African Wildlife & Environment Issue 83

DESTINATIONS

Mountain Sanctuary Park

Gateway to one of the most stunning landscapes and hiking areas in the Magaliesberg, this impressive privately owned nature reserve is situated approximately 90 km from Pretoria and 110 km from Jhb in the Maanhaarand area.

Article & photographs: John Wesson

The Grotto

These magnificent ancient mountains, stand proud and untouched, surrounding the most magnificent crystal-clear mountain pools, landscapes, and extraordinary rock formations, enticing like minded people into a world of peace and serenity. Birds include a wide variety of raptors such as the African Hawk Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Cape Vulture, and the Cuckoo Hawk. If one looks towards the Nooitgedacht towers one will see the spiraling Cape Vultures as it starts warming up and they pick up the thermals. Over 100 breeding pairs have made their home on the southern cliff faces. Mountain specials include Short-toed Rock Thrush, Cape Rock Thrush, Cape Bunting, and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. As you stroll through the grass-covered hills, the

Eastern Clapper Lark claps above you. In the protea belt watch out for a fleeting glimpse of the magnificent Malachite Sunbird that is found there in the summer months. In the distant Northern temperate forests, you hear the call of the Red-chested Cuckoo while back at camp the ever-present Grounscraper Thrush runs along the lawns in search of food. If you stand quietly you can hear the constant calls of a variety of barbets, tchagras, cuckoos, shrikes and mousebirds as they go about their daily activities. Along the access road there in the vlei area adjacent to the river are resident but uncommon Little Bee eaters. Along with a wealth of birds normally found in these high grasslands such as Red-collared Widows, Southern Red Bishops,

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