Allée Bleue Accommodation Franschhoek: South Africa Bird Watching in Franschhoek

With its amazing biological diversity, thriving ecosystems and wonderful climate, it is no wonder that South Africa has emerged as one of the top global destinations for South Africa bird watching tours. South Africa has around 850 recorded bird species, 725 of them resident or migrant and 50 endemic. These numbers make bird watching tours supremely satisfying for birders of all levels who flock together (pardon the pun!) from all over the globe to catch a glimpse of beautiful, rare and endangered species - such as the blue crane and black African oystercatcher.
Hundreds of nature parks and game reserves throughout he country provide excellent opportunities for bird watching. Tours to the coastal areas, the grassy wetlands, and even the interior regions and cities with their high density of birds per square kilometre, allow bird watchers of varying ages and levels of expertise countless hours filled with sightings. Here are just a few of the important birding areas of South Africa:

Western Cape

Many say that Cape Town offers the best sea-birding and pelagic bird watching tours in the area. Certainly, many varieties of gulls, frigate birds, tropic birds, boobies, petrels, cormorants, albatrosses, and terns abound. For those who manage to schedule their South Africa bird watching tours during the Sardine Run that occurs around June or July, the incredible sight of Cape gannets diving into the seas to catch fish is definitely something to remember and record in birding journals. And did we mention the African penguins? Make your way to Boulder Beach, and you'll be delighted at how close they come to you.
Bird watching tours in the Western Cape will take you where the fynbos are, and that's where you'll also be able to spot some of South Africa's favourite endemics such as the orange-breasted sunbird, protea seedeater, Cape siskin, Cape sugarbird and Hottentot buttonquail. The rocky cliffs are home to the Cape rockjumper, while the Knysna and Victoria's warblers prefer damper valleys.

Allée Bleue - Franschhoek

Allée Bleue Wine Estate is well equipped with luxury Franschhoek accommodation, in the center of the Wine Estate, to start your bird watching of the many South African Bird species to be found in Franschhoek. Driving up the iconic blue alley (Allée Bleue) you will be greeted by Peacocks while enjoying breakfast and lunch at Allée Bleue Bistro.

Either making your way down the Eucalyptus alley by foot or by car, you will be amazed by the Eagle Owls and various other bird life nested in and around the majestic trees. Some off the
South African Birds in Franschhoek Valley;

(A)African Black Duck, African Darter, African Fish Eagle, African Goshawk, African Harrier-Hawk, African Olive-Pigeon, African Paradise Flycatcher, African Pipit, African Sacred Ibis, Alpine Swift, Amethyst Sunbird, (B) Black Harrier, Black Headed Heron, Black Saw-wing, Black Sparrow-hawk, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Blacksmith Lapwing, Blue Crane (flyover), Booted Eagle, Brimstone Canary, (C) Cape Batis, Cape Bulbul, Cape Canary, Cape Crow, Cape Grassbird, Cape Hoopoe, Cape Robin-Chat, Cape Siskin, Cape Spurfowl, Cape Sugar Bird, Cape Turtle Dove, Cape Wagtail, Cape Weaver, Cape White-eye, Cattle Egret, Common Fiscal, Common Starling, Common Waxbill, (D) Dusky Flycatcher, (E) Egyptian Goose, (F) Familiar Chat, Fiscal Flycatcher, Forktail Drongo, (G) Giant Kingfisher, Greater Striped Swallow, Greenbacked Heron, Grey Heron, (H) Hadeda Ibis, Hamerkop, Helmeted Guinea Fowl,(J) Jackal Buzzard, (K) Karoo Prinia, (L) Lanner Falcon, Laughing Dove, (M) Malachite Kingfisher, Malachite Sunbird, (O) Olive Thrush, Orange Breasted Sunbird, (P) Peregrine Falcon, Pied Crow, Pied Starling, Pin tailed Whydah, Purple Heron, (R) Red Chested Cuckoo, Red-eyed Dove, Red-faced Mousebird, Red-wing Starling, Reed Cormorant, Rock Kestrel, (S) Southern Boubou, Southern Double Collared Sunbird, Southern Masked Weaver, Speckled Mousebird, Speckled Pigeon, Spotted Eagle Owl, Spurwing Goose, Steppe Buzzard, Swee Waxbill, (T) Three-banded Plover, (V) Verreaux's Eagle, (W) White Necked Raven, White-backed Mousebird, White-rumped Swift, White-throated Swallow, (Y) Yellow Bishop, Yellow-billed Duck, Yellow-billed Kite

List courtesy of birdlifebergriver.blogspot.com

An Overnight retread on the Allée Bleue Estate.

Kendall Cottage is an ideal retreat for South Africa Bird- Lovers, The Cottage boasts two generous bedrooms both with en-suite bathroom facilities and a big lounge with an in-house bar and fireplace. You are sure to be captivated by the cottage's understated luxury and unique combination of traditional and contemporary design.