The Agulhas Plain

Birds: 9/10
Scenery: 7/10
General tourism value: 6/10

Day 1: Drive the coastal route from Cape Town to Hermanus, stopping at Sir Lowry's Pass, Betty's Bay, and Harold Porter Botanical Gardens.

Day 2: Drive through the Agulhas Plain from Hermanus to Bredasdorp, visiting Cape Agulhas and other sites of interest, before returning to Cape Town.

Overview:

Situated 200 km east of Cape Town, the Agulhas plain stretches from the Langeberg Mountains to Cape Agulhas - the southern tip of Africa. This region is the only home for the highly range-restricted Agulhas Long-billed Lark. Other South African endemics include parties of stately Blue Crane (South Africa's endangered national bird), Stanley's Bustard, Thick-billed and Red-capped Larks, Black Harrier and Southern Black Korhaan.

The first day comprises the Sir Lowry's Pass to Hermanus Tour III. On the second day we will take a circuitous route through the Agulhas plain to look for the special birds of this region, stopping at Cape Agulhas on the way. We will also visit the Heuningnes Estuary to look for the only group of Damara Terns that breed in the Western Cape.