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Map of Botswana
GOOTAU
GeneralGootau has the biggest of the two breeding colonies of Cape Vultures, in Botswana, with more than 200 breeding pairs. This magnificent bird is listed as vulnerable as its numbers have been in decline due to the combined effects of declining game numbers, poisoning by farmers and electrocution from powerlines. Due to the importance of this breeding site this area is protected and permission must be requested of the chief of Gootau before visiting this site and care must be taken not to disturb these birds especially during the breeding season.
How to get there
Gootau village is now accessible by tarred road from the Martin's Drift border post road. Once in the village directions to the chief's residence can be obtained and he will then give directions to the foot of the hills. After passing the dam on the outskirts of the village the road becomes a rough track which eventually disappears. From here you follow the dry stream
bed up into the gorge. This trek takes about 2hrs of solid walking/scrambling through thorny scrub. Once you have reached the first cliff the best view is from the right-hand slope of the gorge which is not too steep to climb. From here you have a good view across the valley of the cliffs though a good pair of binoculars or a telescope are essential to be able to see the birds up close.What to see
Apart from the cliffs and associated Cape Vultures this area is also home to birds such as Rock Bunting, Black Eagle, Black Stork, Striped Cuckoo, Meyer's Parrot and Striped Pipit. Baboons are frequently seen and we have found evidence of Brown Hyena's in the gorge.
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