FASCINATING FACTS

● Little lemon breasted canaries like to nest in the lala palm. Look for them among the fronds when birding near Mkuze.

● The mangrove kingfisher is migratory and active in this area in June and July. It’s best spotted on foot while meandering the mangroves at Umlalazi Nature Reserve.

● August to February is a better time to see the green barbet, when it’s busy gorging on fruits and breeding. The Ongoye Forest has eight fig species; few other forests have more than three.

● Globally threatened birds to seek out on this route include the spotted ground thrush, crowned eagle and southern ground hornbill.