SOUTH AFRICA
At the southern tip of the African continent, South Africa has had just shy of 900 species recorded within its borders. There are 18 true endemics, with many other near endemics, some such as Blue Korhaan and Southern Bald Ibis lose that status by virtue of the fact that they cross into Lesotho, a kingdom landlocked as an enclave in South Africa.
The country is large, covering over 1.2 million square kilometers – there are several very different biomes such as fynbos in the Cape, Karoo desert in Western and Northern Cape, coastal forest from the Western Cape all the way through to the north-east of the country in Kwazulu Natal, highveld grasslands and bushveld, and of course the world famous game reserves, including Kruger National Park. The pelagics out of Cape Town are some of the most productive in the world, with trips out of Durban giving opportunities to see more easterly species and some highly endangered species such as Barau’s Petrel.
Trips we offer include:
Eastern South Africa – from Kruger National Park, onto the high grasslands around Wakkerstroom, coastal forests of Durban and ending with a trip up Sani Pass into the scenic Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho – excellent for mammals as well as birds.
Cape endemics – the fynbos biome of the Western Cape is home to several endemic species such as Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird & Victorin’s Warbler. This trip can be added on after the Eastern trip or done as a stand alone
Northern Cape – into the arid northern part of the Karoo, that several species such as larks call their home, and are endemic to this biome, several crossing into Namibia and the south-west tip of Botswana. Birds like Cape Long-billed, Karoo Long-billed, Red, Sclater’s and Stark’s Larks are looked for along with Rosy-faced Lovebirds, Burchell’s and Double-banded Courser and large flocks of Namaqua Sandgrouse. Bustards are also a feature on this trip with Ludwig’s and Kori Bustards and the smaller Karoo and Northern Black Korhaans.
Day trips out of main centres such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Bloemfontein
Pelagic trips are regular out of Durban, and chartered on request out of Cape Town
We can customise any short trip for business or holiday travellers wishing to bolt on a few days before or after a trip, so please do get in touch.