Which bird species do you think is the biggest attraction to visitors of your lodge (please only name one species)?
Olive, Orange-breasted, Grey-headed, and Gorgeous Bush-shrike. Sorry, I do not really know.
Little Bee-eater
What is the name of your lodge, and since when has your lodge been operating?
Cumberland Nature Reserve- about 6 years.
Cape Grassbird
How best to travel to your lodge?
Along N3 to Pietermaritzburg, taking Ortmann Road or Church St off initially taking the Wartburg Road- 25 mins off N3.
What kind of services – except for accommodation and food – does your lodge offer to visiting birders? (e.g., guided tours, photography blinds, bird feeders, etc.)
All self-catering accommodation. Self guided birding. No birding extras provided.
What makes your lodge special?
Beautiful views, peaceful, safe to roam.
What are the 10 – 20 most interesting birds that your lodge offers good chances to see?
- Red-throated Wryneck
- Golden, Cardinal, and Bearded Woodpeckers frequent the Acacias
- Fork-tailed Drongo
- Lesser and Greater Honeyguide
- Black Cuckooshrike
- African Hoopoe
- Green Woodhoopoe
- Golden-breasted Bunting
- Crested Barbet
- Groundscraper Thrush
- Southern Black Flycatcher
- Brown-hooded Kingfisher
- Cape and Chinspot Batis
- Mocking Cliff Chat
- Cape Rock-Thrush
- Black Saw-wing
- Lesser-striped Swallow
- Little Swift
- Rufous-naped Lark
- Striped Pipit
- African Stonechat
- Cape and Yellow-throated Longclaw
Cape Rock-Thrush
What is the best time to visit your lodge, and why?
I think any time of year. Birders will know.
Is your lodge involved in conservation efforts? If yes, please describe them.
Yes, Cumberland is a Natural Heritage site and is part of a 3500ha Conservancy and managed under the Central Umgeni Protected Area [CUPA].
Purple-banded Sunbird
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in visiting your lodge?
n.a.
Do you have activities for non-birders? If so, please describe.
Walking, mountain biking, fishing in Umgeni, a swimming pool.
Palm-nut Vulture
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in staying at your lodge, how can they best contact you?
Email: info@cumberlandreserve.co.za or www.cumberlandreserve.co.za Office number: 083 376 5600 [office hrs 8 – 3.30pm Mon-Sat.]
Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds?
Most people come to just view the abundance of species. We have a list of 306 species.
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