310

321

45

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45

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27304

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31244

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45

307 304

307

315

30244

46

44

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311307

315

27 45

311

44

44

27

45

45

364

362

362362

363

27

27

363

357

101

27

363

364

364365

365

365

365

303

46

307

45

39927

399

301

301

44

363

43

N1

N2

N7

N7

N7

N7

N7

N7

N1

N2

BO

LA

ND

SW

AR

TL

AN

D

SA

ND

VE

LD

K N E R S V L A K T E

M A S K A M

RobbenIsland

MissionStation

Seafood Lunch

Bird Island

View ofTable Mountain

McClear Base

Rich Fossil DepositSchaapen Island

Old Fishermen’sCottagesLighthouse

Whales/Dolphins

MilitaryAcademy

Whales/Dolphins

Dassen Island

Bokomo Mill

AllesverlorenWine Farm

Historic Mill

Eendekuil Dairy Farm &Cheese Factory

Wheat Museum

Swartland Winery

Winkelshoek Winery

Porterville Winery

Heerenlogement Cave

Monbijou HistoricalBuilding

Drostdy

Train Rides &Evita se Peron

South HeadLighthouse

North HeadLighthouse

Da Gama Monument

West CoastFossil Park

Vasco Da GamaNautical Museum

Oep se Koep

ProsesfonteinMonument

Bird WatchingSalt Factory

Whale & Bottlenose Dolphins

WhaleBone House

Whale Watching

PicnicSite

NieuwoudtvilleFalls

Bass Fishing

HuguenotTunnel

LanguageMonument

Battle ofBlouberg 1806

Penguins

Paternoster Hotel

Diamond DivingBoats

Club Mykonos

Lutzville Winery (Vlermuisklip)

Vredendal Winery

Klawer Winery

Trawal Winery

Ratelgat GriquaHeritage Site

Rock Art

VanrhijnMuseum

Rock Art

Boat Tripson the Estuary

Shelly Point Golf Course

GolfCourse

MilnertonGolf Course

The Strandloper

Mamreweg Winery

Meerhof’sCastle

CL Leipoldt’sGrave

CapeFur

Seals

V&AWaterfront

DurbanvilleHills Winery

Olives

The Baths

Whales/Dolphins

16

70

60

52

63

69

24

24

21

24

55

15

22

53

6

16

829

52

151

11

27

37

29

26

18

48

53

53

18

26

41

110

35

26

26

2120

14

10

17

11

16

138

8

23

12 8

8

22

16

915

35

15

21

11

35

24

38

17

21

12

12

16

7

19

39

40

40

1521

34

10

3422

29

2335

26

2812

5

5

8

10

13

10

23

16

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14

11

11

11

8

16

33

23

28

7

30

16

16

1618

18

11

26

15

Elands BayState Forest

Harold VersveldReserve

Cape ColumbineNature Reserve

Rocher PanNature Reserve

RamskopNature Reserve

OorlogskloofNature Reserve

Hottentots-HollandNature Reserve

Tienie VersveldReserve

Nieuwoudtville

Reserve

BeaverlacNature Reserve

CederbergWilderness Area

Groot-WinterhoekWilderness Area

Table MountainNational Park

Groot-Berg

Klein-

Goera

p

Boegoekom

Olifants

Doring

Kliphuis

Olifants

Jakkals

Langvlei

Kruismans

Groot-Berg

Sou

t

Berg

Berg

Klein-Berg

Boontjies

Berg

Berg

Berg

Breë

Wit

Wit

Groot-Goerap

Olifant

s

VoëlvleiDam

Olifants

Sout

Doring

Verlorenvlei

Porterville Dam

ClanwilliamDam

TheewaterskloofDam

WemmershoekDam

Zeekoevlei

Verlorevlei

Die Vlei

Rietvlei

Middelberg Pass

PiekenierskloofPass

Du ToitskloofPass

Ouberg Pass

Pakhuis Pass

Bain’s KloofPass

VanrhynsPass

GifbergPass

Lambert’s Bay

Piketberg

St HelenaBay

Paternoster

Aurora

Vredenburg

LaaiplekVelddrif

Port Owen

Dwarskersbos

Jacobsbaai

Langebaan

Saldanha

Malmesbury

Riebeek-Kasteel

Riebeek-Wes

Darling

Moorreesburg

Mamre

Porterville

CAPE TOWN

Stellenbosch

Paarl

Wellington

Somerset West

Durbanville

Wynberg

Hout Bay

Camps Bay

Table View

Melkbosstrand

Atlantis

Bloubergstrand

Philadelphia

Kalbaskraal

Tulbagh

Wolseley

Saron

Koringberg

Langebaanweg

De Hoek

Citrusdal

Eendekuil

Redelinghuys

Graafwater

Clanwilliam

Doring Bay

Strandfontein

Klawer

Vanrhynsdorp

Vredendal

Lutzville

Ebenhaeser

Koekenaap

Nieuwoudtville

Bitterfontein

Nuwerus

Franschhoek

Elandsbaai

Stompneus Bay

Yzerfontein

Het Kruis

Paleisheuwel

Jakkalsvlei

Ratelfontein

Trawal

Papendorp

Leipoldtville

Skaapvlei

Rietpoort

Kotzesrus

Brand-se-Baai

Gouda

Hermon

Sauer

Cape TownInternational Airport

Klipheuwel

Landplaas

Romansrivier

Ratelgat

St Helena Bay

Saldanha Bay

Bokpunt

Table Bay

SixteenM

ile Beach

Seal Island

Shell Bay Point

DuminyPoint

Blinkwater Bay

Tiekiesbaai

Duiwegat

Groothoekbaai

Donkin’sBay

Baboon Point

Noordwes-baai

CE D

E RB

ER

G

P

IK

ET

BE

RG

T A B L EM O U N T A I N

GIF

KR

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AD

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EV

EL

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MT

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IF

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alviniaC

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orcesterW

orcester

Grabouw Grabouw

Villiersdorp

AT

LA

NT

I C

OC

EA

N

M

OU N T A I N S

Rietvlei Wetlands

Intaka Island

Koeberg Nature Reserve

Atlantis Sewerage

Works

Silwerstroom Strand

!kwattu Cultural Village

Darling Flower &

Wine Route

Gypsum Mine

West Coast National Park

Quarry

Olifants River

Estuary

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

1.14

1.12

1.10

1.13

1.1

2.1

2.2

2.32.4

2.5

2.62.7

2.8

2.9

2.10

2.11

2.12

2.13

2.14

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.6

3.7

3.5

3.8

3.9

3.10

4.1

4.3

4.2

5.1

5.4

5.5

5.6

5.7

5.8

5.9

5.2

5.3

1

Legend to Map

TARRED ROAD

UNTARRED ROAD

TOWN

POINT OF INTEREST / BORDERPOST

RESERVE / NATIONAL PARK

DISTANCE PIN AND DISTANCE20

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

AIRFIELD

ACCOMMODATION (REGIONAL)

TENTED CAMP

ROUTE MARKER27 N7

MAJOR ROAD

SPOT HEIGHT

PERENNIAL RIVER

NON-PERENNIAL RIVER

SEA KAYAKING

BELOW 300m

WATER

ABOVE 300m

0 5 10 15 25km20

LODGE

HIKING TRAIL

BIRDING SITE

COASTAL ROUTE

PENINSULA ROUTE

RAILWAY ROUTE

OLIFANTS ROUTE

MOUNTAIN ROUTE

Copyright © MapStudio 2007

The

FLAMINGO

BIRDING

ROUTEAn introductory guide

to the rich and diverse bird lifeof the Cape West Coast

BIRDING ROUTES FOR THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE

The Western Cape province of South Africa is internationally

renowned as a tourist destination - think of the Cape Floral

Kingdom, spectacular land- and seascapes, acclaimed

wines, whale watching, colorful peoples, the list goes on.

One of the province’s great secrets is about to be revealed

through the development of the Western Cape Birding

Routes: the Cape hosts a diverse range of sought after

endemic bird species, such as the Cape Sugarbird, Orange-

breasted Sunbird, Victorin’s Warbler, Protea Seedeater,

Cape Siskin and many more. Further to this, several

underutilised and ecologically varied birding destinations

such as De Hoop Nature Reserve, Langebaan lagoon,

Nature’s Valley and the Tsitsikama and Karoo National

Parks and others need to properly exposed to a rapidly

growing bird-watching fraternity. Many exciting birding

products already exist: Cape pelagic cruises are regarded as

of the best in the world, the African Penguin colony at the

Boulders needs no introduction and the migratory waders

visiting the Langebaan lagoon are legendary.

The purpose of this project is to develop a network of six

birding routes for the Western Cape, of which the Flamingo

Birding Route on the Cape West Coast is the first. The

routes will be developed in a participatory and collaborative

manner, using local and regional knowledge and merging

this with the skills and experience of BLSA’s Avitourism

team. Each route will have its own steering committee and

at least ten local bird guides, drawn from members of

previously disadvantaged communities, will be trained and

mentored on an on-going basis to service visitors to each

route. The project will also contribute towards the

consolidation of Important Bird Areas (IBA’s) in the region.

THE CAPE WEST COAST FLAMINGO BIRDING ROUTE

The Flamingo Birding Route stretches from Cape Town on

the R27 coastal road northwards along the Atlantic

seaboard to the mouth of the Olifants river, eastward into

the hinterland to include the Cederberg mountains and then

turns southwards along the N7 highway back to Cape Town.

The route has been divided in five sections for ease of

reference. A visit to the West Coast represents a

celebration of diversity of peoples, landscapes, culinary

delights, internationally recognised wetlands and

spectacular wildflower displays. This arid region offers

splendid white beaches and coastal plains dominated by

strandveld fynbos studded with picturesque granite

outcrops. Inland, the Cederberg is recognised as one of the

best examples of the Cape Fold Mountains. The tourism

infrastructure is well developed with quaint fishing villages

and inland country towns. Tourist attractions vary from

famous eco-toursm destinations such as the West Coast

Fossil Park, the West Coast National Park, Penguin Island

and the Berg river and Olifants river estuaries, through to

upmarket facilities such as Club Mykonos, Paternoster and

Port Owen.

The West Coast has a number of different eco-systems and

offers the opportunity of birding in mountain, coastal,

sandveld and estuarine habitats. The region is blessed with

an abundance of birding “hotspots” that include eight IBA’s

and two RAMSAR sites. Birders will delight in the many

special and endemic species. Terrestrial species are often

overlooked as the West Coast has the reputation for being

home to rare, migrating waders during summer. Here

“mythical” names such as Common Redshank, Pectoral and

Broad-billed Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope and Dunlin

spring to mind.

MembersoftheFBRSteeringCommittee

BirdLifeSouthAfricaandVogelbeschermingNederland

CapeTownRoutesUnlimited

CapeWestCoastDistrictMunicipality

OverbergDistrictMunicipality

IntakaIslandatCenturyCity

MykonosandtheBergRiverlocalmunicipality

CONTACTS:AdviceonbirdingalongtheFlamingoBirding

RoutecouldbeobtainedfromAndreat

woh2o@telkomsa.netorAntonatbirding@overberg.co.za

AcompletelistoftourismofficesalongtheCapeWestCoast

isavailableelsewhereinthisbrochure.Enthusiasticbirders

livethroughouttheregionandlocalbirdguides,drawnfrom

previousdisadvantagedcommunitiesalongtheCapeWest

Coast,arebeingtrainedonacontinualbasis.Visitthe

FlamingoBirdingRoutewebsite:

GETTINGTHERE:TheCapeWestCoastisaccessedthrough

eithertheR27ortheN7outofCapeTown.Anumberof

internationalairlines,andmostinternalcarriers,have

scheduledflightstotheCapeTownInternationalairport.

Rentalvehiclesarereadilyavailable.

ACCOMMODATION:Anexcellentandextensivetourism

infrastructureisinplace,withaccommodationtosuitall

budgets.Theserangefromluxuryhotelsandlodges,

throughtoavarietyofB&B’sandbackpackerlodges.

SeveralBirderFriendlyAccommodationEstablishmentswill

beregisteredintheregionandcustomisedtravelpackages

forbirderscouldbedevelopedbyBirdLifeTravel.Contact

travel@birdlife.org.za

BirdLifeSouthAfrica’sAvitourismdivisionwouldliketo

expressitssincereappreciationtothefollowingdonors,

sponsorsandcontributors:

Www.westerncapebirding.co.za

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Flamingo Birding Route Steering Committee members:

Co-opted members:

PROJECT PARTNERS AND MAJOR SPONSORS:

PROJECT DONORS:

PROJECT SPONSORS:

Photographs:

Anton Odendal - BLSA representative

Andre Kruger - Facilitator and Langebaan region

Alec Cilliers - Southern region

Brian Hodgson - Southern region

Ferdie Endemann - West Coast peninsula

Pat McKay - Darling region

Jan Kotze - Berg River area

Anton Wentzel - Greater Berg River region

Tony Williams - Northern region

Keith Harrison - birding expert

Anna Dernier - Berg River area

Sonja Daniels - Local bird guide

Special thanks to Duncan Pritchard of BLSA Avitourism division

BirdLife South Africa and Vogelbescherming Nederland

Cape Town Routes Unlimited

West Coast and Overberg District Municipalities

Kathy Munro of MapStudio

Century City Ratepayers Association (Intaka Island)

Club Mykonos

Berg River and Velddrif Tourism organisations

Riviera Hotel (venue for launch) Khoisan Salts, Dunita’s (printing of

labels) 1021 Media & Design (poster & logo design) Bethesda

Crafters (T-shirts for local bird guides)

Anton and Elaine Odendal/ Andre and Magdel

Kruger

TELEPHONE NUMBER

022- 9312088

027-4822024

022-9124410

022-4331072

022-7721515

022-4331072

022-9313732

022-4481584

027-2191552

022-7151142

027-4923410

022-9213210

022-4923361

022-7231720

027-4321000

022-4871133

022-9132063

022-9621650

022-7142088

022-7831821

027-2013376

022-4512366

TOURISM OFFICE

Ceder berg Tourism - Algeria

Clanwilliam Tourism Bureau

Goedverwacht Tourism Bureau

Koringberg Information Office

Saldanha Bay Tourism - Langebaan

Moorreesburg Tourism Bureau

Porterville Tourism Bureau

Riebeeck Valley Tourism Bureau

Vanrhynsdorp Tourism Bureau

Saldanha Bay Tourism - Vredenburg

Wupperthal Tourism Bureau

Citrusdal Tourism Bureau

Darling Tourism Bureau

Saldanha Bay Tourism - Hopefield

Lamberts Bay Tourism Bureau

Malmesbury Tourism Bureau

Piketberg Tourism Bureau

Redelinghuys Tourism Bureau

Saldanha Bay Tourism - Saldanha

Velddrif Tourism Bureau

Matzikama Tourism - Vredendal

Yzerfontein Tourism Bureau

WEST COAST TOURISM OFFICES

VISIT FLAMINGO BIRDING ROUTE WEBSITE AT

www.westerncapebirding.co.za

CAPE WEST COAST FLOWERS

The West Coast is maybe best known for the annual display

of wild flowers that seem to burst into sight almost out of

nowhere from late July to early October. The visitor can,

however, enjoy different species of flowers all year round.

Birding and flower viewing enhance each other and form

perfect partners. The region comprises of a variety of veld

types (or habitats) and the flowers differ in each of these

veld types.

The appearance (and disappearance) of the flowers is

dependent on many factors, but mostly on the amount and

frequency of rain and then the start of the warm berg winds.

Flowers start to bloom from the north and then spread to

the south as the weather becomes warmer. The viewing of

flowers is at its best during the hottest time of the day

between 11h00 and 15h00. Colorful carpets of annuals

adorn most open disturbed landscapes in spring throughout

the region. Bulbous plants and succulents tend to bloom

somewhat later. The fynbos shrub land blooms throughout

the year, but is more magnificent during late winter and

early spring. Approximately 2500 plant species are found in

the region, of which roughly 5% are endemic.

For the latest flower reports during flower season, visit:

www.tourismcapetown.co.za or

Www.northerncape.co.za

www.tourismcapetown.co.za

5.1 Clanwilliam

5.2 Kransvlei poort

5.3 Cederberg

5.4 Citrusdal

5.5 Piketberg

5.6 Porterville

5.7 Moorreesburg

5.8 Riebeeck Valley (Riebeeck West/ Riebeeck Kasteel)

5.9 Malmesbury

4.1 Olifantsriver mouth and estuary

4.2 Matzikama Eco-park

4.3 Vanrhynsdorp

3.1 Velddrif

3.2 Hopefield

3.3 Dwarskersbos

3.4 Rocher Pan

3.5 Elands bay

3.6 Verlorenvlei

3.7 Wadrifpan

3.8 Lamberts bay

3.9 Penguin Island

3.10 Jakkalvlei

2.1 Langebaan Lagoon

2.2 West Coast National Park

2.3 Malgas Island

2.4 Jutten Island

2.5 Schaapen Island

2.6 Langebaan Town

2.7 Langebaan Quarry

2.8 West Coast Fossil Park

2.9 SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve

2.10 Marcus Island

2.11 Jacobsbaai/ Mauritzbaai

2.12 Vredenburg/ Saldanha Golf Course

2.13 Paternoster/ Cape Colombine

2.14 St Helena Bay

INDEX

1.1 Intaka Island

1.2 Rietvlei and “Dolphin Beach” Pans

1.3 Koeberg Nature Reserve

1.4 Atlantis Sewerage Works

1.5 Silwerstroomstrand

1.6 Kwattu San Cultural Village

1.7 Yzerfontein - Afmine Gypsum Mine

1.8 Dassen Island

1.9 Tienie Versveld Nature Reserve

1.10 Darling farmlands

1.11 Waylands Wildflower Reserve

1.12 Darling

1.13 Groote Post

1.14 Mamre