Join international birding guide for a day in the Kruger
MBOMBELA - The Lowveld is renowned for its rich bird life and is an attraction for bird watchers from all over the world and Marc Cronje, an international birding guide, spent some time at the Bardolino Homegrown Drive-Through Market to take some locals on a tour of the property to show off its bird community.
“I had been to the Bardolino property to do a walk with Walter Thornhill and know the property has some exceptional birding and knew people would love birding on the property,” he said.
“Due to the Covid-19 regulations, I am unable to guide internationally as we cannot travel,” Cronje said on Saturday. “The birding tour on Saturday provided the opportunity for me to generate an income.”
Cronje is currently offering his services as a professional bird and wildlife guide to the public to join him on a birding trip around the Lowveld and also into the Kruger National Park.
“I can join folks on a bird-watching trip in the Kruger. I will meet you at the gate and hop into your car and guide you around southern Kruger and help you with birding for the day. I have an extensive knowledge of the birds and birding in Kruger.
“I will charge a small fee to make a living during this crazy time. I can compile bird lists for your property, estate, lodge or farm. I can also join people on trips locally to go and find and enjoy the birds we have in and around the Lowveld. I am flexible and able to adjust to people needs, skill level, interests, and expertise.”
Cronje is a keen wildlife photographer and also does wildlife and birding photography trips. He can also help with using the Birdlasser application and contributing to SABAP2 (citizen science).
Cronje was born in Johannesburg and his keen interest in wildlife and birding comes from being brought up in the Johannesburg Zoo, where his father was the curator of primates and small cats.
He moved down to the Lowveld when his family started Chimp Eden, the first chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa, which is affiliated with the Jane Goodall Institute. Cronje worked at the sanctuary for five years.
He spends most of his days in the wild leading birding and wildlife tours across Southern Africa. Cronje has also led birdwatching tours to Spain, Costa Rica, India and Sri Lanka.
Cronje has been a guide for just over eight years and has a degree in nature conservation.
“I am a THEATA/FGASA Level 2 Guide who sits on the Birdlife Lowveld Committee. I am a keen bird lister and have seen just over 800 species of birds within Southern Africa and over 1 500 species within Africa. My current world list sits at just over 2000 species of birds. I love sharing my passion,” he explained.
He is actively involved in research projects, including the Southern African Bird Atlas project and Wild Dog monitoring within the Kruger National Park.
Cronje will be doing another guided birding walk at Bardolino on July 25.
He gives the following advice to new bird watchers: “Make sure to enjoy the birding whenever you can and appreciate being out in nature. Keep practising and try to learn a new bird and call each day. The more time one spends in the field the better birder you become and it becomes easier to ID the different birds. The bird calls are an important aspect of birding.”
To get into contact with Cronje, send an email to marc.cronje1991@gmail.com or phone 083-705-6436. You can also visit the website (www.naturetravelbirding.com) and Facebook page, Nature Travel Birding.