Bustards Birding Tours is run by Niall Perrins, a highly distinguished birder in southern Africa, who is well recognised for his avid support of bird conservation. A qualified accountant who has become renowned for his legendary birding skills and currently holds the record for seeing the most birds in the region in a single year, a remarkable 826 species in 2011. Niall is a dedicated birder and published photographer. With a passion for nature in general, reptiles, mammals and even the odd insect or two will be pointed out in addition to the miriad of bird species. Niall has travelled and continues to world-wide, in pursuit of satisfying his passion for birding and extending the offerings of the company.
Contact Niall: niall@bustardsbirding.co.za
Bustards partners with several freelance guides, where youth and experience are two of the key criteria. You can be guaranteed to be in capable company when you travel with the Bustards team. A group email goes out from info@bustardsbirding.co.za to reach all of us. We like to be seen as a diverse and energetic group of people, who focus not solely on birds, but explore all other aspects of nature, whether it be mammals, reptiles, insects or more. Our trips offer add-ons such as photography focused tours, mammal excursions for those harder to see nocturnal mammals, reptile focused searches, and more recently even delving into the specialised field of Odonata, finding some special and localised species.
A group email goes out from info@bustardsbirding.co.za to reach all of us.
Some of our regular guides include:
Tristan Spurway:
Tristan is a mammal-watcher turned birder. The bird-bug had bitten by the age of 15 and is now one of South Africa’s top young birders with an ear that can pick up even the quietest of bird calls. He is a great conversationalist and will keep you well entertained on longer drives. Tristan also has extensive knowledge of reptiles, amphibians, succulents and trees and is guaranteed to teach you a thing or two on your travels.
Janice Isom:
Janice’s love of all things nature and of birding in particular began in her native Scotland. She moved to South Africa in the early 1980’s and has birded extensively in Southern Africa and the UK since then. She loves to share her passion with her clients and makes each trip a personal experience. Her patience, attention to detail and ID skills will ensure you enjoy your trip with her and as a bonus her catering and home made snacks have also had her clients singing her praises.
Contact Janice: janice@bustardsbirding.co.za
David Chadwick:
David’s love of the bush took root at five years old, when his parents first taught him to read the skies for raptors in South Africa’s game reserves. Nine years as a safari guide deepened that bond, but it was a posting in Pafuri where the birding bug truly bit — enough that he left guiding to work as a bird observer on wind farm projects, sharpening his eye even further. He’s drawn to how free birds are, always chasing some new fact or sighting, and loves bringing that same enthusiasm into the field with his clients.