopobirding.com) We will do our best to direct you where to find the bird species you are looking for.

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