Woodbush forest birding, Tzaneen, South Africa

While doing the field work for my MSc thesis in 2000-2002, I spent a lot of time in the Woodbush Forest (Houtbos), just west of the city of Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Actually, to be more specific, I lived in the forest for a good while - it was an old run-down forester's house half way down the famous "Woodbush forest drive". Surrounded by forest, overlooking forest, breathing forest...

Woodbush Forest is right at the northern extension of the Drakensberg Mountains; a 1000km escarpment chain running the eastern length of South Africa. Woodbush Forest itself is the largest inland forest in South Africa and has some stunning wildlife. Besides the resident pixies and fairies, the dwarf chameleons, rain frogs, diving Red Duiker and towering Podocarpus yellowwood trees are just a few of the wonderful creatures I got to share this forest with.

Some of the great birds in the area are a tiny population of beautiful Cape Parrots (Poicephalus robustus - but watch out for the Grey-headed Parrots Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus flying high overhead overflying the forest to get to the savanna on the other side), Black-fronted Bush Shrike, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Crowned Eagle, Orange Ground Thrush, Green Twinspot, Chorister Robin-chat, Square-tailed Drongo, Forest Buzzard, Bathawk and many many more!

This is where I made the other movie: How to choose a spotting scope for digiscoping

If you have the chance to go to the area, you really want to take some time to enjoy the area. Find a peaceful spot along a mountain forest stream and soak in the beauty of the forest.

...and go for an outing with one of the wonderful local guides from BirdLife South Africa

Happy birding,

Dale