Kgale Hill, which overlooks the southern end of Gaborone, is a very distinctive landmark, and can be seen from a long distance. Kgale provides a totally different habitat to the surrounding areas, and is well worth a stop. From the car park near the main road, two paths lead up Kgale hill, however the one on the western side is more productive and not as steep. It is advisable to leave somebody at your car as "break ins" are sometimes reported. Once over the sty, follow the signboards to the walk. The walks up to the top may take anything up to a couple of hours, but it is very enjoyable and the view makes the trip worth it alone.
Passing through some of the thicker bush at the base of the hill, listen out for the two syllable call of the Fantailed Flycatcher and the "squeaky windmill" call of the Whitethroated Robin. In summer, the beautiful Plumcoloured Starling may be seen feeding in small flocks at the base of the hill. Also look out for Kalahari Robin, Yellow Canary, Southern Black Tit and the ever-present Blackchested Prinia. Black Eagles have bred on Kgale in the past, while Lanner Falcon, African Hawk Eagle and Booted Eagle may be seen circling around Kgale and the adjacent hills. Some of the interesting species that can be seen while moving up the slopes of Kgale include Shorttoed Rock Thrush, Natal Francolin, Lazy Cisticola, Redeyed Bulbul, Barthroated Apalis, Cape White-Eye, Mocking Chat and Striped Pipit, which can be heard calling near the top. In summer look out for Garden Warbler and Yellowthroated Sparrow in the trees towards the top of Kgale.
Phakalane sewage ponds, about 20km north of Gaborone is an excellent spot to see many of the water birds of the area. The ponds however are fenced off for various reasons, but access may be gained by contacting the Botswana Bird Club. A walk around the ponds in summer may yield a variety of species, and over the last few seasons, some unusual things have been seen. Species regularly recorded on the Phakalane sewage ponds include Blacknecked Grebe, Maccoa, Fulvous and Whitebacked Duck, Cape, Redbilled and Hottentot Teal, Black Crake and Purple Gallinule. Pygmy Goose, Lesser Moorhen and Spotted Crake are a few of the more unusual species to have been recorded in the last few years.
Both Flamingo species are seen regularly at Phakalane as well as the occasional Fish Eagle. Waders are well represented with Common, Wood, Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff, Greenshank, Little Stint and Threebanded Plover all being recorded regularly. Keep your ears open for Jacobin and Black Cuckoo as well as Striped and Woodlands Kingfisher, which may be seen in the bushveld surrounding the ponds. Carefully watch all of the telephone lines for Marico Flycatcher, Swallowtailed Bee-Eater, Sabota Lark and Whitecrowned Shrike.
Bokaa Dam, north of Gaborone can be a very good spot depending on the level of the water. An ever expanding village on the northern side of the dam has had a large impact on the birding in the area, so the southern shore is probably a lot more rewarding. From the main road to the shore of the dam, keep your eyes open on bare ground in-between stands of acacia for the Shortclawed Lark, which has been recorded here in the past. When you approach the dam the area is covered by Acacia tortilis thickets and is excellent for many of the migrant warblers. A variety of water birds can be seen on the dam but this depends to a large extent on the level of the water. Blackwinged Pratincoles can be seen as well as Whitebacked Duck, Grey Plover, Fulvous Duck and South African Shelduck. A European Marsh Harrier was recorded recently while the level of the dam was low.
The Gaborone Game Reserve is situated very close to the middle of town, and is an excellent spot to visit, especially after heavy rains. Large numbers of Wood and Common Sandpiper move into the area as well as impressive flocks of Whitefaced Duck which fill the air with their pleasant calls. Painted Snipe as well as African Crake may be seen with a little luck in the flooded areas. Look out for Marsh Owl late in the afternoon. Redcrested Korhaan is a certain tick for the Game Reserve, listen out for its characteristic call. Little, European and Bluecheeked Bee-eaters can be seen hawking insects throughout the Reserve. Yellowbilled Kite have been known to breed along the river which forms the eastern boundary, and Little Sparrowhawk has also been seen in the large Combretum trees along the river course. Blackbreasted Snake Eagle may be seen sitting on the Electricity Powerlines, while Crimsonbreasted Shrike is really common in the reserve.
