Nature's Valley

Nature's Valley belongs to the De Vasselot section of the Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park. The size of this section is 2560ha, of which 64% is froest and the rest fynbos. The Tsitsikamma Trail starts here and the Otter Trail ends here. Forest birding is excellent.

Specials
African Crowned Eagle, African Finfoot, Lemon Dove, Narina Trogon, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Knysna Woodpecker, Chorister Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Victorin's Warbler, Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher and Orange-breasted Sunbird.

Habitats
Forest, fynbos, streams, rivers, a lagoon, beaches and cliffs.

Facilities
Chalets, campsite and picnic site.

Birding
The De Vasselot camp site situated on the banks of the Groot River is an excellent place to find Lemon Dove which is often around the picnic tables, Chorister Robin-Chat, Knysna Turaco and other forest specials.

The walk from the picnic site at the Groot River Bridge into the forest has Scaly-throated Honeyguide which calls, and may have Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher, African Paradise-Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Chorister Robin-Chat, Knysna Turaco, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Tambourine Dove, Terrestrial Brownbul, Green-backed Camaroptera, Cape Batis, Black-headed Oriole, Black-backed Puffback, African Dusky Flycatcher and other forest species. Buff-spotted Flufftail may call in the evening here. The secretive African Finfoot is occasionally seen from the Bridge.

On the pass from the N2 down to Nature’s Valley, stop in the magnificent forested area and look for Narina Trogon and Knysna Woodpecker.

General
From Plettenberg Bay drive east along the N2 for 22kms, past The Crags, to the signposted turnoff to Nature’s Valley before the tollgate.

Contact: Nature's Valley rest camp Tel: +27 44 531 6700 Website: www.sanparks.co.za

Anne Brash 2002