Latest News
BirdLife South Africa & WildEarth: Giving Conservation Wings
December 2024
BirdLife South Africa strives to promote South Africa’s slot as a prime birding destination through our Avitourism Project, highlighting our nation’s remarkably diverse avifauna, rich cultural heritage, and breathtaking scenery. We have a focus on training the next generation of specialist birding guides through our world-renowned training initiative, which is now nearing its 25th anniversary.
WildEarth is no secret to nature lovers, but if you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s a television channel that reaches over 7 million viewers worldwide every month through its various platforms. They’ve recently expanded to accommodate physical travel under the name WildEarth Travel, which offers unique, privately guided safari experiences.
Together, BirdLife South Africa and WildEarth Travel are excited to present an opportunity to join a special birding safari co-lead by BirdLife South Africa’s Avitourism Project Manager, John Kinghorn, in collaboration with one of our amazing BirdLife South Africa Community Bird Guides in an all-encompassing birding adventure!
This bespoke birding safari will take place from the 27th of February – 5th of March 2025 over the best time of the year for birdwatching in South Africa, set in the Waterberg’s picturesque Welgevonden Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s most underrated birding spots.
A portion of the proceeds from these trips will be donated to our ongoing initiative to upskill and empower existing Community Bird Guides, as well as to facilitate the training of future students from rural communities and disadvantaged backgrounds.
If you’re interested in this upcoming birding adventure, contact WildEarth Travel at info@wildearth.travel, or complete this online booking query.
SWBC Donation to De Hoop Penguin Colony
October 2024
We are very pleased to announce that Somerset West Bird Club has made a donation of R5,000 to The De Hoop Penguin Colony. Christina Hagen, who is the Pamela Isdell Fellow of Penguin Conservation at BirdLife South Africa, accepted the cheque from our Chair Willene. Christina spoke to the Club in August this year about the challenges the colony is facing.
The donation will be used to purchase an NVR (Network Video Recorder) to record footage from CCTV cameras in the reserve. Christina is busy buying more cameras to allow more monitoring, and the NVR is a vital piece of equipment to store and process the video footage.
Christina passes on her thanks to the club and the committee for the donation.
