Tyron DallDay Trip Report: Mount Park, Dargle Valley, KZN
Updated: Oct 1, 2020
This last Saturday my family and Adam went on an adventure to Mount Park Guest Farm, situated in the idyllic Dargle Valley in KZN. The region consists of farm lands with patches of indigenous mist belt forests.
After arriving, we were greeted to a very friendly welcome by the owners. We were handed a good map of the various trails that one can do on the expansive property. The draw card is of course the hike up the stunning Inhlosane Mountain. Adam and I set off on a hike, while my wife and kid settled in on the beautiful lawns near a small dam and children’s playground.
Soon into our hike, and we were treated to a bit of Robin-Chat frenzy. Both Cape Robin-Chat and Chorister Robin-Chats took turns to hop about on the path in front of us, before flushing to the trees as we were about to take some award winning pics. Luckily we snapped a few decent ones. We also appreciated the well maintained and well-marked trails.
A short while later we came to small dam along the forest edge where we encountered a mixed species bird party. Forest Canaries where bathing in the small mud pools on the edge of the dam, while a Drakensberg Prinia made a brief appearance in a tree alongside. Other birds that were enjoying this area were Thick-billed and Cape Weavers, as well as a Sombre Greenbul.