Distance~12 km
Time needed2–3 hours
TypeBirding
Best timeSunrise
01 — 04
About the place
A seasonal lake outside the park where painted storks, flamingos and demoiselle cranes gather through winter — and no permit is needed.
Surwal is a shallow seasonal lake roughly twelve kilometres from the park, ringed by farmland. Between November and March it fills with migratory birds — painted storks, spoonbills, flamingos, demoiselle cranes and a long list of waders — and at sunrise the light across the water is exceptional. It sits outside the core zone, so no safari permit is required, which makes it the natural thing to do on a morning when you don't hold a park booking.
What makes it worth it
Migratory birding from November to March
No permit required — outside the core zone
Painted storks, flamingos and demoiselle cranes
A superb sunrise for photographers
Before you go
Strictly a winter destination — it can be dry by late spring.
Get there for first light; the birds and the light both fade by mid-morning.
Bring binoculars. Much of the interest is at distance.
A good use of a morning when you don't have a safari permit.
