The Mooi River region offers many interesting birding opportunities, including an excellent chance to view several endangered species. The South African Crane Foundation has established a breeding and study centre on the nationally important Hlatikulu Wetland, bordering on the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park near Giant’s Castle, in an effort to ensure the survival of three endangered species: the blue, wattled and crowned cranes. They can still be seen among the high western grasslands.

The secretary bird is becoming rare, having to share its habitat increasingly with farmland and forest, but can be spotted stalking regally through open grasslands. Another Red Data Book species, the bald ibis, favours certain cliffs and krantzes in the region - and a colony has been known to nest and breed near the Mooi River Falls.

The bird list for Giant's Castle Game Reserve alone boasts a total of a 140 species, including black eagles and the rare Cape vulture. The ornithological treat here is an opportunity to view the threatened bearded vulture (or lammergeyer) from a special hide that gives a birds-eye view of a "vulture restaurant".