The Midlands Birding Route is found in the same area as the uMgeni FootPrint. The birding route is made up of various sites that people can visit with a guide or on their own. It is advisable that the visitors contact Evelyn Hughes for information about access to the private farms.
The first route starts at Umgeni Valley. A whole day may be spent there. It consists of various biomes such as grasslands, riverine frontage, thornveld and mistbelt forests. There are over 250 species of birds with nesting African Crowned Eagles and Verraux’s Eagles.
The second route is the Midmar Dam Reserve, which is a large grassland full of plains, mammals and flowers. Birds significant to the area are Denhams Bustard, Cuckoo Finch, Red Winged Francolin and many water birds.
From Horwick there are routes into the Karkloof area to Albert Falls Dam. The Drakensberg, Richmond and Pietermaritzberg can easily be reached as a day trip from Howick.
The special sightings in the Midlands are the Orange Ground Thrush, Cape Parrot, Grey Crowned Crane, Wattled Crane, Blue Crane, Denham Bustard, Orange Breasted Rock Jumper, Longtailed Wagtail, Starred Robin and many more.
