NATURE NERDS

Budget Birds and Animals

This one-week tour is aimed at seeing a large variety of bird and mammal species in a relatively short period of time at a reasonable cost. We highly recommend booking accommodation in Johannesburg the night before and after the trip. This will ensure flexibility of flight options as well as allow you to visit some other natural areas around the city if you’d like.

Day 1

Day one of your trip is spent birding the renowned Zaagkuildrift area north of Pretoria. Our targets here will mainly be birds more common in the west of south Africa. Although mammals are sometimes seen, they should be viewed as a bonus as the focus here will be on birding. After an early start, we drive the Zaagkuildrift Road, stopping in different habitats to view a variety of woodland, grassland and water birds. This area allows us to see many of the dry country specials more common in the western parts of South Africa. These may include Crimson-breasted Shrike, Pied Babbler, Barred Wren Warbler, Scaly-feathered Weaver and Shaft-tailed Whydah. When the floodplain of the Pienaars River has a good volume of water, we will spend some time there as many waterbirds can be seen including Black-winged Pratincole, African Comb Duck and Lesser Moorhen.

Night is spent at Zaagkuildrift Lodge

Day 2

After some early birding around the lodge we depart for Magoebaskloof. We will stop for lunch in the quaint village of Haenertsburg (they make good pancakes here) and afterwards do some birding around the town where we will have the opportunity to spot some grassland birds including Yellow Bishop, Red-Collared Widowbird and Drakensberg Prinia. This is also a good spot for sunbirds with malachite, greater double-collared and others being possible. After checking into our accommodation, we will do some birding in the forest habitat that this area is famous for. Forest Canary, Yellowstreaked Greenbul and Knysna Turaco will be just some of the special birds we will target. This area will provide an opportunity to look out for monkeys with both vervet and samango monkeys regularly seen.

Night is spent at Magoebaskloof Mountain Lodge

Day 3

We meet our local bird guide early in the morning and spend more time looking for special forest birds including the endangered Cape Parrot and range restricted Black-Fronted Bush Shrike. After our morning of birding we head towards the world famous Kruger National Park. Entering the park at Orpen gate we will immediately begin looking for large mammals such as elephants, buffalo, various antelope species and (if we are lucky) some of the big cats. The Satara area of Kruger is particularly good for predators and we will take a night drive from the camp which will increase our chances of seeing hyena, lion, leopard and some of the owl and nightjar species.

Night is spent at Satara Rest Camp

Day 4

An early departure from camp means we will have plenty of time to travel south through the game park, all the while looking out for interesting mammals, birds and other animals. We will certainly have good sightings of elephants, zebra, giraffe and many of the other iconic African wildlife during our time in Kruger Park. The birdlife in this region is excellent, and many large birds of prey such as Lappetfaced Vulture, Martial Eagle, Bateleur and Secretary bird can be seen. We will stop for a leisurely brunch at one of the rest camps on our way before staying at either Skukuza or Lower Sabie rest camp for the night. After dinner we will take a walk around the camp to look for nocturnal birds and animals. Along with owls and other birds, we may also see lesser galago (bush baby) and other small mammals who are often active in the rest camps after dark.

Night is spent at Skukuza or Lower Sabie Rest Camp

Day 5

After another early departure from camp (this is always the best time of the day to see active birds and mammals) we drive further south towards the southern Kruger camps of Berg-en-Dal and Crocodile Bridge. We should be treated to many animals during our drive and in Crocodile Bridge camp we will look out for the large colony of Wahlberg’s Epauleted Fruit Bats that roost there. We will see many birds on the drive including such colourful characters as Lilac Breasted Roller and Southern White-Crowned Shrike and possibly an ostrich or two. In summer this area has many cuckoos, with Diederick and Red Chested being two of the more commonly seen species. After a tasty dinner at the restaurant, we will walk around the camp looking and listening for nocturnal birds and animals.

Night is spent at Berg-en-Dal or Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp

Day 6

This is one of the longer days of driving as we need to get to the country town of Wakkerstroom. Including a stop for lunch, the trip should take us around 7 hours. A remarkable bird list of over 400 species has been recorded in this area, making it one of the premier birding destinations in South Africa. We will spend the afternoon and evening birding around town, especially around the sizeable wetland where may waterbirds can be seen. You can expect to encounter a wide variety of waders, ducks, kingfishers, herons and other birds here. An early dinner at one of the restaurants in town will be followed by a good night of rest as tomorrow will be one of the most exciting days of birding on your tour.

Night is spent at Forellenhof Guest Farm

Day 7

Today we will engage the services of one of the excellent local bird guides to accompany us around the area. We will be looking for specials like the Crowned Crane, Rudd’s Lark, Botha’s Lark (fewer than 340 individuals left in the wild), Ground Woodpecker and Southern Bald Ibis. We certainly won’t neglect the mammals as there is every chance of seeing Grey rhebok, mountain reedbuck and possibly a charming family of suricates (meerkats) during the day out. We will also spend some time searching for the Giant Girdled Lizard, a fascinating reptile that looks like a miniature dragon. After a full day in the field we will return to town for dinner with many new species on our trip lists. After dinner we may take a drive along one of the dirt roads in the area to look for black-backed jackal, porcupine and other nocturnal mammals.

Night is spent at Forellenhof Guest Farm

Day 8

After breakfast at our accommodation or in the charming hamlet of Wakkerstroom we will drive back to Johannesburg where we will arrive at your accommodation or the airport around lunch time.

Dry Country Birds and Scarce Mammals

This tour looks to cover a range of unique areas seldom visited by international visitors to South Africa. Indeed most South Africans have never been to these places! We focus on the dry western and central regions of the country which allows us to target a wide range of otherwise seldom seen mammals. The birds and reptiles on this trip are also excellent and we will be targeting many of the Karoo endemic species. We highly recommend booking accommodation in Johannesburg the night before and after the trip. This will ensure flexibility of flight options as well as allow you to visit some other natural areas around the city.

Day 1

We leave Johannesburg early, heading for Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province. During the drive we will see the environment change from moist Highveld grassland to a mix of dry Kalahari thornveld and Karoo scrub. We will arrive at Mokala National Park near Kimberley in the afternoon. The game viewing at Mokala is excellent and there are more than 40 mammal species that can potentially be seen. These include both black and white rhinoceros as well as dry country antelope like gemsbok and red hartebeest. After dark we will take a night drive which will provide an opportunity to look for some of the scarce nocturnal mammals. We have a chance to see the beautiful bat-eared fox as well as porcupine, African wildcat and others.

Night is spent at Mokala National Park

Day 2

We continue our exploration of Mokala National Park. In addition to the large animals, we will see many of the special dry country birds present in the area. These may include the Sociable Weaver (the bird who builds the largest nests in the world), the Pygmy Falcon (South Africa’s smallest raptor) and the beautiful Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. There should also be many small but colourful birds spotted throughout the day including Yellow Canary, Black Faced Waxbill and others. After the afternoon game drive your guide will prepare a traditional South African braai as your evening meal. This local version of a barbecue will include some of the excellent cuts of meat available in the country.

Night is spent at Mokala National Park

Day 3-4

After a leisurely breakfast we head south towards the central Karoo region and the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy where we will be based for the next two days. Time in the conservancy will be leisurely and besides doing some birding on foot and in vehicles, there will be opportunities for horse riding and fishing. There is large game on the conservancy and we may see Cape buffalo and hippopotamus during the day. The absolute highlights of our visit to this conservancy are the night drives and we will do one on each of the nights that we are here. Our local guide will conduct these safaris where the diversity of nocturnal animals can be excellent. Possible sightings could include aardwolf, Cape fox, aardvark, springhare, striped polecat and if you are really lucky maybe even the tiny rare Black footed cat. All of these mammals are considered to be elusive and many of them are scarce and very seldom seen, so each one we spot will be reason to celebrate. Breakfast and dinners are taken at the lodge and are excellent home-cooked traditional South African cuisine.

Nights are spent at Khoisan Karoo Conservancy

Day 5-6

Our next destination is the town of Graaff Reinet, a short drive away. Graaff-Reinet is the 4th oldest town in South Africa and is home to over 220 national monuments and museums. It also boasts some remarkable Cape Dutch architecture. Our afternoon will include a historical and wildlife tour of the area with entertaining local tour guides Karoo Connections. We will finish up the first day in Graaff Reinet with sundowner drinks at the Valley of Desolation, one of the geological wonders of the area. Our accommodation while in town is the highly rated Drostdy Hotel which offers excellent breakfasts and dinners at their restaurant. The morning of our second day here will be spent on safari in the Camdeboo National Park where we will have a chance to see a wide variety of mammals including suricates (meerkats), eland, blesbok and springbok (the national animal of South Africa). We will also look out for many of the special birds here which may include Blue Crane (SA’s national bird), Eastern Clapper Lark, the diminutive Cape Penduline Tit and the endangered Ludwig’s Bustard. The final afternoon in Graaff Reinet will be at leisure and you can use the time to visit some of the museums, art galleries or antique shops in the town. If you enjoy good wine, there is a well-stocked wine cellar inside the hotel where tastings can be arranged.

Nights are spent at Drostdy Hotel in Graaff Reinet

Day 7-8

Today we head for Mountain Zebra National Park, approximately two hours drive away. This park was proclaimed to protect the unique Cape Mountain Zebra and we will certainly see many of these animals during our two days in the reserve. Lions, black rhino, Cape Buffalo and a host of other mammals occur here and we will keep our eyes peeled for all of them during our game drives. On our first evening at Mountain Zebra National Park we will do a night drive with a local guide. This will give us another chance at seeing elusive nocturnal mammals that we may still be looking for including brown hyena, aardwolf, bat-eared fox and caracal. Early the next morning we will drive out with a local guide to search for wild cheetahs. Some of these cats have been radio-collared for research purposes and when a signal from a collared cheetah is found, you will have the opportunity to get closer on foot. The final afternoon will be spent driving through the park looking for birds and animals. Because of the many different habitats in the park we will find not only dry Karoo endemics, but also birds native to the moister east coast habitat. Pale-winged Starling, Ostrich, Secretary bird, Grey-winged Francolin, Cape Rock-Thrush and Buffstreaked Chat are just some of the many species to search for in the dry and mountainous areas, whereas the wooded kloofs and acacia stands host species such as Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Lesser Honeyguide, Red-throated Wryneck and Southern Tchagra.

Nights are spent at Mountain Zebra National Park

Day 9-10

Today we have a lengthy drive to reach our final stop of the tour, the beautiful and isolated village of Rhodes in the Drakensberg mountains. A hamlet of around 25 permanent residents near the Lesotho border, Rhodes is the starting point for Naude's Nek, the highest road pass in South Africa. The pass climbs from the village through grassland and rocky switchbacks to a summit just under 2,600 metres, with views into Lesotho to the north and back over the Drakensberg escarpment to the south. It is a gravel road and requires a capable vehicle. Our time around Rhodes will allow us to focus on some of the high-altitude mountain birds endemic to this region and we will definitely need to travel the Naude’s Nek Pass to achieve this. The magnificent Bearded Vulture is top of our wish list here, but there will be plenty of other birds to look out for including Drakensberg Rockjumper, Mountain Pipit (in Summer) and Drakensberg Siskin. We won’t neglect the mammals during our stay in the village where Grey Rhebuck and Mountain Reedbuck will be two of our prime targets. The area around Rhodes is cold, remote, and spectacular in an understated way and will certainly be a place you will wish to return to.

Nights are spent at Walkerbouts Inn in Rhodes

Day 11

Today we make an early start to the drive back to Johannesburg where we should arrive just before dark. While long, the road travels through some picturesque parts of the country and there is every chance that we will spot a few more species of birds and animals during the drive.

Luxury Birds, Animals and Wellness

On this tour our guests will be treated to the absolute best of South African bird and animal viewing with the added advantage of top-quality luxury accommodation and cuisine. In addition to this, our carefully selected hotels and lodges offer relaxing spa and wellness treatments on site. If you are looking for a truly indulgent safari trip, this a great option for you. While the pace of the tour is relaxed, we will enjoy fantastic birding and some of the finest game viewing South Africa has to offer.

Day 1

We start the tour by collecting you in Johannesburg on the day you arrive before transporting you to one of the three top-class accommodation options we have available. Each of them has been hand-picked to provide breathtaking views, superior cuisine and onsite spa facilities of the highest quality.

Night is spent at the Northcliff Hotel, the Westcliff Four Seasons Hotel or the Fairway Hotel Spa and Golf Resort. Ask us which option we think would suit you best, we will be happy to assist.

Day 2

Today we leave Johannesburg early, heading for the Magoebaskloof area. We will stop for lunch in the quaint village of Haenertsburg (they make good pancakes here) and afterwards do some birding around the town where we will have the opportunity to spot some grassland birds including Yellow Bishop, Red-Collared Widowbird and Drakensberg Prinia. This is also a good spot for sunbirds with malachite, greater double-collared and others being possible. A few minutes away lies Kings Walden Garden Manor, an amazingly beautiful nature lodge where our very comfortable accommodation awaits. This historic country house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and overlooks the breathtaking mountains of the most Northern Drakensberg. After checking into our accommodation, we will do some birding in the forest habitat that this area is famous for. Forest Canary, Yellowstreaked Greenbul and Knysna Turaco will be just some of the special birds we will target. This area will provide an opportunity to look out for monkeys with both vervet and samango monkeys regularly seen.

Night is spent at Kings Walden Garden Manor

Day 3-4

We meet our local bird guide early in the morning and spend more time looking for special forest birds including the endangered Cape Parrot and range restricted Black-Fronted Bush Shrike. After our morning of birding we head towards the Lowveld, the area of South Africa with the greatest animal diversity. We’ll stop briefly in picturesque Magoebaskloof where we can enjoy one of the excellent craft gins offered by the local distillery. In the early afternoon we will arrive at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Here we will stay at Chimani Bush Camp – a private camp that can cater for a maximum of 8 guests. Chimani is a true gem and offers exclusive access to a large block of wilderness where we will be the only visitors. As the camp is fully reserved for your group, it is the best place to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the bush without any outside interference. The camp itself offers a host of animal sightings and is particularly good for seeing Barred Owlet and other night birds. One evening we will use a sheet and light to set up an insect trap which will allow us to show you some of the very interesting moths, beetles and other insects that occur in the South African bush. Your expert guide will be able to identify these smaller creatures and explain their fascinating behaviours to you. While at Chimani we will enjoy morning and evening game drives in open vehicles. During these we will spot a large variety of birds (including several species of vultures and birds of prey) and mammals. There will be a good opportunity to see members of the big 5 (elephant, lion, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard) but we won’t hesitate to stop for some of the smaller denizens of the wild. Ask your expert guide to show you a chameleon – a fascinating lizard with a big personality. We will also be able to take some walks in the bush under the guidance of an experienced game ranger. The food at Chimani is plentiful and excellent and during your stay you will have opportunities to sample some of the local venison dishes.

Nights are spent at Chimani Bush Camp.

Day 5-6

After a hearty breakfast and a morning game drive, we leave Chimani Bush Camp and head for Mala Mala Game Reserve, arriving just after lunch so that we can check in and prepare for our afternoon game drive. There are 6 luxury camps on Mala Mala and we will be able to advise which one is best suited for you. Although the accommodation and cuisine at Mala Mala are excellent, without a doubt the biggest attraction of our stay here is the safari game drives. The Nature Nerds team knows this reserve very well as several of them worked here as guides in the past. While we will see some great birds while at MM (the bird list is extensive), the focus is on large mammals, especially predators. Not only will we have outstanding opportunities for close-up views (and photographs) of lion, leopard and other predators, but we will be able to follow them in our open safari vehicles while they are hunting. In our opinion Mala Mala offers the best game viewing in Africa and there is certainly no better place for a safari! In between the game drives there will be ample opportunities to enjoy spa and other wellness treatments.

Nights are spent at one of the camps in Mala Mala Game Reserve.

Day 7-8

After our morning game drive and yet another tasty breakfast, we leave Mala Mala to take a leisurely drive to Serenity Mountain and Forest Lodge near Malelane. Serenity Mountain and Forest Lodge features spacious and luxurious chalets, beautifully nestled within the riverine forest and offering views of a cascading mountain stream. Perfect for romance, the secluded honeymoon suites are designed to be both intimate and indulgent, each featuring its own private deck where guests can immerse themselves in the tranquil surroundings. The days will be spent exploring the riverine forest and mountain grassland habitats close to the lodge. A guided walk along the stream will produce many of the special forest birds including possibly Narina Trogon, Yellowstreaked Greenbul, Chorister Robin Chat, Knysna Turaco and many others. A swim in one of the crystal-clear stream pools is always a highlight. If requested, the lodge will prepare us a picnic basket so that we can enjoy brunch in the forest alongside the stream. We will return to the lodge and take a lengthy break during the heat of the day. This provides ample time to enjoy a massage and some of the other spa treatments offered. In the late afternoon, thoroughly relaxed after an afternoon nap, we will head out to the mountain grassland habitat to look for some special birds. These may include Mountain Wheatear, Striped Pipit or even perhaps Mocking Cliff-Chat. Our walks in the forests and along its fringes will allow us a good chance of seeing baboons, vervet monkeys and the retiring forest specialist samango monkey. At night we will dine alfresco under the spectacular forest tree canopy.

Nights are spent at Serenity Mountain and Forest Lodge.

Day 9

Today we head back to Johannesburg. We will stop enroute for lunch at Millys – a charming restaurant that will allow us to enjoy the various fresh trout delicacies they produce and to hand feed the tame local fish that live in the lake surrounding the restaurant. We will arrive back at your accommodation in Johannesburg in the afternoon.

Kruger Highlights - Birds and Animals

This one-week tour covers the central and northern Kruger National Park extensively. In addition to this we also spend time in different habitats outside the park (forest and dry thornveld) in order to maximise the number of bird and mammal species on offer. We stay five full nights in the Kruger National Park, including the far north which is the region of the park with the greatest biodiversity. We highly recommend booking accommodation in Johannesburg the night before and after the trip. This will ensure flexibility of flight options as well as allow you to visit some other natural areas around the city if you’d like.

Day 1

Day one of your trip is spent birding the renowned Zaagkuildrift area north of Pretoria. Our targets here will mainly be birds more common in the west of South Africa. Although mammals are sometimes seen, they should be viewed as a bonus as the focus here will be on birding. After an early start, we drive the Zaagkuildrift Road, stopping in different habitats to view a variety of woodland, grassland and water birds. This area allows us to see many of the dry country specials more common in the western parts of South Africa. These may include Crimson-breasted Shrike, Pied Babbler, Barred Wren Warbler, Scaly-feathered Weaver and Shaft-tailed Whydah. When the floodplain of the Pienaars River has a good volume of water, we will spend some time there as many waterbirds can be seen including Black-winged Pratincole, African Comb Duck and Lesser Moorhen.

Night is spent at Zaagkuildrift Lodge

Day 2

Today we head for Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge in the Magoebaskloof area. We will stop for lunch in the quaint village of Haenertsburg (they make good pancakes here) and afterwards do some birding around the town where we will have the opportunity to spot some grassland birds including Yellow Bishop, Red-Collared Widowbird and Drakensberg Prinia. This is also a good spot for sunbirds with malachite, greater double-collared and others being possible. A few minutes away lies Kurisa Moya, an amazingly beautiful nature lodge where our rustic but welcoming log cabin is completely embraced by the surrounding forest so we can observe the birds and animals without being noticed. Here we are completely off the grid with solar lights and gas facilities. After checking in to our accommodation, we will do some birding in the forest habitat that this area is famous for. Forest Canary, Yellowstreaked Greenbul and Knysna Turaco will be just some of the special birds we will target. This area will provide an opportunity to look out for monkeys with both vervet and samango monkeys regularly seen.

Night is spent at Magoebaskloof Mountain Lodge

Day 3

We meet our local bird guide early in the morning and spend more time looking for special forest birds including the endangered Cape Parrot and range restricted Black-Fronted Bush Shrike. After our morning of birding we head towards the Lowveld, the area of South Africa with the greatest animal diversity. We’ll stop briefly in picturesque Magoebaskloof where we can enjoy one of the excellent craft gins offered by the local distillery. In the late afternoon we will enter the Kruger National Park at Orpen gate where we will immediately begin looking for large mammals such as elephants, buffalo, various antelope species and (if we are lucky) some of the big cats. The Satara area of Kruger is particularly good for predators and we will take a night drive from the camp which will increase our chances of seeing hyena, lion, leopard and some of the owl and nightjar species.

Night is spent at Satara Rest Camp

Day 4

An early departure from Satara camp means we will have the best chance to bump into some of the larger mammals during the coolest part of the day when they are most active. With plenty of time at our disposal we travel North through the game park, heading for Shingwedzi rest camp which is Martin’s favourite camp in the whole of Kruger. All the while we will be looking out for interesting mammals, birds and other animals. We will certainly have good sightings of warthogs, zebra, giraffe and many of the other iconic African wildlife during our time in Kruger Park. The birdlife in this region is excellent and many large birds of prey such as Whitebacked Vulture, Tawny Eagle, Bateleur and Secretary bird can be seen. We will stop for a leisurely lunch at one of the rest camps on our way before reaching our final destination for the day. Shingwedzi is a charming old-school rest camp with a beautiful view of the river from the camp restaurant. Birding in the camp itself is excellent with birds like African Mourning Dove, Bennet’s Woodpecker and Greater Blue-eared Starling likely. If the large sycamore fig trees along the river are fruiting we should see African Green Pigeons and Trumpeter Hornbills feeding in the canopy.

Night is spent at Shingwedzi Rest Camp

Day 5-7

Travelling further north from Shingwedzi to the Pafuri region, we will see the landscape change markedly with magnificent baobab trees becoming more common. Despite the fact that it makes up only 1% of the park’s surface area, the northern section of the reserve accounts for almost 80% of the biodiversity found in the Kruger National Park. Along with the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers, the Makuleke concession (as it is known) is comprised of a large variety of landscape features. These include riverine forest, floodplain grassland, river channels and flood pans which all provide food, shelter and nesting sites to a large number of bird species. A few of the birding specials that we will search for are Bohm’s Spinetail, Racket-tailed Roller, Three Banded Courser, Lemon-breasted Canary, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Meve’s Starling and Tropical Boubou. There is no doubt that this area delivers birders a far more exciting experience than anywhere else in the Kruger Park. We will certainly not be neglecting the mammals though. Along with large herds of elephant, plentiful hippopotamus and buffalo, this section of the park offers a chance to see some of the less common mammals including four-toed sengi, eland and the nocturnal Sharpe’s grysbok. During our time in Makuleke we will stay in private accommodation options which allows us to take walking safaris through this amazing landscape. Exploring the area on foot offers the best opportunities for birding and  a close encounter with elephant or other big game is sure to set your heart racing! We will be able to take a game drive each evening and this will further increase our chances of seeing nocturnal creatures such as leopard, hyena and porcupine.

Nights are spent at Baobab Hill or Hutwini Walking Camp.

Day 8

Today we leave bright and early for Johannesburg where you will be dropped off at your accommodation or the airport.

Eastern, Western and Northern Birding Tours

Our East, West and North trips focus primarily on birding, although many mammals and other animals will invariably be seen while out in the field. Together these three trips are designed to allow coverage of all of the major bird habitats and species in South Africa. Aimed at serious birders who wish to see as many South African bird species as possible, there is a chance to see all of the 18 endemic bird species and 31 near endemics across the three tours. Designed by top Swedish birder Thomas Nyberg, the three different trips showcase not only the magnificent avian fauna of South Africa, but also the beautiful natural scenery of the country.

Eastern Birding Tour

Day 1

Landing in Johannesburg, you will be met by your friendly Nature Nerds guides at the airport. If your flight lands in the morning we will head straight towards Wakkerstroom. For later flight arrivals we suggest a relaxed night spent at a hotel in Johannesburg and an early departure for Wakkerstroom the following day. With a stop for lunch somewhere along the way, the journey will take us around 4 hours. Wakkerstroom is a small town located on the Highveld in western Mpumalanga. The habitat type is high-altitude grassland with rolling landscapes of natural pastures and low-lying streams and wetlands. We will see many bird species, but among the most sought after are Botha's and Rudd's Lark. Both of these are endemic to South Africa and among the world's rarest larks. In Summer we will hear the falling whistle of the Eastern Long-billed Lark and have a chance for Denham’s Bustard and Blue Korhaan. Other species to look out for include the endemic Yellow-breasted Pipit, and the near-endemic Cape Long-claw. When we arrive, we will check in at our hotel and then connect with our local guide for a half-day tour. In the town itself there is a large wetland where we will look for water birds.

Night in Wakkerstroom

Day 2

We will spend all day birding with our local guide in the area. Much of the birding is conducted along gravel roads, but many of the special birds are on private land where the local guide proves invaluable at arranging access. Some of the specials are notoriously difficult to find and here again the local guide is essential. 

Night in Wakkerstroom

Day 3

Leaving the hotel after breakfast, we drive to Mkuze Game Reserve which should take us around 5 hours. This park is a Mecca for birdwatchers where almost 440 bird species have been seen. Notable birds may include Broad-billed Roller, Pel’s Fishing Owl, African Cuckoo Hawk, Bearded Scrub-Robin, Rudd’s Apalis, Neergard’s Sunbird, Narina Trogon, Pink-throated Twinspot, White-eared Barbet, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Grey Waxbill and Lemon-breasted Canary. We also have a chance to see lots of mammal species including potentially all of the Big 5. There are many interesting hides in different habitats, often located at waterholes, and we will definitely spend some time at these. In the afternoon we check in at Mantuma Rest Camp where we will enjoy dinner. We’ll take a night drive out of the camp which will give us a chance to see some of the nocturnal animals such as large-spotted genet, lesser and thick-tailed Galago, porcupine and maybe even leopard. Of course we will not ignore the birds and there should be good sightings of owls and nightjars.

Night in Mantuma Camp, Mkuze

Day 4

Full day in Mkuze. 

Night in Mantuma Camp, Mkuze

Day 5

Full day in Mkuze.

Night in Mantuma Camp, Mkuze

Day 6

After breakfast in camp we will leave Mkuze heading South towards the town of Saint Lucia, roughly two hours away. This small town is located at an estuary that flows into the Indian Ocean. In the unlikely event that you missed the Nile crocodile and hippopotamus in Mkuze, you will certainly see them now. The town is located in the famous Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, which is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The special habitat means that there are also special birds here. Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Livingstone's Turaco, Green Malkoha, Woodward's Batis and Rosy-throated Long-claw are but a few of these. At the estuary and along the sea, we have a chance of more marine species such as pelicans, waders, terns and gulls. 

Night in St Lucia

Day 7

Our day starts early as we walk along the Gwalagwala Trail which is located on the edge of town. We should see several Red Duikers (a small antelope) and if we are fortunate, Lemon Dove, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird and Green Twinspot might make an appearance. After breakfast we head into Isimangaliso Nature Reserve. Our destination is Cape Vidal, a campsite inside the reserve where we can leave the car and bird on foot. Species we hope to see here include Brown Scrub-robin, Olive Sunbird, Red-backed Mannikin, and Croaking Cisticola. In the reserve we have a good chance of taking some impressive mammal photos. We come back to St. Lucia in the evening, and head out to an excellent seafood restaurant for dinner.

Night in St Lucia

Day 8

Full day with a local Guide where we try to pick the species we have  missed so far in Mkuze and Greater St Lucia. 

Night in Saint Lucia

Day 9

After a leisurely breakfast we drive to the town of Eshowe about two hours away. In the evening we will visit Dlinza Forest. Dlinza Forest is a remnant of the subtropical coastal escarpment forest, which was once much more common in KwaZulu Natal. We visit a hide and will see some new bird species before retiring to dinner at our hotel and possibly a beer at the local pub. 

Night George Hotel, Eshowe

Day 10

First thing in the morning we walk into Dlinza Forest on footbridges that gradually take us up to treetop height. We’ll eventually reach a viewing tower where we are above the forest canopy and here we will enjoy the dawn chorus. Our main target species are Spotted Ground Thrush and Eastern Bronze-napped Pigeon, but many other birds including Crowned Eagle are found in the forest. There is also a chance of spotting South Africa’s smallest antelope species, the blue duiker. After breakfast at the hotel, we leave for the journey to Underberg. We will arrive in Underberg just before dark. 

Night in Underberg

Day 11

Today we drive up the picturesque Sani Pass. We will be picked up by our guide and his assistant in two 4x4 vehicles early in the morning. We slowly work our way up the Drakensberg Mountains with many stops. The last climb up to 3200 meters altitude through Sani Pass is the most spectacular! We leave the country of South Africa and enter the Kingdom of Lesotho. At the top of the pass we will enjoy a number of absolutely fantastic bird species including the Drakensberg Rockjumper. This day will certainly throw up many new species for the trip, including a number of highly sought after endemic birds. While they can never be guaranteed, Ground Woodpecker, Cape Eagle-Owl, Lammergeier, Cape Vulture, Southern Bald Ibis, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Cape Rock Thrush, Buff-streaked Chat, Bush Blackcap, Gurney's Sugarbird, Rock Pipit, Drakensberg Siskin, Malachite Sunbird, Cape Grassbird, Drakensberg Prinia, Verreaux's Eagle and Jackal Buzzard are all possible. With luck we may also see several new mammal species such as mountain reedbuck, rock hyrax and grey rhebok. We drive back the same way and should be at the hotel for dinner by early evening. 

Night in Underberg

Day 12

We check out early and then pick up our local guide for a half-day viewing around Underberg. The bird species will determine our morning and we are likely to see several new species, but we must leave Underberg by midday for our long drive towards the town of Nigel, approximately 7 hours away.

Night in Nigel

Day 13

This is the day you travel home, and we need to stay close to the airport so that we make sure nobody misses their flights. We start our birding at 06h00 in Marievale Bird Sanctuary, a wonderful place with many ponds and several hides. There are always a lot of birds here, everything from ducks, herons and rails to birds of prey and cisticolas. You might even be lucky enough to see Cape clawless otter or water mongoose! If we have time we’ll drive north to Rietvlei Nature Reserve where we will finish up the day looking for grassland birds and animals. There are cheetah and rhinoceros in this reserve and we will be holding thumbs for them to make an appearance. We will leave with plenty of time to make sure that we reach OR Tambo International Airport in good time for your check-in. As you doze in your plane seat your dreams, memories and camera will be full of images of your wonderful trip. 

Night on the plane

Northern Birding Tour

Day 1

Landing in Johannesburg, you will be met by your friendly Nature Nerds guides at the airport. Once our luggage is all packed into the vehicle we drive towards our first birding location just over an hour away, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve. This reserve is located in an area with rolling hills and grassy plains and this will be the only time during our trip that we come into contact with this habitat. Here we will see the endemic black wildebeest, eland and blesbok antelope. Birds that can be seen include Levaillants Cisticola, Mocking Cliff Chat, Cape Longclaw, Bokmakierie and various Widowbirds. We will spend the day in Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve before heading for our accommodation in the nearby town of Nigel. 

Night in Nigel, Gauteng

Day 2

Waking up an hour before dawn, the first few hours of the morning are spent in Marievale Bird Sanctuary, a wetland reserve 15 minutes from the hotel with many exciting bird species including Black Heron (that fishes with its wings held like an umbrella), Little Rush Warbler, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Red Knobbed Coot, and various duck species. We hope to get many good photos from the car and from the bird hides! Around mid-morning we drive north towards the Zaagkuildrift Road. This area is known as one of the best birding spots in South Africa due to the may different habitats it covers. After a few hours birding the Zaagkuildrift area, we continue north to the most famous wetland area in SA, Nylsvlei Nature Reserve. Along with many bird species we will also see some interesting mammals, including the endangered Roan Antelope. When darkness falls we leave the reserve and drive the short distance to our lodge. 

Night in Nylsvlei, Limpopo

Day 3

We get up in the early morning and drive into Nylsvlei NR as soon as the gate opens. After our early morning birding, we drive back to our lodge and have breakfast. We leave the lodge and drive north towards the town of Polokwane. Northwest of the town is the small Polokwane Bird Sanctuary which consists of a few landscaped ponds and some bush. After stopping here, we continue NW for 100km before arriving at the village of Vivo, located in the foothills of the Soutpansberg mountain range. On the slopes of these mountains lies Unzwa Safaris. The area is great for birding because different habitats meet here. The altitudinal differences mean many bird species in a relatively small area. Vertical cliffs holds species such as Verreaux’s Eagle, Cape Vulture, Cape Rock Thrush, and Redwinged Starling. Arid mountain bushveld holds Striped Pipit, Lazy Cisticola and Ayres' Hawk-eagle. Patches of indigenous forest can be found in the valleys and here the bird species diversity is greatest. Species such as Crowned Eagle, Narina Trogon, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Green Twinspot, Knysna Turaco, Orange Ground Thrush, Chorister Robin-chat, Eastern Nicator and Olive Brush shrike can be found, to name but a few. We are also likely to see rock hyrax and chacma baboon during the day. Further down the slopes where the acacia trees have taken over you will find White-throated Robin-chat, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Bearded Woodpecker, Acacia Pied Barbet, Yellow-breasted Apalis and Amethyst Sunbird. Down on the plains you will find Chestnutbacked Sparrowlark, Black-faced Waxbill, Violet-eared Waxbill, Bushveld Pipit, White-browed Buffalo Weaver and Southern Ground Hornbill. From the Kruger National Park in the east to Vivo in the west, the landscape is largely the same, but around Vivo the landscape becomes drier and more reminiscent of the habitat found in the Kalahari. Here we will have the opportunity to see bird species more commonly associated with a westerly distribution such as Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Marico Flycatcher, Kalahari Scrub-robin, Crimson-breasted, Shrike, Scaly-feathered Finch and Southern Pied Babbler. We spend the evening in a small camp at the top of the mountain. 

Night at Unzwa Safaris, Vivo, Limpopo

Day 4

We spend the full day birding the diverse habitats at Unzwa Safaris, adding many new species to our lists. We try to get to bed early but not before spending time at the campfire listening to the howling of the jackals and the bubbling call of the Fiery-necked Nightjar. 

Night at Unzwa Safaris, Vivo, Limpopo

Day 5

After an early breakfast we head for the Muirhead dams, a good place to look for Pygmy Goose, Giant Kingfisher and if we are very lucky, Blue-spotted Wood-dove. Then it is on towards Punda Maria Gate, our entrance to the Kruger National Park. Once inside the park, we drive the short distance to our camp, Punda Maria, where we check in. The Evening Drive departs from the camp before sunset and continues until after dark. This drive gives us an excellent chance to see some unusual nocturnal mammals including Sharpe’s Grysbok, Springhare, lesser galago and maybe even some of the big cats. We certainly won’t ignore the birds and various owl and nightjar species should make an appearance (this is the only place in SA where there are Pennant-winged Nightjar). 

Night in Punda Maria Camp, Kruger NP, Limpopo

Day 6

We leave camp as soon as they open the gate and drive north to Levuvhu River Bridge where we are likely to see birds found only in the very north of the Kruger Park. Species such as Bohm’s Spinetail, Mosque Swallow, Tropical Boubou, Meve’s Starling and maybe even the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl are possible. We continue on to Pafuri Picnic Site where the birdlife is usually excellent and then Crooks Corner, where the borders of three countries meet (South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe). By now it will be getting hot and we will work our way back towards Punda Maria, arriving just before dark. 

Night in Punda Maria Camp, Kruger NP, Limpopo

Day 7

After a morning gamedrive around Punda Maria and a late brunch at the camp, we leave for Magoebaskloof, an area of higher altitude forest near Tzaneen. Here we will be looking for specialties such as Orange Ground Thrush, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler (a gorgeous Phylloscopus Warbler), Narina Trogon, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Olive Woodpecker, Whitestarred Robin, Forest Buzzard and many, many more. 

Night at Magoebaskloof Hotel, Tzaneen, Limpopo

Day 8

This morning we will focus on Magoebaskloof's specials. We drive the famous Woodbush forest drive, where the forest birding can be challenging but rewarding. We may make a stop at Debengeni Falls before leaving beautiful Magoebaskloof for Hoedspruit, a charming small town entirely focused on the safari industry. Here we’ll check in to our hotel and take a breather before our next safari. In the afternoon we drive to Tshukudu, a private big 5 game reserve, where we will do a sunset drive which will allow us to spot some of the big game in the area. 

Night in Hoedspruit, Limpopo

Day 9

This day is all about water. In the morning we will do a 2-hour boat trip on the Blyde River Dam. The dam is located at the bottom of the mighty Blyde River Canyon (which is the world's third largest canyon). In addition to magnificent views of hippos and crocodiles, we have a chance to see some scarce birds such as the Half-collared Kingfisher and perhaps even the skulking African Finfoot! After the morning boat ride, we slowly drive towards the town of Phalaborwa where we will make our way down to the Olifants River. After brunch at a lodge down by the water, we go out onto the river by boat, and in addition to hippos, crocodiles and other large mammals that come down to the river to drink, we will enjoy the rich bird life among the reeds. Afterwards we drive back to Hoedspruit, arriving in the early evening. 

Night in Hoedspruit, Limpopo

Day 10

After breakfast we set off for the Kruger National Park. The distance from our entry point (Orpen Gate) to our camp at Satara is only 50km but due to the plentiful animal life we will encounter, it is a leisurely drive with many stops for photos. The large mammal viewing here is often considered the best in the whole park, particularly for the big cats. In the early afternoon we check in to our accommodation, have a late lunch and maybe an afternoon nap. In the early evening we will take the opportunity to go on a nightdrive, which will increase our chances of seeing the big cats and some more nocturnal birds. 

Night at Satara, Kruger NP, Limpopo

Day 11

In the morning we’ll take a game drive around Satara and then enjoy breakfast in the camp. After we check out, we’ll start the drive south towards Skukuza camp which will take us most of the day. All the time we will be looking for new bird and mammal species and we may stop for a break at Tshokwane Picnic Site where we will be able to leave the car and bird on foot. We arrive at Skukuza in the late afternoon. This camp, the largest in the park, is almost like a small town within the game reserve. We will enjoy a beer or a gin and tonic on the stunning wooden deck overlooking the Sabie River while viewing buffalo and elephants. The birdlife here is excellent and there are often African Green Pigeon in the Sycamore Fig trees along the wooden deck and African Finfoot in the river. 

Night at Skukuza, Kruger NP, Mpumalanga

Day 12

We leave the camp at dawn to get out into the park and drive the short distance to Lake Panic Hide, one of the most famous hides in Kruger where you can often have opportunities for great photos. After our morning gamedrive we head back to Skukuza for brunch before checking out and driving slowly south towards our last camp in Kruger, Berg-en-Dal. We drive through more hilly sections of Kruger and this habitat will allow us to see some different bird species. Our camp is beautifully located by a dam that is used by various animals and the birdlife here is excellent. Freckled Nightjar, Barred Owlet, Eastern Nicator and Trumpeter Hornbill will be just a few of the species we will be looking for. 

Night at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger NP, Mpumalanga

Day 13

After a short game drive we have breakfast at the camp before we leave Kruger National Park for good via Malelane Gate. We make the drive back towards Johannesburg and arrive at O.R. Tambo airport in good time to catch your flight back home. As you sit in your plane seat, you’ll think back on the magnificent birds and animals you have seen and already begin planning your return to Africa.

On this trip we usually target over 300 bird species and over 40 mammal species. Of course, it is not about the numbers, as these vary with the weather, rainfall and of course luck, but the diversity of wildlife is certain to be amazing!

Western Birding Tour

South Africa is a large country, and on this trip we cover almost a third of it. We visit the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces where there are several interesting biomes including dry savannah, nama karoo, desert, succulent karoo and fynbos. The trip focuses first and foremost on finding as many endemic bird species as possible, but we will also be rewarded with much more including beautiful mammals, reptiles, trees, plants and absolutely fantastic landscapes!

Day 1

You land at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg where you will be met by your friendly Nature Nerds guides. After picking up your bags, we go through customs and continue towards the domestic terminal where we check in for the short flight that takes us to the city of Upington in the Northern Cape province. Here we will pick up our hire car and head for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Along the way we have a chance of seeing Northern Black Korhaan, Karoo Korhan and the mighty Ludwig's Bustard. Once at our accommodation, Twee Rivieren rest camp at the southern tip of the park, we check in and unpack the cars. If there is time, we’ll take a short drive into the park before dark. 

Night at Twee Rivieren Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Day 2

Dawns in South Africa are invariably beautiful. The light is fantastic for photos and the temperature is pleasant, so we usually get up early throughout the trip to take advantage of the cooler hours when the animals are most active. We leave the camp when the gate to the park opens and drive north along the dry Nossob Riverbed on the eastern side of the park. How far north we get is determined entirely by the prevailing road conditions and what birds and animals we see. The road is lined with waterholes where we often stop and wait for birds and animals to come to drink. Among the birds today's target species include Lanner Falcon, Namaqua and Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Kori Bustard, Larklike Bunting, Sociable Weaver and Pygmy Falcon. Mammal viewing is invariably good and gemsbok, springbok and red hartebeest are plentiful. We always hope for one of the cat species with lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal and African wild cat all being possible. Back at the camp in the late afternoon, we walk around trying to photograph the mongooses, ground squirrels and birds that live there. 

Night at Twee Rivieren Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Day 3

The day is spent on the west side of the park along the Auob River and the waterholes there. Brown Hyena, black-backed jackal and bat-eared fox like to drink in the morning, so we will keep an eye out for them. Among the many bird species, we keep a special eye out for Fawn-coloured Lark, Eastern Clapper Lark, Rufous-eared Warbler and Shaft-tailed Whydah. With a little luck we might even get the Red-necked Falcon. Characteristic species of the area include Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Pale Chanting Goshawk and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. We always keep a watch out for one of the coolest little animals in the park, the meerkat, who live in family groups.

Night at Twee Rivieren Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Day 4

We leave Kgalagadi early in the morning and drive via Upington to the town of Pofadder at the edge of the desert. We bird hard along the way and stop at Augrabies Falls National Park where we search the camp for Dusky Sunbird, Pale-winged Starling and Short-toed Rock Thrush. We reach the town of Pofadder (named after the large snakes found in the area) in the late afternoon and take a short drive out on the gravel roads SW of the town. 

Night in Pofadder

Day 5

At dawn we drive southwest along a gravel road that leads to Aggenys. Our destination is the red sand dunes where the endemic Red Lark nests. In the desert area there are drinking troughs for cattle that are also used by the birds of the desert. This is the eldorado of larks! We’ll spend our time looking for Sclater's Lark, Karoo Long-billed Lark, Stark's Lark, Grey-backed Sparrow-lark and others. If it's really hot, we'll drive back to Pofadder to have lunch in town and maybe grab a nap during the heat of the day before heading out on our lark quest again in the late afternoon. 

Night in Pofadder

Day 6

In the morning we bird southwest of Pofadder again before returning to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast we head west towards the regional centre of Namaqualand, Springbok, where we will spend the night. 

Night in Springbok

Day 7

We start the long journey south towards Ceres in the morning. We will make several stops along the way where it looks good for birding. We pass the town of Clanwilliam where our target species is the endemic Protea Canary and just before Ceres, we drive through some mountain passes where many of the trip's target species are located. 

Night in Ceres

Day 8

We leave Ceres at dawn and our first stop will be at a reed-covered river in Karooport where we will try see Namaqua Warbler. Thereafter we drive northeast on the R355 (a gravel road). We are now in a very special area called the Tanqua Karoo. We continue north until we reach a small, isolated mountain (called a koppie in South Africa), on our right, which is the classic locality for Karoo Eremomela. As we continue north, the landscape becomes more barren. Now we are focused on finding Tractrac-Chat, Karoo Korhaan and Largebilled Lark. After 21 km we turn off towards "Kagga Kamma: Opp-die-berg" and after 3.3 km we reach a picnic area where we park. This is the most famous place in SA for the Cinnamon-breasted Warbler. The birds live high up on the mountain slopes but can be heard from below the parking lot. Other possible species here include Southern Grey Tit, Layard's Titbabbler, Ground Woodpecker, Pririt Batis and Yellow-bellied Eremomela. Depending on our timing, we either continue north to a coffee place (surely one of the most isolated coffee shops in the country) or drive back to Ceres. 

Night in Ceres

Day 9

We leave Ceres at dawn and drive NW towards Piketberg. We pass some interesting mountain passes, looking for birds along the way. Today's main destination is the town of Velddrif, where the Berg River Estuary is located. The town is located on a river mouth with wetlands, reeds, canals, dunes and salt pans where there can be plenty of different waders and seabirds. Here we are mainly looking for Chestnut-banded Plover but will also have a chance for other plovers, including White-fronted and Kittlitz's Plover. After a late lunch in Veldrif, our tour continues towards the village of Paternoster where our target species is the endemic Cape Long-billed Lark. We will drive the gravel roads in the area looking for it before moving on to the town of Langebaan. 

Night in Langebaan

Day 10

We leave our accommodation in the morning and take the northern entrance to the West Coast National Park. This park surrounds Langebaan Lagoon and offers many wading birds, but we will also have a chance for Black Harrier, Cape Francolin, Cape Bulbul, Grey-backed Cisticola, Chestnut-vented Titbabbler and Southern Black Korhaan. We leave the park through the southern exit and drive on towards Swellendam. Near Swellendam we enter Bontebok National Park where we spend the rest of the day. In addition to new mammals such as Mountain Zebra, Grey Rhebok and Bontebok, we hope for bird species such as Cape Clapper Lark, Stanley's Bustard and Southern Tchagra. 

Night in Swellendam

Day 11

We leave our accommodation before first light and head to Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve. We will spend most of the day here as the reserve is a very species-rich area where we will have a chance to see bird species with a much more easterly distribution. Knysna Warbler, Victorin's Warbler, Knysna Woodpecker, Forest Buzzard, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher and maybe Red-necked Francolin will be our targets for today. When we leave Grootvadersbosch, we drive along pastures and cultivated fields to the town of Hermanus, which is located in a bay where southern right whales give birth to their young in Spring. If we time it right, we may have the opportunity to view and photograph the 15-meter-long whales right next to land. 

Night in Hermanus

Day 12

We drive west to the village of Rooi Els. Here we will look for one of the real stars of the trip - Cape Rockjumper. We walk up a trail and look along the mountainsides for this jewel of a bird. At this venue there are also other cool species such as Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Grassbird and Ground Woodpecker. After our time at Rooi Els we drive east to the coastal resort town of Betty's Bay. Here we visit the penguin colony where we also hope to see a couple of cormorant species including the rare and endangered Bank Cormorant. We will explore Harold Porter Botanical Garden where we are likely to get new bird species such as Cape Batis, Dusky Flycatcher, Southern Boubou, Lesser Double-collared and Malachite Sunbird. Towards late afternoon we round False Bay and drive south along the Cape Peninsula to Simonstown, where we will stay for the rest of the trip. 

Night in Simonstown

Day 13

We drive from Simonstown early in the morning to be at the gate to the Cape of Good Hope National Park when they open at 06h00. We drive around looking for Plain-backed Pipit, Cape Grassbird and Ground Woodpecker, and we will probably see the world's heaviest antelope (Eland) among the peninsula's ostriches. From the park center, we head on foot up the cliff that first leads to the lighthouse and then ends with Cape Point. Here we hope to see the endemic Cape Siskin and other Fynbos species. The view from the lighthouse is absolutely incredible. With a little luck we can see both humpback whales and dolphins, as well as pelagic sea birds such as Black-browed Albatross, Sooty Sherwater and the very common White-chinned Petrel in the area. We head down again and drive to Africa's southwesternmost point, the Cape of Good Hope. Here we will look for Swift Tern, Hartlaub ́s Gull and Cape Gannet. African Black Oystercatchers are also very likely to be found here. We leave the park and drive slowly north along the western side of the Cape Peninsula to the fishing village of Kommetjie, where we stop to scout the tern colony for anything unusual. Our journey further north takes us along narrow roads with fantastic sea views, up to the village of Hout Bay, where we drive down into the harbour to look for Cape Fur Seals and to have lunch. Instead of continuing north up to Cape Town, we turn east and cross the peninsula to come out on the eastern side of Simonstown. Here we will visit the famous Boulders Beach with the world's most easily accessible penguin colony. We will have seen penguins before, but here we get really close. 

Night in Simonstown

Day 14

Today is the big day for our pelagic seabird boat tour! We meet our skipper and seabird guide in Simonstown harbour at 6 o'clock. Steering our vessel south along the east side of the Cape Peninsula, after an hour we pass Cape Point and enter the open sea. Now we head south for about two hours towards the continental shelf where the seabed plunges down and cold nutrient-rich water from Antarctica comes up to the surface thanks to the Benguela Current. There are large amounts of fish here and bird species that feed on these fish. We look out for fishing trawlers that can have thousands of seabirds behind them. We can expect over 20 different species of seabird to make an appearance during the day. Binoculars are not normally used because the birds fly or sit on the surface right next to our boat. After a boat trip like this we will be totally exhausted, so we take it easy in the evening and eat at a good seafood restaurant. 

Night in Simonstown

Day 15

We spend the morning at the Strandfontein sewage treatment plant which has a lot of settling ponds and pools. What would a birding trip be without visiting a sewage treatment plant?

 Strandfontein is considered by many to be the best birding spot on the Cape Peninsula. Later we drive to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden which is located on the slopes of Table Mountain, where we have lunch. Due to the different vegetation types, there are plenty of birds here. We will look out for many of the fynbos specials such as Orange-breasted Sunbird, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Sugarbird and many more. Kirstenbosch offers a great opportunity for photography since the birds are used to people. 

Night in Simonstown

Day 16

In the morning we might do some seabird watching from Simonstown, but we will head for Cape Town International Airport early as it is the best spot in South Africa for Indian House Crow. While looking for these birds there is also a chance for other species like Peregrine Falcon. After our birding at the airport we will board the plane home. As you relax in your aircraft seat you will think back fondly on the wide-open spaces you have witnessed and the many fantastic bird and mammal species you have seen on your trip. In your mind you are already planning your return to Africa! 

Night on the plane