Borakalalo Nature Reserve and Vaalkop dam

Although both these localities can be visited in one day, it is far more productive to do them on separate days. Both these localities have so much to offer and one can easily spend many more days in this area. Borakalalo is a large game reserve close to Gauteng and has a wide variety of bushveld, woodland and waterbirds. Over 300 species have been recorded and a day trip in summer can easily produce 120 species. The large Klipvoor dam is a prominent feature of the reserve and it is on the Moreleta River below the dam, that we will be looking for African Finfoot and the occasional White-backed Night Heron. Other specials include Redbilled Oxpecker, Short-toed Rock Trush (Winter), Grey-hooded Kingfisher, Meyer’s Parrot, Purple Roller, Doublebanded Sandgrouse, Bronzewinged Courser and Pied Babbler.

The Vaalkop dam is a large impoundment on the Elands River and has an incredibly rich selection of birds, with a good representation of raptors which include Osprey (summer), African Fish Eagle, Black, Wahlbergs (summer) and African Hawk Eagle. Some of the larger waterbirds present include Goliath, Great White and Purple Heron, Yellowbilled Stork and Spoonbill. In the bushveld we will look for Violet-eared and Blackcheeked Waxbill, Cape Penduline Tit, Crimsonbreasted Shrike and Barred Warbler. Some other specials include Icterine Warbler, Bluecheeked Bee-eater, Woodland and Pygmy Kingfisher.

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