We aim to offer South Africa’s foremost Naturalist guided experience. Our Guides are highly experienced and are qualified by both S.A.T.O.U.R and F.G.A.S.A. All precautions are taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable walk. To this end all of our Guides have a minimum of a level 3 First Aid Qualification and are re-assessed regularly.
Cape Dune Mole-rat Trail
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Trail
Knysna Forest Walks
Woodcutters Trail
Terblans Wood Trail
Elephant Walk
Kranshoek Forest and Coastal Walk
Robberg Peninsula Walk
Birding Trips
A fairly easy relaxed circular walk that allows for the exploration of some of the most pristine and least explored areas of the Garden Route. It is situated alongside the Rondevlei, a magnificent Ramsar site which offers spectacular bird watching. There are some short uphill sections but they are not too taxing and they have the advantage of taking you through some very attractive patches of forest. Altogether a wonderful walk that is manageable for the entire family. It offers the experience of many different habitats combined in a single walk.
Time: 4 hour guided walk
Distance: 8 km
Exertion: Moderate
Highlights: Stunning views of 3 different lake systems and the Outeniqua Mountains whilst walking over magnificent Fynbos and forest covered dunes. An optional add on is a 2 hour exploration by canoe of the backwaters of the Swartvlei Lagoon. This is a wonderful, tranquil way to complete the day.
Fauna: You may be fortunate to see Bushbuck, Cape Clawless Otter and Grysbok. You could see the tracks and signs of Porcupine, Bush pigs, Water Mongoose, Cape Grey mongoose and other small terrestrial mammals. The animal that the trail is named after is the largest burrowing rodent in Africa and has abundant burrows in evidence, although the animal itself is seldom seen.
Birds commonly seen: African Fish Eagle, Knysna Woodpecker, Olive Bush Shrike, African Rail, Malachite Kingfisher, Double Collared Sunbird and Cape Bulbul.
This beautiful walk is truly accessible for most ages and provides a welcome shaded relief from the sun in summer. The river and the waterfall are striking and contribute to the coolness. It is relatively flat and the trail is well laid out so that it is not too strenuous. This allows for a relaxed appreciation of the scenery and birdlife.
Time: 3-4 hour Guided walk
Distance: 6km although the walk is one way so that it can easily be shortened
Exertion level: low exertion level makes this walk ideal for all ages
Special features: Stunning mature dry forest that grows along the Duiwe River. Swimming is optional in summer. Magnificent birdlife.
Fauna: You may be fortunate to see Bushbuck, Vervet Monkeys and Rock Hyrax. You could see the tracks and signs of Porcupine, Bush pigs, Water Mongoose, Cape Grey Mongoose and other small terrestrial mammals.
Birds commonly seen: Knysna Turaco, Malachite Kingfisher, Olive Woodpecker, Olive Bush Shrike, Double Collared Sunbird, Red Chested Cuckoo, Emerald Cuckoo and Cape Bulbul.
Knysna Forest Walks
Afro-Montane forest used to cover the coastal plain and mountain ranges of most of the South Western Cape, it is a beautiful and unusual biome in a country that is dominated by low and erratic rainfall. It traces its lineage all the way through to the Forest’s of the Congo Basin in Central Africa when Africa was far wetter and more lush. In these walks we attempt to show the evolution of this fascinating biome by comparing the different types of Forest in the Knysna area. This allows us to explore other fascinating aspects of this area; the early Wood Cutters, the Gold Rush at Millwood, the elephants as well as the smaller Flora and Fauna. Many of the walks give the impression of walking through a cathedral, with massive Yellowwood and stinkwood trees vaulting the sky and providing a profound tranquility that is seldom found outside of nature.
Woodcutters Trail
This beautiful walk is accessible for most ages and provides a welcome shaded relief from the sun in summer. The river and the waterfall are striking and contribute to the coolness. Barring one or two steep sections, it is relatively flat and the trail is well laid out so that it is not too strenuous. This allows for a relaxed appreciation of the scenery and birdlife. The trail takes you to some magnificent trees including some that are estimated at over 800 years old.
Distance: 9km Circular walk
Exertion level: Moderate exertion level makes this walk ideal for most ages
Special features: Stunning, medium moist forest, Good birdlife, swimming in summer, option to visit the old Gold mining areas and old abandoned shafts.
Fauna: You may be fortunate to see Bushbuck and Vervet Monkeys as well as the tracks and signs of Porcupine, Bush pigs, Water Mongoose, Cape Clawless Otter and other small terrestrial mammals.
Birds commonly seen: Knysna Turaco, Grey Cuckoo shrike, Black headed Oriel, Forest Buzzard, Olive Woodpecker, Olive Bush Shrike, Southern Double Collared Sunbird, Yellow Throated Woodland Warbler and Chorister Robin
Terblans Wood Trail
This is a wonderful forest walk that, except for a steep descent and ascent, remains relatively level and easy. The path leads through the Gouna State Forest, an area that has been little changed by time. The trail is named after the largest member of the Protea family. It differs from the usual scrub growth form of the family in that it can reach heights of 25m. It is a relic species of wetter periods when the tropical forests extended much further south. Outside this area it now only occurs in isolated pockets into Tanzania and Madagascar.
Distance: 6.5km Circular walk
Time: 4hours
Exertion level: Light to Moderate exertion level makes this walk ideal for most ages
Special features: Stunning, Medium moist forest, Good birdlife, swimming in summer, great Forest Birding
Fauna: You may be fortunate to see Bushbuck and Vervet Monkeys as well the tracks and signs of Porcupine, Bush pigs, Water Mongoose, Cape Clawless Otter and other small terrestrial mammals.
Birds commonly seen: Knysna Turaco, Grey Cuckoo shrike, Black headed Oriel, Forest Buzzard Olive Woodpecker, Olive Bush Shrike, Southern Double Collared Sunbird, Yellow Throated Woodland Warbler and Chorister Robin
For millennia large numbers of Elephants roamed the forests between George and Port Elizabeth .This trail runs through some of the more utilized areas of the last of the free ranging Elephants in South Africa. The Forest type here is quite different to the other forest types in that the distinction between canopy and underbrush is more marked, creating two small eco-zones with in one. It also gets far more rain. Bird life is prolific and for some reason the Narina Trogon is seen here quite frequently.
Distance: 8 km Circular walk
Time: 4hours
Exertion level: Light exertion level makes this walk ideal for most ages
Special features: Stunning high wet forest, good birdlife, great forest birding
Fauna: You may be fortunate to see Bushbuck and Vervet Monkeys as well the tracks and signs of Porcupine, Bush pigs, Blue Duiker and other small terrestrial mammals. A highlight would be any signs of Elephant.
Birds commonly seen: Knysna Turaco, Grey Cuckoo shrike, Black headed Oriel, Forest Buzzard, Olive Woodpecker, Olive Bush Shrike, Southern Double Collared Sunbird, Yellow Throated Woodland Warbler, Chorister Robin, Lemon Dove, Tambourine Dove and Narina Trogon
Kranshoek Forest and Coastal Walk
A stunning coastal walk that differs markedly from Robberg in that a fair amount of the walk takes place under the canopy of true indigenous forest. In addition there are large stretches of Fynbos. Steeper inclines also make this a slightly more taxing walk although one that is well worth the added effort.
Time: 4-5hour Guided walk
Distance: 9,4km circular walk
Exertion level: Moderate
Special features: Stunning coastal scenery, beautiful forest, waterfall and great rock pools for swimming
Fauna: You may be fortunate to see Bushbuck, Vervet Monkeys and Rock Hyrax. You could see the tracks and signs of Porcupine, Bush pigs, Cape Clawless Otter, Cape Grey Mongoose and other small terrestrial mammals.
Birds commonly seen: Knysna Turaco, Forest Buzzard,White necked Raven,Olive Woodpecker, Olive Bush Shrike, Double Collared Sunbird, Cape Bulbul, Orange Breasted Sunbird, Spotted Prinia and African Black Oyster Catcher.
Robberg Peninsula Walk
This is a walk that stretches superlatives to their limit. It is absolutely gorgeous and transports you through some of South Africa’s most beautiful coastal scenery.
This alone is, however, only half the reason to do this walk. The Robberg Peninsular acts as an open air museum that offers testament to our past as a species and our will to survive. Our ancestors were living there for about 19000 years and there are numerous middens and rock shelters on the peninsular.
The walk traverses 4 different eco-zones: Rocky shores, Sandy beach, Fynbos and Dry coastal thicket. As such the birdlife and plant life is diverse. Over 100 species of bird have been recorded here, including Orange Breasted and Malachite Sunbirds, Cape Rock Thrush and African Black Oystercatcher. Terrestrial mammals are seldom seen but a wonderful feature of this walk is the large number of Cape Fur Seals. Dolphins are commonly seen and whales that visit between late Winter to early Summer months are often seen along the route.
Time: 4 hours although full day walk is an option
Distance: 6km
Exertion level: moderate
Special features: Geological and anthropological as well as magnificent scenery and views. Whales from late Winter to early Summer.
Fauna: You may be fortunate to see Bushbuck, Cape Clawless Otter, Grysbok Rock Hyrax and Baboon. You could see the tracks and signs of other small terrestrial mammals. The animal that the peninsular is named after is the Cape fur seal and there is a large permanent colony so they are numerous and easily seen. Both Humpback and Southern Right Whales are common in the late Winter to early Summer months during their annual migration to the tropics
Birds commonly seen: Somber Greenbul, Knysna Woodpecker, Cape Rock Thrush, Orange Breasted Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Swift Tern and African Black Oystercatcher
Habitats on the Garden Route are diverse and offer a wide range of species and many special endemics. The narrow coastal belt also forces many of the different eco-zones into a small area. This means more habitats can be visited in a shorter time. Wetlands are especially good, boasting a Ramsar site comprising of two lakes, Rondevlei and the Langvlei with fantastic and productive Hides. Large undisturbed tracts of wet and dry Afro-montane forest also ensure rewarding birding. Moving up off the coastal plain gives access to the rich birding grounds of Mountain Fynbos as well as the dryer regions of the Klein Karroo. Most of these area’s can be visited as a half day Birding trip although full day Itineraries can also be arranged.
Any of the above walks can be tailored specifically for birding enthusiasts although the times given may then vary as Birding often takes longer.
Phone or email us for further enquiries and rates at +27 71 683 4133 reflection@mweb.co.za