by Etienne Marais

Introduction:
Suikerbosrand is a large Nature Reserve set in picturesque hills near Heidelberg. It offers a number of hiking trails which are a favourite on weekends, as well as an excellent "game drive" which is 60 km in total. Suikerbosrand is mostly grassland with cliffs, kloofs and wooded stream valleys.

Birds:
This is the best place near Johannesburg to find a range of highveld endemics, grassland and montane species. Whitebellied Korhaan, Greywinged, Redwinged and Orange River Francolin are resident. Jackall Buzzard, Secretary Bird and Black Eagle are present. Mountain slopes harbour Mountain and Mocking Chat, Both Cape Rock Thrush and Sentinel Rock Thrush(winter). Moist Valleys contain Grassbird, Redthroated Wryneck, Redcollared Widow and Cape Weaver. Hillsides are frequented by Wailing Cisticola, Longbilled Lark and Orange-throated Longclaw. Drier areas on the west host Yellow Canary, Titbabbler, Red-eyed Bulbul and Kalahari Robin.

Birding:
The reserve has a circular drive which traverses a variety of habitats, and one should try and be at the gate at 7:00 am when it opens. After paying the tollgate fee (R9-00) per car. At first one passes up a moist valley. Stop where the road overlooks the stream valley and listen out for Grassbird, Red-throated Wryneck. Malachite Sunbird and Fairy Flycatcher were also present here. Higher up the slopes are habitat for Wailing Cisticola, Bokmakierie and wherever there is bare ground or rocks, Mountain, Familiar and Stonechat seem to be prolific. Rock Pipit is also sometimes present in this area, while Yellow-rumped Widow are more obvious -especially in summer.

Birding along the circular drive is facilitated by the fact that the road follows an extensive series of firebreaks. After burns, the short grass makes birding along this route good. On the high summits, where the road passes rocky outcrops, Mountain Chat are everywhere and Sentinel Rock Thrush are conspicuous (winter only). Cape Bunting, Longbilled, Spikeheeled and Redcapped Lark and Orangethroated Longclaw are also present along this drive. Look out for Francolins which move out of the long grass to forage. On the high ground, Greywinged is common. Lower down Redwinged becomes dominant, although one can see both species together. As the road drops down look for Pipits and Anteating Chat. After 20 km the road drops down and goes past a large dam. Look in scrub grassland for Orange River Francolin which are often near the road.

The road then goes around the western Escarpement of the Suikerbosrand where there is acacia thornveld. The Holhoek Picnic area is a good place for birding. Look here for Titbabbler, Ashy Tit, Red-eyed Bulbul, Cape White-eye, and Blackchested Prinia. Mocking Chat can be seen around the Picnic Spot, as well as the main visitors centre.

Directions:
The reserve may be reached from the N3 South from Johannesburg. Take the R550 and immediately turn right back over the highway. Travel 6 km west along the R550 before turning left to the entrance gate. Unfortunately the gate only opens at 7:00 am.

Once in the reserve, proceed to the visitors centre to pay the fee for using the Game Drive route (R15-00 per car)