South Africa Guide
KwaZulu-Natal
Bird-watching
Bird-watching, a major activity in the green fringes of the city, is being aided by the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (DMOSS), a project linking all the city parks via narrow green corridors. Promising spots include the Manor Gardens area; the Botanic Gardens; the Berea; Burman Bush, to the north of the city; Pigeon Valley, below the University of KwaZulu-Natal; the Umgeni River Mouth; Virginia Bush, on the road to Umhlanga Rocks; and the Hawaan Forest in Umhlanga, where the spotted thrush and green coucal have been seen.
Worth a visit is the Umgeni River Bird Park, 490 Riverside Rd, Durban North (daily 9am–5pm; R25; 
www.umgeniriverbirdpark.co.za ), which has a fantastic free-flight bird show (daily 11am & 2pm), with spectacular specimens as well as a vast collection of indigenous and exotic birds, including flamingos, finches, magpies and macaws.