NATURE NERDS

South Africa has a mild climate with most parts of the country experiencing cool, dry winters and mild to hot summers with occasional rain. The best time for your trip to South Africa depends largely on what aspects of nature you are most interested in and what part of the country you will be visiting. Winter generally offers drier conditions with mammals and birds more likely to be more active for longer periods of the day. Summer offers a greater variety of birds as seasonal migrants are present. Give us a call and we will be happy to advise in more detail.

We cater to all tourists who are interested in nature. Most of our guests want to see a mixture of birds and mammal species but our clients include birders, wildlife enthusiasts and anglers. As long it has anything to do with nature, we are experts on it. Let us know what your particular interests are and we will tailor your trip to ensure the experience you are looking for. Whether you want to see the Big Five, the Small Five or the Shy Five, we can make it happen. Just don’t ask us to show you the Jackson Five…

South Africa is as safe to travel in as most other countries. Crime levels are generally low in wildlife areas and the risk of tropical diseases is negligible. That being said, this is Africa and you do need to exercise common sense when deciding where and when to travel here. Our knowledgeable guides will be able to advise you on all aspects of safety. If you are feeling nervous about anything, give us a call and we will set your mind at ease.

Most tourists seldom venture off the beaten path. This is true for most parts of the world, not just South Africa. Although we run tours to the Kruger National Park and other well-known game reserves, we pride ourselves on knowing this beautiful country better than almost anyone else. We love taking our guests to parts of the country seldom visited by other tourists. Drop us an email and we’d be happy to suggest an itinerary based on your interests.

Nature Nerds uses a variety of accommodation depending on the nature locations we are visiting. Where possible we choose comfortable hotels, lodges and chalets that are ensuite (with private bathrooms). In some remote areas accommodation options are more limited, but safety and cleanliness remain our main priorities. Generally the standard is comfortable to very comfortable.

South Africa has a varied and delicious cuisine. Most of our accommodation partners offer great food options. We look forward to introducing you to biltong, bobotie, braaivleis, koeksisters and many of our other local specialities. Both meat and seafood dishes are excellent throughout the country and vegetarian options are also widely available. Let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements in advance and we should be able to cater for these.

These trips depart from and return to Johannesburg on the same day. While we suggest the timing and itinerary that will maximise your fishing, birding and nature experience, we are able to customise the day to suit your particular needs. Trips usually involve an early collection from the client’s hotel and a return to the same venue after dark. Tours are conducted in a luxury 4-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance. An early morning snack, a light lunch and soft drinks are included.

These trips require a group size of 1 – 6 people to confirm bookings. Travel is usually in a luxury 4-wheel drive vehicle with a maximum of 3 guests plus one guide per vehicle. Your group will not share a vehicle with other groups. Larger group sizes equate to significant savings on the tour price. While we have a variety of tried and tested tours which we offer, we are happy to customise these for a group wherever needed.

Our guides are experienced bird and wildlife guides chosen as much for their people skills as for their extensive knowledge of the varied wildlife found in South Africa. Nature Nerds guides are all experts on birds and mammals and also highly informed when it come to fish, reptiles, insects, amphibians and all other aspects of nature. We’re pretty good when it comes to local history and culture too!

The chameleon is our spirit animal! Their camouflage means that they are not always easy to see, but when you do finally find one, we think you’ll agree that they are among the coolest animals in the world! We are experts at tracking these lizards down and a trip with us provides you with a very good chance of seeing one in the wild. We’re also pretty good at showing our guests the other weird creatures that are often overlooked. Fish that breathe air – check, beetles that mix chemicals to create explosions – check, Moths that appeared in the movies – check!