24–31 OCT 2025

Plettenberg Bay

Experience the Wonder of Birding in the heart of the Garden Route

24–31 OCT 2025

Plettenberg Bay

Welcome to the Bitou Birding Festival. Come and experience one of South Africa’s richest birding destinations, home to endemic treasures like the Knysna Turaco, Cape Sugarbird, and Orange-breasted Sunbird. Join us for a week of unforgettable experiences, set against the stunning backdrop of Plettenberg Bay and the scenic Garden Route, where wetlands, rivers, fynbos, coastal shores, forests, and grasslands await.

Whether you’re new to birding or a seasoned twitcher, the Bitou Birding Festival offers a captivating adventure for everyone.

Diverse Habitats to Explore:

Wetlands, rivers, and estuaries
Fynbos habitats
Afromontane forest biomes
Urban areas and grasslands
Coastal areas and pelagic zones

Some highlights planned for the 2025 festival:

Engaging Expert Talks: Enjoy insightful presentations on birding-related topics from renowned experts.
Guided Bird Walks: Participate in guided bird walks through diverse locations and habitats.
Universal Access Birding Route: Explore an accessible guided birding walk in Nature’s Valley.
Unique Birding Activities: Experience bird netting, ringing, and recording with Dr. Mark Brown.
Birding Canoe Adventure: Embark on a canoeing journey along the Bitou River or Keurbooms Estuary.
Pelagic Birding Excursion: Join a pelagic birding trip along the breathtaking coastline.
Birding-Centered Wellness activities: Blending wellness practices and Stand-up Paddle with birdwatching
A Guided Keurbooms River Boat Cruise: Join us for a unique guided birding expedition up the Keurbooms River.
Dinner Presentation at Belle Balance at Plett Game Reserve: An informative presentation by Pierre Pistorius and dinner at Belle Balance inside Plett Game Reserve. Come early and do some birding in the gardens.
Raptor Rescue Rehabilitation Centre Tour: Visit the Raptor Rescue Rehabilitation Centre for an informative tour and raptor display – learn about these magnificent birds and the crucial conservation efforts dedicated to their protection.
Expo for vendors focused on Birding Products and Services, i.e. Conservation NGO’s, optics gear, birding books, tours, birding guides, etc.
Self-Drive Birding Route: Navigate at your own pace with a self-drive birding route through diverse habitats.

Join our email newsletter and/or our dedicated WhatsApp Channel for the latest updates.

Get in touch on WhatsApp

Join the WhatsApp Group

We’re thrilled to launch this year’s programme

Packed with returning favourites and exciting new additions. Highlights include a guided birding ferry trip up the Keurbooms River and a showcase of exhibitors sharing their birding products and conservation initiatives over the opening weekend.

Click below to download and explore the full programme — and start planning your week of birding adventure!

We can’t wait to welcome you to another memorable year at the Plett Bitou Birding Festival!

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME

Festival Activities

Build Your Own Birding Adventure

Participants can create their own unique Birding adventure by booking various individual activities and talks during the festival period. We’ve designed our ticketing system to manage the number of participants for each activity, ensuring that each event remains unique and personal. This approach helps keep participant numbers small, minimising disturbance to the birds and enhancing the overall experience. By keeping groups intimate, we maximise the chances of spotting a diverse range of bird species.

The festival consists of several individual activities that you can book online. Additionally, we have a self-drive map for those who prefer to explore the avian treasures of the area at their own pace. This map will guide you to the best birding spots, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the region on your own terms.

Book your activities online and join us for an unforgettable birding adventure, tailored to your interests and designed to offer the most enriching and immersive experience possible.

Stay updated with the latest info

Please follow our Social Media pages and come check back here on the website as we add more birding activities, expert speakers and information about the Bitou Birding Festival. We will continually add more information as we go along.

24–31 OCT 2025

Plettenberg Bay

Experience the Wonder of Birding in the heart of the Garden Route

24–31 OCT 2025

Plettenberg Bay

Whether you’re new to birding or a seasoned twitcher, the Bitou Birding Festival offers a captivating adventure for everyone.

Diverse Habitats to Explore:

Some highlights planned for the 2025 festival:

Join our email newsletter and/or our dedicated WhatsApp Channel for the latest updates.

We’re thrilled to launch this year’s programme

Festival Activities

Build Your Own Birding Adventure

Stay updated with the latest info

Our festival partners