BIRDING & FISHING TRIPS /DESTINATIONS

At Active Escapes we cater to birding and fishing enthusiasts with equal measure. From casting for Yellowfish in the waters of the Tugela to fantastic twitching opportunities on the estuaries of the Wild Coast, our options are exciting and wide-spread! Whether you're in need of an informative guide or simply someone to point you in the right direction, we have the inside edge on where the fish are biting and the birds are chirping.

All of our nature-based holidays are set in picturesque surrounds, and the birdlife is equally stunning. Birding in the reaches of the Tugela Valley is unique, and one can spot up to 100 species in a day, including numerous members of the Cuckoo, Bush Shrike, Tchagra and Warbler families. Down on the Wild Coast, Wavecrest is a coastal birders delight with the Nxaxo and Nkusi River meeting to offer the richest birding in the area. An amazing site to see are the dance displays of the Grey Crowned Crane which take place in the late afternoon on the beach.

Kosi Bay up on the border with Mozambique is an exceptional area encompassing a lake system and a variety of habitats that attract birds as variable as the Rosy Throated Longclaw to the Pel's Fishing Owl and African Pygmy Goose! Delving into the curves of the KZN Midlands and the Drakensberg, one can spy anything from the flighty Drakensberg Rock-jumper to the formidable giant scavengers of the sky; the Bearded and Cape Vultures that cruise the thermals all the way down to the Eastern Cape Highlands.

Wherever there is water, a fisherman tends to wonder if there are fish waiting to bite. Active Escapes holidays take place in and around many of South Africa's top fishing spots. The KZN Midlands and lower Drakensberg are famed for dams stocked with trout and crystal clear rivers, and the area is dotted with comfortable accommodation that makes weekend fishing breaks a very convenient option.

Indigenous Yellowfish swim the lengths and breadths of many KZN rivers, and are a highly popular catch. With excellent fishing on both the Pongola and Tugela Rivers, holiday breaks in the Tugela Valley and the Maputaland Corridor lead straight to the banks of waters packed with Yellowfish.

The powerful Tigerfish is another excellent catch also found in the Maputaland area, and fishing in the warm far-eastern reaches of South Africa is a must for real enthusiasts, with Active Escapes offering many family holiday options in this area.