A top city medical specialist is still traumatised after being mugged and robbed while birdwatching in the Winelands.

Jerzy Przybojewski, a cardiologist in private practice at the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, was attacked near Paarl on Saturday.

"It was terrible," he told the Cape Argus.

The specialist spent Saturday morning at the Paarl Bird Sanctuary. But his pleasure turned to terror when he was ambushed in a hide by two knife-wielding men.

"I was manhandled and verbally abused. The knives were positioned over my mid-spine as well my upper chest. They screamed at me and immediately removed my very expensive cellphone from my belt.

"I was bodily searched, my camera gadget bag was ransacked and they demanded money," Przybojewski said.

"Having treated numerous patients with stab injuries, I now realised that I would probably not survive this encounter.

"Nevertheless, I also realised that I had to display 'partial control'. My medical training, self-discipline, as well as the awareness of the danger I was in and the potential for death at the hands of thugs, or even severe injury, somehow saved my life."

The doctor persuaded his assailants not to take his camera by divulging that there was money in his car.

After he gave them the money, the pair fled.

Przybojewski said he alerted the Kirstenhof police about the incident but did not lay a charge.