The Birding Festival Hub
Kwendalo, meaning “place of nature” in isiXhosa, embodies natural living and holistic wellness. Nestled within a 16-hectare estate in Plettenberg Bay, this serene venue is the perfect setting for the Bitou Birding Festival. Talks will take place in the Harmony Centre, a tranquil space designed for learning and connection, creating a meaningful experience for festival-goers.
Visitors can enjoy delicious meals, coffee, and tea at the Green Café, an ideal spot to relax and recharge. Kwendalo offers fantastic birding opportunities, including 2 bird hides overlooking the dam and the river, where participants can peacefully observe birdlife as well as walks across the beautiful estate grounds.
Kwendalo will also host a variety of bird-inspired wellness activities.
Activities at Kwendalo
Date |
Activity |
Ticket Price |
Book Via |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 2025/10/25 Time: 06:30 | Bird netting, ringing, recording and release – Kwendalo by Dr. Mark Brown This activity offers a unique opportunity to witness bird netting, ringing, recording, and release firsthand. Time: 06:00 for 06:30 Duration: +/- 3-4 hours |
R155 |
Quicket |
| Saturday 2025/10/25 Time: 9:30 | Guided Birding Walk Guide: Dr. Matthew Zylstra + BirdLife Plett Volunteers Time: 9:00 for 9:30 Duration: +/- 1 hour |
R125 |
Quicket |
| Saturday 2025/10/25 Time: 11:00 | Birding Talk – Melanie de Morney Crowned Eagles of the Garden Route – Monitoring Africa’s most powerful eagle Location: Kwendalo Speaker: Melanie de Morney Time: 10:30 for 11:00 Duration: +/- 1 hour |
R125**Combo ticket for both Sat talks available. |
Quicket |
| Saturday 2025/10/25 Time: 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch Break Light meals available on-site Green Café open the whole day Time: 12:00 – 13:00 | ||
| Saturday 2025/10/25 Time: 13:00 | Birding Talk – Mark Brown Sunbirds & Sugarbirds Speaker: Mark Brown Time: 12:45 for 13:00 Duration: +/- 1 hour |
R125**Combo ticket for both Sat talks available. |
Quicket |
| Sunday 2025/10/26 Time: 08:00 | Beginner Birding Workshop Time: 7:30 for 8:00 Duration: +/- 2 hours |
R125 |
Quicket |
| Sunday 2025/10/26 Time: 10:00 | Family Birding Playshop This fun family event is about getting to know our feathered friends in a different kind of way. We will play a range of activities that stimulate learning through doing by mimicking local birds and their behaviours. Recommended for kids and their parents. Children under 7yrs need to be accompanied by a willing parent. Juveniles over 7 may fledge unaccompanied if parents feel they must tend to the nest. (Recommended for children 4+ years) Facilitator: Dr. Matthew Zylstra Time: 9:30 for 10:00 |
Kids R55Adults R105Family R155 |
Quicket |
| Sunday 2025/10/26 Time: 12:00 | Birding Talk – Lauren Moriarty From Binoculars to Biodiversity Location: Kwendalo Speaker: TBC Time: 11:30 for 12:00 Duration: +/- 1 hour |
R125**Combo ticket for both Sat talks available. |
Quicket |
| Sunday 2025/10/26 Time: 13:00 | Lunch Break Light meals available on-site Green Café open the whole day Time: 13:00 – 14:00 | ||
| Sunday 2025/10/26 Time: 14:00 | Birding Talk – Mike Bridgeford Special Birds of the Bitou Location: Kwendalo Speaker: TBC Time: 14:15 for 14:30 Duration: +/- 1 hour |
R125**Combo ticket for both Sat talks available. |
Quicket |
| Sunday 2025/10/26 Time: 15:30 | Guided Birding Walk – Kwendalo Guide: Dr. Matthew Zylstra + BirdLife Plett Volunteers Time: 15:30 Duration: +/- 1 hour |
R125 |
Quicket |
| Tuesday 2025/10/28 Time: 8:30 | Bird & Breakfast Birding with a difference. This naturally mindful morning walk around Kwendalo is about experiencing birdlife in ways that enhance our wellbeing. We will wander, engage our senses, and tune into bird sounds and behaviours. The emphasis is less on counting and more about connecting with the species. Suitable for novice to expert birders. The experience will be followed by a healthy farm brunch at The Green Café. (Ticket includes breakfast, excl. drinks) Time: 8:30 – 10:00 Guide: Matthew Zylstra, PhD |
R305 |
Quicket |
| Thursday 2025/10/30 Time: 8:30 | Bird & Breakfast Birding with a difference. This naturally mindful morning walk around Kwendalo is about experiencing birdlife in ways that enhance our wellbeing. We will wander, engage our senses, and tune into bird sounds and behaviours. The emphasis is less on counting and more about connecting with the species. Suitable for novice to expert birders. The experience will be followed by a healthy farm brunch at The Green Café. (Ticket includes breakfast, excl. drinks) Time: 8:30 – 10:00 Guide: Matthew Zylstra, PhD |
R305 |
Quicket |
Dr. Matthew Zylstra
Bird & Breakfast
Birding with a difference. This mindful morning walk around Kwendalo is about experiencing birdlife in ways that enhance our wellbeing. We will wander, engage our senses, and tune into bird sounds and behaviours. The emphasis is less on counting and more about connecting with the species. Suitable for novice to expert birders.
Guide: Matthew Zylstra, PhD
Min: 6 persons, Max: 12 persons.
Family Birding Playshop
This fun family event is about getting to know our feathered friends in a different kind of way. We will play a range of activities that stimulate learning through doing by mimicking local birds and their behaviours. Recommended for kids and their parents. Children under 7yrs need to be accompanied by a willing parent. Juveniles over 7 may fledge unaccompanied if parents feel they must tend to the nest.
*(Recommended for children 4+ years)
Guide: Matthew Zylstra, PhD
The Green Cafe
The Green Café celebrates our farm-to-table philosophy, where biodiversity and wholesome, honest food come together. Using fresh, estate-grown and locally sourced ingredients, we create nourishing meals that are as good for you as they are delicious. Our menu is guided by the seasons and what is locally available, ensuring that each dish and juice is fresh, vibrant, and full of flavour. With regularly changing offerings, you can expect unique combinations and thoughtfully prepared dishes that bring something new to the table each time you visit.
Wellness Treatments with Maria Schearer
Maria has been teaching yoga and offering therapies for the past 25 years in Cape Town and the Garden Route area. She is experienced in stress management and enjoys sharing the skills and insights she has acquired over the years. Her treatments are designed to facilitate an embodiment of calm, ease, relaxation, and flow.
Treatments Available |
Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Foot acupressure and reflexology | R650 per hour |
| Indian head massage | R450 for 35min |
| Reiki | R650 per hour |
| Massage Therapy | R750 per hour R1150 per 90 minutes |
DATES AVAILABLE
Friday 27th Sep from 12pm to 6pm
Monday 30th Sep 10.30 -1.30pm
Tuesday 1st Oct 10.30am to 6pm
Wednesday 2nd Oct from 10.30am to 6pm
Friday 4th Oct from 12pm to 6pm
*Both Thursdays or Saturdays optional if no other time is available.
Festival Rate
discount
on Accomodation
The Kwendalo Manor House
This fully fenced and gated private estate is situated in the Rietvlei/Bitou Valley just off the N2 heading towards Gqeberha. The estate is a mere 2.5 km away from the beautiful holiday town centre of Plettenberg Bay with its breathtaking scenery and lovely beaches.
Kwendalo means ‘of nature’ in local isiXhosa and our country estate is situated on 16 hectares of regenerative nature. Our location distills the belief that our environment and our place within it contributes significantly towards wellness and we invite you to refresh yourself in our gardens and natural surroundings. Please note that accommodation is available to all visitors to Plettenberg Bay; our treatments are available to our guests but are not a prerequisite of booking.
Set with sweeping views across the grounds of Kwendalo, the Manor House offers accommodation in spacious and gently renovated suites. Each suite has been lovingly and stylishly decorated to create an atmosphere of absolute ambience and tranquillity. The suites are positioned in such a way as to offer maximum privacy to guests as well as providing stunning views over the picturesque countryside, lush green lawns and mountains of the estate.
Each suite has a fully equipped kitchen, well-furnished lounge, its own bathroom, a hairdryer, and a flat-screen TV with DStv. Each suite has a private patio with a braai and a table to sit and relax. Wi-Fi is available in most of the suites. We invite you to be at ease at Kwendalo, envelope yourself in comfort and calm, and find serenity and peace while you stay with us. You are encouraged to embrace mornings of contemplation in nature, afternoons of gentle exercise or treatments, and evenings around the fireplace.
Please use “Birding Festival” as reference to qualify for a special festival rate.
