Sunflower Fields

Directions from Sun City:

From Sun City's main gate, head EAST towards Kwa-maritane Gate, Pilanesberg NP.

1.2 km down the road, turn RIGHT onto a road towards CHANENG.

Follow this road for roughly 5.1 km till the first stop street.

Turn LEFT and follow this road for roughly 3.4 km over numerous speed humps. There is a tar road to your left with a faded yellow sign advertising "Jacks Paint and Hardware" on the corner. The junction is directly after the "ROBEGA SUPERMARKET"

Turn LEFT here and after 1 km you will go up over a bridge crossing a railway line.

BRIDGE:  25°26'19.16"S 27° 7'45.72"E
                 25°26.319’S 27° 7.762’E

Directions from Rustenburg:

Head from Rustenburg to Sun City on the R565. Continue past KEDAR COUNTRY HOTEL and the new BAFOKENG SPORTS PALACE and MARANG HOTEL.

You will come to a 3-way STOP at BOSHOEK. Turn RIGHT towards a large Chrome Smelter.

From this junction, continue along this road for 8.3km.

Turn RIGHT at the tar road; a yellow sign advertises "Jacks Paint and Hardware" on the corner.

After 1km you will drive over the bridge mentioned above.

NOTES:

From the BRIDGE, the road is dead straight for the next 3 - 4km with numerous sunflower and mealie fields on either side of the road. With patience, the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse can be seen in the fields feeding on fallen seeds. You can park on the side of the road (it is pretty quiet generally) and walk in to the fields if you like, but great sightings can be had from the roadside. Just watch out for the farm roads going through the fields, as they are on "turf" soil and can be very sticky.

Stop regularly and scan the harvested fields, as a sitting Yellow-throated Sandgrouse is very well camouflaged on the ground.

Ensure you are familiar with the call, as this often alerts you to their approach.