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  INFORMATION:
  HLUHLUWE

BIRDING
Province: Zululand
Route: Hluhluwe Game Reserves

The Hluhluwe Game Reserves were procalimed in 1897 making this complex one of South Africa's oldest reserves, the birthplace of conservation in KwaZulu-Natal. Hluhluwe consists mainly of steep wooded hills, grass covered slopes and riverine woodland along the many rivers and streams. 

DIRECTIONS
Entry to the park is via Hluhluwe or Mtubatuba. The Memorial and Nyalazi Gates are both well signposted off the N2. 

ACCOMMODATION
There are a variety of self catering or catered facilities available within the reserve but no provision is made for camping in Hluhluwe. Outside the park there is a host of various luxury or basic accommodation in Hluhluwe, St Lucia and Mtubatuba.

SPECIALS
At the Siwasamakozikazi picnic site look out for:
Southern Bald Ibis, (up to four birds roost irregularly on the cliffs), Black Duck and African Finfoot which occur around here. Lanner Falcon occasionally roost on the cliff along with Mocking Cliff-Chats, African Pied Wagtail and Red-winged Starlings. Keep and eye open for Lesser Masked-Weavers and in summer, on the drive to this site, watch for Dusky and Village Indigobirds on exposed perches.

At Muphumulo picnic site:
A pair of African Finfoot frequent the area opposite the launch site along with Black Crake, African Jacana, Green-backed Heron, Grey Tit-Flycatcher and Violet-backed Starling. African Marsh, Sedge and Cape Reed Warblers, Thick-billed and Lesser Masked Weavers can be found in the reedbeds.

A boat cruise on the dam is worthwhile to see African Darter, African Finfoot, Green-backed, Grey, Black-headed and Goliath Herons. African Fish-Eagle, Water Thick-knee, African Jacana, Black Crake, Moorhen, Spur-winged Goose, Yellow-billed Duck, Pied, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers also occur here. Occasionally seen are Eastern White and Pink-backed Pelicans, and Open-billed Stork.

Night drives which can be arranged from Hilltop Camp should give you a chance of seeing Spotted and Water Thick-knee, Spotted Eagle and Verreaux's Eagle-Owls. Fiery-necked and Eurasian Nightjars are around in summer (November-April). After heavy rains when the streams flow, Whitebacked Night-herons can be found. African Wood-Owl, African Scops-Owl and Marsh Owls are also occasionally observed. 

Around Seme a few specials such as a pair of breeding Secretary Birds, Bateleur, Tawny, Wahlberg's and Martial Eagles can be found. White-backed, White-headed and Lappet-faced Vultures are also regularly seen as are Black-bellied Bustard, Crowned Lapwing, Red-throated Wryneck and African Pipit. Summer visitors include Amur Falcons and Harlequin Quails.

At the Memorial Gate wetlands (northwest of the gate) look out for Wooly-necked Stork, Hadeda Ibis, Burchell's Coucal, Red-collared and Fan-tailed Widowbirds, Red Bishop, Rufous-naped Lark, Yellow-throated Longclaw and Common Waxbill. Occasionally Yellow-billed Ducks, Spurwinged Geese, African Marsh-Harrier, Cape Wagtail and Parasitic Weavers are also seen. The nearby Manzibomvu Stream has Black Duck, African Finfoot, Mountain Wagtails and Malachite Kingfisher. The hills of Mangangeni have Jackal Buzzard, Cuckoo Hawk, Flappet Lark and Croaking Cisticola.

Birding around the Hilltop camp area:
The Umbombo Trail in the camp is excellent for forest birds with African Goshawk, Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills, Lemon and Tambourine Doves, Narina Trogon, Green Malkoha, Klaas, Red-chested and Emerald Cuckoos, Black-backed Puffback, Gorgeous, Olive and Orange-breasted Bush-Shrikes, Red-capped Robin-Chat and Cape Batis can easily be found. Chorister Robin-Chat and Starred Robin-Chat are winter visitors to the forests. Yellow-breasted and Bar-throated Apalis occur in the forest while Rudd's Apalis can be found in thickets . Various sunbirds, barbets, bulbuls, and shrikes can be seen around the chalets as well as Eastern Nicator and Black-bellied Starling. African Crowned Eagle and White-naped Raven patrol overhead. Listen for the AfricanWood-Owl and Spotted Eagle-Owl calling at night and on summer evenings the call of Buff-spotted Flufftail can be heard at many localities around the camp. Jackal Buzzard, Lazy Cisticola and Striped Pipit can be found on rocky hillsides near Hilltop.

By Erik Forsythe and Duncan Pritchard