Fascinating Mammals
The inspiring cliffs of the Drakensberg escarpment provide a plethora of nesting habitats for several raptor species along with swift, swallow and bald ibis colonies.
The pinnacle of the escarpment drops into open montane grasslands with patches of woodland and indigenous scrub. Scrubby aloe and protea stands are found over the considerable majority of the cliffs and rocky mountainous terrain. Below in the canyon and on the slopes of the escarpment, open broadleaf woodlands and lush and fertile riparian forests are found.
At the Blyde River Canyon, (also known as Motlatse Canyon) you can spot wildlife such as troops of baboon, vervet monkey and dassies, which frequent the roadside above the canyon. Other fascinating mammals include hippo and crocodile in the Blyde Dam, and impala, kudu, blue wildebeest, waterbuck and zebra on the Lowveld plain in close proximity to the canyon's mouth. Rarer sightings comprise of bushpig and leopard.
Abundant Birdlife Population
Blyde River Canyon has an abundant birdlife population; one of the most wondrous occurrences in the area being the predominating Peregrine falcon and many other raptor species. Eighty percent (66 species) of Southern Africa's raptors occur, of which 55 species are regularly seen and 33 breed in the Blyde area.
The escarpment boasts the third largest Cape vulture colony in South Africa. Vultures are recurrently seen in the early morning and throughout the day, soaring high above the escarpment.
Birds also frequently observed include the black eagle, crowned eagle, African fish eagle, Gymnogene, jackal buzzard, Cape vulture, white-backed vulture, bald ibis, African finfoot, Narina trogon, Knysna lourie, purple crested lourie, Other species seen are Gurney's sugarbird, malachite sunbird, cinnamon dove, emerald cuckoo, red-backed mannikin, golden-tailed woodpecker, olive bush shrike and green twinspot.
Taita falcons breed in the gorges and cliffs of the escarpment, but are rarely sighted. Cape eagle owl, white-faced owl and wood owl are among the nocturnal raptors regularly heard. The rocky outcrops of the escarpment are primary perches for early morning raptor spotting.
The Peregrine falcon is usually seen in the early morning, during windy conditions, as it glides over the edge of the escarpment and heads off to hunt on the upper grassy slopes. African fish eagles can be heard vocalising, Gymnogene, black eagle, black-breasted snake eagle, Wahlberg's eagle, long-crested eagle, jackal buzzard, Lanner falcon, red-breasted sparrowhawk, and rock kestrel are all commonly seen.