An exciting initiative along the birding routes and in areas adjacent to birding hotspots is the availability of Community Bird Guides. The guides provide improved security and valuable information on where elusive and special bird species may be found, and in some cases can gain you access to otherwise restricted locations. Although we have detailed below suggested rates for the use of these guides, they are self-employed and free to set their own rates but they are affordable and offer very competitive rates within the guiding industry.
BirdLife South Africa recognised the important role that local communities can play in conservation and as a result became involved in bird guide training and skills development. BirdLife South Africa launched the Community Bird Guide Training Program in 2001. The programme has relaunched in 2016 following a short break due to funding and personnel shortages.
