Birding

There are many good birding sites within easy reach of Makapa Lodge, but your bird watching can begin in, or from our own beautiful gardens. (We normally have a spare pair of binoculars should you wish to borrow them.) Bulbuls, Fiscal Shrikes, Speckled Pigeons, Bokmakerie, Cape White-eye and Red-winged Starlings are never far away. Fynbos specials such as Cape Sugarbirds and sunbirds (Double Collared, Malachite and Orangebreasted) are frequent visitors to our proteas.

Guineafowl, Cape Francolin, Spotted Dikkop, Cape Canaries, Cape Weavers and Speckled Mousebirds are often seen either in the garden or on the mountainside next to the lodge. Raptors such as Rock Kestrels and Steppe Buzzards patrol the mountainside and as the light fades a Spotted Eagle Owl sometimes perches on the rocks above the house or even on the roof of the log chalet.

In summer, especially, various swallows, swifts and martins display their arial skills around the lodge.

Rondevlei Nature Reserve (20 minutes drive) – Established in 1952 it consists of a large lake (vlei) surrounded by low coastal dunes. Over 200 bird species have been recorded at Rondevlei of which about 80 are resident or regular visitors.

Cape Point (20 minutes drive) – Over 250 bird species recorded, coastal fynbos, scrub and sea birds. Also an excellent place for whale viewing, (June – November), and there are Mountain Zebra, Ostriches, several species of antelope and Chacma Baboons in the park.

Boulders Beach (15 minutes drive) – Famous for its colony of African (jackass) penguins.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (25-30 minutes drive) – In addition to the splendour of an internationally acclaimed botanical gardens is also an excellent place for some bird spotting.

Pelagic trips from Simons Town harbour to see albatrosses and petrels can be arranged.

There are also many other good spots for birding, local vleis, wetland, forest and coastal areas within 10-15 minutes drive from Makapa Lodge. We would welcome the opportunity of helping to plan your itinery should you wish to spend time bird watching during your stay.