Under the South-Western slopes of Table Mountain lies the region's most stunning botanical
garden. Being relatively close to Cape Town, Kirstenbosch is a great breakaway of the busy city. If you're into flowers, trees, butterflies, amphibians or birds, Kirstenbosch fits all. Its also a great bird photography destination, offering the fynbos and forest species turning out tame thus offering close-ups. The underside of the Gardens is cultivated although as you move further up you experience the area in its complete natural form.
Bird species:
The common bird species which may be encountered along the cultivated gardens are the following: Sombre Greenbul, Southern Double-Collared Sunbird, Karoo Prinia, Southern Boubou, Dusky Flycatcher, Black Sparrowhawk, Cape Francolin, Klaas's Cuckoo, White-backed Mousebird, Cape Bulbul, Olive Thrush, Levaillant's Cisticola, Cape White-eye, Cape Weaver, Cape- and Brimstone Canaries.
More restricted- and uncommon birds in the cultivated gardens are Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Grassbird, Spotted Flycatcher, Cape Sugarbird (at the Protea gardens higher up), Orange-breasted Sunbird (Erica gardens). A new population of Bronze Mannikins have arisen in the Constantia area and allow birders to enjoy them without having to go to eastern Southern Africa. I've picked them up in a group at the large pond. As you walk up from the 1st entrance to the Gardens, it is situated on your right-hand side.
The pristine Afromontane Forests found at the Boomslang Canopy Walk and above the gardens provide a slightly different array of birds. Birds include African Paradise Flycatcher, Forest Canary, Cape Batis, Spotted Eagle- and Wood Owls, Lemon Dove, African Goshawk and Buff Spotted Flufftail (forest with denser understory). The last known Knysna Warbler sighting in Kirstenbosch was around 2019 which is very sad due to the fact that Kirstenbosch was once a stronghold for this species in the Cape.
Town area. If you're committed enough, you can still try for this species in Cecilia Forest and the Klaasenbosch Greenbelt. Both places are just below Kirstenbosch which can make another birding spot before/after you've visited Kirstenbosch.
Best time of year?
In August till December most of the birds are breeding and get very vocal which makes birding much easier (especially in the forests!). But there are little migrants to Kirstenbosch thus bird species is present year-round. Birdwatching in winter should not be underestimated! Give it a go!
Please feel free to contact me on any further details of the birding at Kirstenbosch.
Written and designed by Ruven Schoeman
Where is Kirstenbosch