Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of birdlife of the Garden Route at the Bitou Birding Festival
27 September – 6 October 2024
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.
Join our dedicated WhatsApp Channel for the latest festival updates below or feel free to get in touch with your queries.
Highlights of the 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.
- Fundraiser Dinner: Support the festival at our fine dining fundraiser dinner.
- 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
Booking portal will go live very soon – apologies for the delay
Please join our WhatsApp Group above and keep your eye on our social media channels and website for further updates and information on when tickets go live to book your favourite birding activities. We want to thank you for your patience – we have had many requests on when tickets will go live – and we are almost ready to take the tickets online. We have been ironing out some set-up challenges and we are busy with testing to make sure the ticket ordering process will run smoothly. We can’t wait!
