Birdwatching

The Nieu-Bethesda district boasts around 200 bird species
The Karoo remains one of the best areas to see South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane, on natural veld, either over-wintering in large groups or breeding pairs in summer.
In the vlei’s you might be lucky to see the very shy Black Crake, African Rail and the African Snipe, with it's “drumming” display flight.
African Black Duck (usually in pairs which take flight the second they see you); Southern Pochard and the scarce Maccoa Duck can be seen on our streams and dams.
Summer visitors, from as far afield as Mongolia and Siberia include Booted Eagle, Common Buzzard, Yellow-billed Kite, European Bee-Eater, some of the Cuckoos and the tiny Willow Warbler.
Look out for the majestic Martial Eagle, Africa’s largest eagle, and Verreaux’s Eagle, often seen gliding in pairs.
The scarce Black Stork can be found nesting on protected cliff faces and migrant White Storks occur in the veld and on cultivated land.
The Kori Bustard, Africa's largest flying bird, and the endangered Ludwigs' Bustad are quite scarce and well-camouflaged.