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Bird Watching Safari South Africa
A
bird watching safari is a wonderful way to explore Africa. Avid birdwatchers,
as well as laypersons, can find almost everything they would ever wish to know
about the native birds of Africa. Below are articles on various birds, from bee
eaters to woodpeckers, that provide basic and fundamental knowledge; handbooks
about birds; identification guides and a good deal more... We also feature various
book reviews on African birds and bird watching. This tour is ideal for individuals,
couples, groups and romance travel.
A
South African wildlife adventure: a 6 or7-night Kruger Park and Mpumalanga
Highlands itinerary sample. " Expected weather conditions:
Summer:
cool to warm on the highlands, warm to very hot in the Kruger Park with chances
of afternoon thunderstorms;
Winter: cool to very
cold on the highlands, warm in the Kruger Park during the day but cool overnight
(be sure to bring some warm clothing, regardless of the time of year). " Tour
tempo: easy tour tempo, no serious walking, no compulsory long car-days (except
in the case of transfers to / from Johannesburg). " Accommodation standards: medium
to high (depending on specific options): National Park rest camps, private lodges,
country inns. "
Wildlife and other attractions:
superb endemic-birding in the highlands combined with wonderful scenery and cosy-country-town
feel; some of the main attractions of the Panorama Route, including the massive
Blyde River Canyon (third largest canyon in the world), God's Window, waterfalls
and other sights; superb big-game viewing and birding in the Kruger Park, including
the Big Five, dozens of other mammal species, up to 250 easy-to-see bird species
and countless other natural wonders.
Day 1: Nelspruit
(KMIA) to Skukuza: You will be met at the Kruger / Mpumalanga International Airport
near Nelspruit in the early morning (depending on flight arrival times) by your
Tour Guide. Without wasting time you will get underway and head towards Hazyview
and the Phabeni Gate into the park, an hour's drive away from the airport. As
soon as you enter the gates the game-viewing begins. As there's no rush to get
to the camp you can take a meandering drive through the park, searching for the
first of many incredible animals and other wildlife. As the day heats up so the
general levels of activity begin to decline and by lunchtime it'll be wise to
head into Skukuza camp for lunch, check-inn and a chance to relax.
For those with some energy in hand the camp provides good bird-watching opportunities,
with the large trees and availability of food attracting hordes of Cape Glossy
and Greater Blue-eared Starlings, Yellow-billed Hornbills, Cape Turtle and Laughing
Doves, Crested Barbets, Grey-headed Sparrows and other birds. Vervet monkeys are
common in the camp, and an afternoon spent looking out over the Sabie River could
well be rewarded with a sighting of elephants, buffalo and hippo. In the afternoon
you will head out on a game-drive once again, with the Sand and Sabie Rivers close
by usually making for excellent game-viewing and bird-watching. In the evening
it will be necessary to return to camp, where you will enjoy a good South African
braai (barbeque) prepared by your guide and complemented by fine local wine. After
dinner you can go through the check-list with your guide before the beds begin
to call.
Day 2: Skukuza Region. Day two will
begin rather early, with an optional (but recommended!) cup of coffee and some
rusks (local biscuits) at your guide's chalet. The goal will be to exit the camp
as soon as the gates open (though in mid-summer, with a 4:30 AM opening time,
this becomes unpractical and a 5:00 AM departure will suffice) and head out into
the bush while the night creatures are still out and about. The Skukuza region
has many wonderful drives and your guide will decide on where to go based on his
knowledge, experience and gut-feel for the morning. After a full morning and hopefully
many good sightings breakfast will be had, either back at camp or at one of the
picnic sites out in the bush. The middle of the day will then be yours, when you
can relax, take a siesta, or walk around the camp. Skukuza, as the park's head-quarters,
has a library and museum that are worth taking a look at. Once again in the afternoon
you will head out on another game-viewing excursion. This may include the near-by
Lake Panic bird hide, which can provide wonderful birding and photographic opportunities.
With the sun setting it'll be time to return
to camp for another good meal prepared by your guide. The check-list will be updated
and arrangements made for the following morning before calling it a night.
Day
3 and 4: Skukuza to Satara. We stay for two nights at Satara Rest Camp in, from
where the vast south-central region of the Park is ours to explore over the next
two days. This region is characterised by open savannah and basalt plains, where
the abundant herds of grazers such as zebra and wildebeest attract predators such
as lion and spotted hyena. The prolific Acacia thorn trees in the area attract
browsers such as giraffe and kudu, while impala are abundant as usual. Birding
in the region is superb, with more than a dozen species of large raptors regularly
seen during the summer months, when day lists of 120+ species are feasible (for
the serious birders).
There's the option of a
night-drive from Satara on one of the nights, which usually departs at 17:00 and
returns well after dark, giving you a unique opportunity to experience the bush
at night and see some of the unique creatures that only emerge when the sun goes
down. These include porcupine, honey badger, serval, African wild cat, genets
and civet. This is also a good time to see the big cats and spotted hyena, which
usually begin moving just after sunset. By the time you return to camp your guide
will have another lovely dinner waiting for you. You can sip wine and mull over
the highlights of the day before heading on to a beckoning bed.
Option
2 includes two nights (day 5 and 6) at a private game reserve and thus you will
leave the Kruger National Park after breakfast on day 4 and enter one of the private
reserves (either Sabi Sand or Timbavati Game Reserves) adjoining the park on the
western boundary. While the exact lodge will depend on budget and availability,
options include Nkorho Bush Lodge and Idube Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand
and Umlani or Motswari in the Timbavati Game Reserve. The private reserve experience
is more expensive, but it does generally offer the very best in big-game viewing
(in open vehicles) combined with high accommodation and meal standards. Furthermore,
the private lodges normally include bush-walks in the program, which offer a perfect
opportunity to learn about some of the smaller aspects of nature, such as plants,
traditional medicine, insects, birds and animal tracks.
Day
5 and 6 (or day 7): Satara to Dullstroom. Depart after morning activities and
breakfast for the last stop in the charming town of Dullstroom in the Mpumalanga
Highlands, via the scenic Panorama Route. This route will take us via some of
the main attractions of the route, such as the Blyde River Canyon (third largest
in the world), God's Window, Lisbon Falls and others (depending on time). Optional
lunch in the historic mining town of Pilgrims Rest. We then continue via Robbers
Pass to Dullstroom, one of the highest towns in the country (over 2000 m.a.s.l),
where we stay in the charming Dullstroom Inn. From here we have the option of
exploring the region's back roads, where superb scenery and bird watching will
keep us occupied.
Other available activities
include trout fishing, horse riding, walking and enjoying some of the town's fine
restaurants.
Day 7 (or day 8): We take a last
drive in the area before heading back for breakfast and departure, depending on
flight times. Pricing: please note that these tours are very flexible and can
easily be adapted according to available time, budget and specific interests.
Pick-up and drop-off in JHB will cost extra.
