Sir Lowry's Pass to Hermanus (1 Day)

Birds: 9/10
Scenery: 8/10
General tourism value: 6/10

The route:

Overview:

This tour provides the opportunity of viewing 8 of the 9 Cape fynbos endemics, particularly Cape Rockjumper and Victorin's Warbler, together with a variety of other fynbos and forest birds and several Benguela-endemic seabirds along the most scenic section of the Cape Whale Route.

Daybreak will find us at the historic Sir Lowry's Pass in the Hottentots Holland Mountains overlooking False Bay. Residing here are two fynbos endemics that are not found on the Cape Peninsula, the Cape Rockjumper and Victorin's Warbler. Other birds to see here include Cape Siskin, Ground Woodpecker, and Cape and Sentinel rock thrushes. On the scenic drive via Rooiels to Betty's Bay we will stop strategically to search for fynbos specials, an African Penguin breeding colony and other Benguela-endemic seabirds such as the Cape, Crowned and Bank cormorants.

We will lunch at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens where the common fynbos endemics can be seen together with some very scarce species, including the Cape Eagle Owl on rocky outcrops and the Protea Canary in the hill-side proteoid woodland. The forested gorges here hold Cape Batis, Forest Canary, Paradise and Dusky flycatchers, and Olive Woodpecker. Hermanus is famous for the ease with which large numbers of breeding Southern Right Whales can be seen close inshore during winter and spring (July-November). We will spend some time whale watching in season, before returning to Cape Town

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