Nature
Where to see all three cranes
Wattled, grey crowned and blue: the Midlands is one of the few places where you can see all three in a single morning.
South Africa has three crane species, and the wetlands and grasslands of the Midlands support all of them. Wattled cranes are the rarest and need large, healthy wetlands. Blue cranes, the national bird, favour open grassland and farmland. Grey crowned cranes are often seen in pairs near dams.
Bird hides in the Karkloof are a good place to start. Go early, keep your distance from nests, and ask a local guide where pairs have been seen recently.
While you're near the forest, listen for the loud calls of Cape parrots flying between feeding trees in the yellowwood canopy.
