10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2021

One in November 2018 included a one-day birding trip in the Drakensberg area, a mountain range in the border area between South Africa and Lesotho. Pretty pointless, I guess, if it wasn’t for the birds – though it seems some tourists take the same tour just to get the Lesotho stamp into their passport.

South Africa 222

South Africa Africa Lesotho Nigeria 222

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

For several years I lived and birded in the south of Africa , and still have my battered second edition (1997) of the Sasol Birds of Southern Africa, the most trusted local field guide. Before that, while you all know what South Africa is, what exactly is Southern Africa?

Africa 264

Africa South Africa Swaziland Lesotho 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Africa has more than its fair share of storks, with 8 of the world’s 19 species gracing the continent. Furthermore we have another very special stork-like bird, the regal Shoebill , previously known as the Whale-headed Stork but now placed in its own family. The Saddle-billed Stork has a similar Africa-wide distribution as the Marabou.

Africa 233

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 233

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2013

What a way to sum up what is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest birding sites and certainly my favorite in southern Africa. Albeit currently a rugged 4×4-only road, Sani Pass is the most accessible route from KwaZulu-Natal into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Photo by Adam Riley. Photo by Adam Riley. Image by Adam Riley.

Lesotho 164

Lesotho Africa Birds Rats 164

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

But I do have rules about whether I can have said to have visited a country, ie does the country “count” which I have inherited from my family, particularly my Dad. But I have visited Guatemala, Lesotho and Zimbabwe to actually visit them and count them, even though I spent less time in them than I did Zurich.

Botswana 162

Botswana Birds Lesotho Elephants 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

This image shows Sani Pass, a rough 4×4 track leading into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. With this quote I have the pleasure of introducing my home province (state) for this month’s 10,000 Bird’s Africa Beat. They discovered Gurney’s Sugarbird during their time in South Africa. Image by Adam Riley. At 36,433 sq.

Mozambique 182

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 182

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2011

My home country of South Africa can only be described as a birding paradise! Drakensberg (or Orange-breasted) Rockjumper is a Drakensberg Mountain species whose range is shared with the tiny landlocked kingdom of Lesotho. An image of a male can be found in my African Birding Beat intro post [link].

South Africa 215

South Africa Lesotho Africa Swaziland 215