BeKZN WALKS…👣 | UVE ROAD, KRANTZKLOOF NATURE RESERVE

16 August 2025

We are fortunate to have one of the Honorary Rangers of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, Brett Markwell, as one of our BeKZN members. He kindly arranged access for our group to the …

Uve Road entrance of the reserve, which has been closed to members of the public for many years now – although the area can be accessed from the main entrance of the reserve via a very long hike.

The entrance to the walk by Rob McLennan-Smith

There are two main paths traversing the top of the gorge.

1. The Beacon Trail, which is more strenuous and connects to the main reserve trails and

2. The easier trail heading east, which ends at the Rumdoodle climbing cliffs.

This latter is the path our group of 23 members took. We initially wanted to split into two groups, but a second ranger was not available on the day and turned out fine as we had a number of very knowledgeable birders spread out through the group.

Overlooking the forested ravines by Rob McLennan-Smith

We started off just before 7am with a typical Kloof light mist that burnt off quickly and didn’t spoil the birding. The area consists of lovely grasslands interspersed with indigenous clumps of trees and cliff edges.

Early morning magical mist over the gorge by Jane Morris

The scenery is truly stunning with magnificent views up the gorge and for miles around – it is difficult to believe you are in the middle of suburbia. In the grasslands we were pleased to see a small flock of Violet-backed Starlings and other returning migrants – Black Kites and Lesser Striped Swallows.

A small flock of Violet-backed Starlings returned from migration was a welcome sign of spring returning by Rob McLennan-Smith

As were the Black Kites by Rob McLennan-Smith

Cape Grassbirds were calling all around us but we only managed to get a fleeting glimpse of one. Lazy Cisticolas were frequently seen but tricky to photograph. A surprise sighting was a male Narina Trogon in low bush at the top of the cliff face. Mixed flocks of African Black Swifts and Alpine Swifts were seen along the cliffs. as were a number of raptors – Black Sparrowhawk, African Harrier-Hawk and Lanner Falcon.

A male Narina Trogon doing what they do best – hiding in bush turning away from you by Rob McLennan-Smith

There was some debate as to whether this was an African Goshawk or Black Sparrowhawk but the eventual decision was a juvenile Black Sparrowhawk. by Rob McLennan-Smith

An exciting moment occurred when an African Goshawk, which when first seen was a speck in the sky, came stooping down at high speed right in front of us on the cliff edge and landed in trees below us. At the same spot a pair of Swee Waxbills posed well for photos and a Cape Rock Thrush was seen on the rock face.

A male Swee Waxbill by Rob McLennan-Smith

All in all, it was a really enjoyable morning with no wind and light cloud cover. A good winter birding outing with a total of 65 species seen.

Brett has promised us another outing in the summer months and we will probably do the Beacon Trail which will involve some forest birding as well as grasslands and clifftops.