Route follows a 'forgotten highway' into the vast arid interior of the Great Karoo with its scenically spectacular vistas and rugged mountain ranges that are home to some of the most sought after local endemics. An early start through the winelands of the Western Cape to Wellington and the foot of the impressive Bain's Kloof Pass marks the start of the day. Typical fynbos species along the pass include
Victorin's Warbler and
Orange-breasted Sunbird. At the summit
Cape Rock Thrush and Fiscal Flycatcher are known to occur. Following the descent into the valley below the route to the arid Karoo passes through mixed habitat with the odd stop off for sightings along the way. On reaching the rain shadow beyond Theronsberg Pass the vegetation changes dramatically and within the bird mix.
Pied Starlings give way to
Pale-winged Starlings, Chanting Goshawks, Karoo Robins and
Karoo Chats while the rocky hills are where
Mountain Chats, Ground Woodpeckers, Dusky Sunbirds, Layard's Titbabbler and the elusive
Cinnamon-breasted Warbler are to be found. Along the drainage lines
Pririt Batis, Fairy Flycatcher, Namaqua Prinia, Yellow-bellied Eremomela and
Titbabbler are found. Scanning the open ' bossiesveld' should produce sightings of
Ludwig's Bustard and
Karoo Korhaan while a walk is likely to produce views of
Spike-heeled Lark, Yellow canary, Black-headed Canary ( after the rains )
, Karoo Eremomela, Rufous-eared Warbler, Grey-backed Cisticola, Namaqua Sandgrouse and
Karoo Lark. Open stretches of water will attract
Avocet and
South African Shelduck while the adjacent reedbeds will accommodate
Cape Weaver and
African Marsh Warbler in summer. Raptors are well represented with both
Booted and
Black Eagles in the area. Two nights in an approved establishment offering full board constitutes the birding base whereafter we return to Simon's Town via Du Toit's Kloof and the Hugenot tunnel.
