Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of birdlife of the Garden Route at the Bitou Birding Festival

Dates for 2025 to be announced soon.
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Calling all birding enthusiasts, from novices to seasoned twitchers! Get ready for an unforgettable journey into the rich diversity of birdlife across the varied habitats of the Garden Route. Nestled in the scenic coastal region of Bitou, encompassing Plettenberg Bay, Nature’s Valley, Wittedrift, and Keurboomstrand, the Bitou Birding Festival offers an unparalleled birding experience.

Discover South Africa’s Rich Avian Diversity

South Africa is home to approximately 900 bird species, representing about 8% of the world’s avian diversity.
The Garden Route and Klein Karoo area, with around 450 species, provide a unique opportunity for birding enthusiasts to explore the region’s rich diversity. In the greater Plettenberg Bay area alone, Birdlife Plettenberg Bay has documented over 300 species, including 27 endemic or near-endemic treasures. This abundance of birdlife, set against a breathtaking landscape, creates the perfect backdrop for an extraordinary birding adventure.

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Some highlights of the 2024 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 Routes: Explore accessible guided birding paths in Plettenberg Bay and 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 or Keurbooms Rivers.
Pelagic Birding Excursions: Join a pelagic birding trip along the breathtaking coastline.
Birding-Centered Wellness activities: Blending morning wellness and meditation practice with birdwatching
Art and Photography Exhibition: Admire stunning bird-inspired art and photography exhibition.
Dinner Presentation at Belle Balance at Plett Game Reserve: An informative presentation and dinner at Belle Balance inside Plett Game Reserve. Come early and book a game drive.
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.
Self-Drive Birding Route: Navigate at your own pace with a self-drive birding route through diverse habitats.

Explore Diverse Habitats:

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

Thanks to everybody!

Thank you to everyone who made the 2024 festival such a great success. From our dedicated BirdLife Plettenberg Bay volunteers, venue partners, and insightful speakers to the attendees and local conservation groups Conserve Eden and NVT, the support was truly invaluable. We can’t wait to see what the future holds as we build on this year’s success and look forward to creating even more meaningful birding experiences.

So, whether you’re a seasoned birder or just starting out, we hope to see you at next year’s Bitou Birding Festival!

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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 will launch 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.

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THE COMPLETE 2024 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

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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.

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Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of birdlife of the Garden Route at the Bitou Birding Festival

Dates for 2025 to be announced soon. Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Discover South Africa’s Rich Avian Diversity

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

Some highlights of the 2024 festival:

Explore Diverse Habitats:

Thanks to everybody!

Festival Activities

Build Your Own Birding Adventure

Stay updated with the latest info

Our festival partners

Dates for 2025 to be announced soon.
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa