The newly established Diamond Birding Route, a visionary project of De Beers and the Oppenheimer family in partnership with BirdLife South Africa, offers diverse locations across the country from flower carpeted Namaqualand to the steamy Limpopo Valley.
This has been made possible by opening existing conservation areas at De Beers’ diamond mines to the public so they may enjoy the prolific birding and other nature-based activities of these sites. Moreover, local people have been trained as bird guides, which is bringing added benefits to nearby communities.
The Diamond Birding 
Route
The Oppenheimer family and De Beers are well known for mining diamonds and gold, but they are passionate about the environment too. The Diamond Birding Route, which offers birders excellent sightings of diverse and rare species across the country, is their latest contribution to conservation in South Africa.
Diamond Birding Route Destinations:
Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve
Set amidst towering sandstone and ancient baobabs in the Limpopo River valley, this reserve is close to Mapungubwe National Park - a World Heritage Site and home to the first southern African kingdom.
Venetia boasts a bird species count of over 400 with specials that include Meyer’s parrot, Meve’s starling and tropical boubou. And the reserve is the only place in South Africa which offers wild dog tracking.
Ezemvelo Nature Reserve
Just a short drive east from Johannesburg, Ezemvelo has plenty of unusual birds in its recorded 286 species. There are no less than 7 different lark species and 4 species of pipits. Special birds to look out for include the African finfoot, Denham’s bustard and the red-chested flufftail.
Unusual mammals at Ezemvelo include the elusive aardvark, shy aardwolf and stickle-backed brown hyena. There is also an ancient rock art site on the reserve.
Premier Game Park
This game park is right on the outskirts of the historic mining town of Cullinan where the 3 106 carat Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond in the world, was discovered.
There are 200 bird species here, as well as white rhino and sable antelope. Striped pipit, white bellied korhaan and African grass owl are special attractions.
Brenthurst Gardens
The Oppenheimer private estate in the heart of Johannesburg boasts 72 bird species. Known as one of the great gardens of the world, Brenthurst has many resident birds including brown backed honeybirds, lesser honeyguides and little sparrowhawks. This is the only property on the Diamond Birding Route that doesn’t offer overnight accommodation.
Benfontein
Close to the historic diamond capital of Kimberley, Benfontien is home to over 300 bird species including the Kimberley pipit, black harrier and blue korhaan. The rare black-footed cat, aardwolf and Cape fox also make for memorable sightings.
Rooipoort
Close to Kimberley, the reserve has 300 birds as well as rare roan and sable antelope, gemsbok, eland and buffalo on their species list. This is where the Kimberley and long-tailed pipit, rare blue crane, saddle-billed stork, Kori bustard and a variety of raptors can be found.
Dronfield
The Kalahari sandveld near Kimberley offers excellent sightings of white backed vultures; and the vulture restaurant and Graham Main memorial hide at Dronfield make it easy to watch them.
White rhino, buffalo and roan antelope complement the over 300 bird species recorded here; of which the Orange River francolin and Baillon’s crake are coveted specials.
Rooifontein
Just outside the city limits of Kimberley, Rooifontein is a small property offering birders the chance to see a wide variety of smaller seed eaters and plains game such as springbok, gemsbok and eland. It’s just 3 000 ha, but there’s plenty happening here.
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
The Kalahari Desert of the Northern Cape is an evocative area, both harsh and ancient. At 100 000ha, Tswalu is the largest privately owned nature reserve in South Africa.
This conservancy is home to the Khoisan people as well 70 mammal and over 200 bird species. Specials here include pigmy falcon, Burchell’s courser and rufous eared warblers.
Kleinzee
In the heart of the picturesque Namaqua flower belt, Kleinzee is 60km south of Port Nolloth on the West Coast. This windswept conservation area is home to over 450 000 Cape fur seals, which share the reserve with Kori and Ludwig’s bustard, Damara tern, African penguin and Cape eagle owl.
Communities Flourish
Birding tourism is without doubt one of the most efficient community empowerment strategies as local people attach tangible economic value to birds and endeavour to protect them. Already 14 local people have been trained as specialist birding guides for the different destinations.
As tourism on the route increases, so will other eco-tourism related opportunities, which will certainly have positive socio-economic spin-offs for all who live near Diamond Birding Route destinations.
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