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The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Tala Private Game Reserve

Afrikaans name: Tala Privaat Wildtuin

Looks like the Egyptian Geese have taken over the bird-watching hide at Tala Private Game Reserve

One of the hides at Tala Private Game Reserve

Photo © Steven Herbert

KwaZulu-Natal

Tala Private Game Reserve is a reserve situated between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

The habitat is mainly open grassland but there are also large stretches of thornveld. A few dams and wetland areas are also present. In autumn and winter months the aloes put on a beautiful show with their orange blooms.

Game is plentiful and one may expect to see White Rhino, Burchell's Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Hippo, Kudu, Blesbok and Impala. If you are lucky you may see Sable Antelope.

Over 380 species of bird have been recorded in the reserve. It is a popular venue amongst Durban and Maritzburg birders. Unfortunately there are not many areas where one can leave your car but there is a good road network.

The reserve offers activities such as game drives and guided bush walks.

There is a variety of accommodation on offer catering for all tastes and budgets.

The reserve also boasts a fine restaurant. Tala Private Game Reserve also has a wedding venue and conferencing facility.

Tala Private Game Reserve is only a short drive from Durban and it is even closer to Pietermaritzburg.

Tell us about your experiences at Tala



Misty morning shot of Impala at Tala Private Game Reserve

Above - Impala on a misty morning

Photo © Steven Herbert

Tala Private Game Reserve

Above - Tala Private Game Reserve provides a beautiful setting for a variety of functions including wedding receptions and conferences.

Photo © Steven Herbert

Tala Private Game Reserve

Above - The dam near the entrance to Tala Private Game Reserve is home to a number of Hippos as well as many water birds. It is well worth stopping at the two hides next to the dam.

Photo © Steven Herbert

Tala Private Game Reserve

Above - The spacious picnic site is very popular over weekends. It features a magnificent 'natural looking' swimming pool.

Photo © Steven Herbert


Some mammals found at Tala Private Game Reserve

Vervet Monkey

Cape Porcupine

Black-backed Jackal

Large-spotted Genet

Banded Mongoose

Slender Mongoose

Dwarf Mongoose

Caracal

White Rhino

Burchell's Zebra

Warthog

Hippopotamus

Giraffe

Oribi

Blesbok

Reedbuck

Impala

Waterbuck

Bushbuck

Nyala

Kudu

Eland

Blue Wildebeest


Some birds that may be found at Tala Private Game Reserve

Common Ostrich

Natal Spurfowl

Helmeted Guineafowl

White-faced Duck

Egyptian Goose

South African Shelduck

Spur-winged Goose

African Black Duck

Yellow-billed Duck

Cape Shoveler

Red-billed Teal

Lesser Honeyguide

Red-throated Wryneck

Black-collared Barbet

Crested Barbet

Crowned Hornbill

Trumpeter Hornbill

Southern Ground-Hornbill

African Hoopoe

Narina Trogon

European Roller

Lilac-breasted Roller

Malachite Kingfisher

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Little Bee-eater

Speckled Mousebird

Red-faced Mousebird

Diderick Cuckoo

Burchell's Coucal

Knysna Turaco

Purple-crested Turaco

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Marsh Owl

Speckled Pigeon

Laughing Dove

Cape Turtle-Dove

Red-eyed Dove

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Tambourine Dove

Grey Crowned Crane

Blue Crane

Black Crake

Common Moorhen

Red-knobbed Coot

Spotted Thick-knee

Three-banded Plover

Blacksmith Lapwing

African Wattled Lapwing

Black-winged Lapwing

Crowned Lapwing

Whiskered Tern

Black-shouldered Kite

Black Kite

African Fish-Eagle

African Marsh-Harrier

African Harrier-Hawk

African Goshawk

Little Sparrowhawk

Black Sparrowhawk

Steppe Buzzard

Jackal Buzzard

Tawny Eagle

Martial Eagle

Long-crested Eagle

Secretarybird

Greater Kestrel

Lanner Falcon

Little Grebe

African Darter

Reed Cormorant

White-breasted Cormorant

Black Heron

Little Egret

Great Egret

Grey Heron

Black-headed Heron

Purple Heron

Cattle Egret

Hamerkop

Hadeda Ibis

African Sacred Ibis

African Spoonbill

Yellow-billed Stork

Woolly-necked Stork

White Stork

Black-headed Oriole

Fork-tailed Drongo

African Paradise-Flycatcher

Black-backed Puffback

Southern Boubou

Bokmakierie

Chinspot Batis

Pied Crow

White-necked Raven

Red-backed Shrike

Common Fiscal

Grey Cuckooshrike

Southern Black Tit

Barn Swallow

Dark-capped Bulbul

Sombre Greenbul

Long-billed Crombec

Cape White-eye

Rufous-naped Lark

Groundscraper Thrush

Olive Thrush

Southern Black Flycatcher

Fiscal Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

African Dusky Flycatcher

Red-capped Robin-Chat

White-browed Scrub-Robin

African Stonechat

Mocking Cliff-Chat

Red-winged Starling

Black-bellied Starling

Cape Glossy Starling

Common Myna

Red-billed Oxpecker

Olive Sunbird

Grey Sunbird

Amethyst Sunbird

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Collared Sunbird

White-bellied Sunbird

Lesser Masked-Weaver

Spectacled Weaver

Yellow Weaver

Southern Masked-Weaver

Village Weaver

Red-billed Quelea

Southern Red Bishop

Fan-tailed Widowbird

White-winged Widowbird

Thick-billed Weaver

Common Waxbill

Blue Waxbill

Green-winged Pytilia

Bronze Mannikin

Red-backed Mannikin

Pin-tailed Whydah

House Sparrow

Cape Sparrow

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

African Pied Wagtail

Cape Wagtail

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Cape Longclaw

Yellow-fronted Canary

Golden-breasted Bunting


References and further reading

For more info: Tala Collection Game Reserve


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