ALSO: See information on Tailor-made Tours
Other Tours offered in 2005
Day Trips
Introduction to South Africa with Kruger National Park and Cape Endemics
13-23 November, 2005
3 Places available on this tour
Summary
This itinerary is based on a week in North-eastern South Africa and three days birding in the Cape.
This tour covers 8 key habitats which host the majority of species/families which occur in the region. The Kruger National Park is a good example of lowland savannah or "bushveld", while this is complimented with the very bird-rich north-west arid woodland near Genius Loci, which offers more regional endemics than Kruger. In addition we spend time in Afro-temperate rain forest at Magoebaskloof and highland grassland at Dullstroom. A number of wetland habitats will also be visited. In the Cape you will spend a day in the Fynbos plant kingdom, with unparralled plant diversity and many endemics, as well as semi-desert karoo and southern oceanic habitats.
Expectations for this 10-day trip are 330-400 species with 90+ regional endemics.
One can either book for the first 7 days (Kruger/Limpopo/Mpumalanga) or the 4 Day Cape Extension, or Both.
Day 1: 13 Nov (Sun) Johannesburg to Genius Loci Game Lodge.
The tour starts near Johannesburg International and we travel some 45 minutes South to Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve which offers a variety of endemics and some interesting mammals. Birding here will concentrate on the variety of endemic larks, francolins and chats, which occur. Grassland species in this area include the endemic Melodious, Eastern Clapper, Eastern Long-billed and Spike-heeled Lark. Francolins are particularly well represented and one may encounter Orange-river, Redwinged, Grey-winged Francolin or Swainson's Spurfowl. Red-throated Wryneck and Mocking Cliff Chat are both present. Other specials include South African Cliff Swallow, Grass Owl, Red-eyed Bulbul, Cape Rock Thrush and African Pied Starling. The reserve also offers an excellent diversity of mammals, including the endemic Black Wildebeest, Suricate and Red Hartebeest.
In the afternoon we travel northwards, and time permitting will bird the excellent thornveld and mixed woodland area close to our overnight stop. THis area hosts a wide variety of typical african birds such as hornbills, magpie shrikes and grey go-away birds.
Accomodation: Genius Loci Game Lodge http://www.gl.co.za/
Day 2: 14 Nov (Mon) Genius Loci to Magoebaskloof.
An early start will see us west into acacia woodland habitat along the Zaagkuildrift area. This area holds an excellent diversity of typical african birds such as Hornbills, Barbets and Mousebirds. It will also provide the opportunity to see a number of "North-western" specials such as Northern Black Korhaan, Kalahari Robin, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Southern Pied Babbler, Cape Penduline-Tit, Black-faced Waxbill, Ashy Tit and Barred Wren-Warbler. Then there is the absurdly plumaged Shaft-tailed Whydah, the jaunty Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Black-chested Prinia and a host of cuckoos and honeyguides.
On flat plains adjacent to the Moretele Floodplain, we may see Temminck's Courser, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark, Scaly-feathered Finch, Red-headed Finch and Kittlitz Plover.
Depending on rains, we may also encounter species like Greater Painted Snipe, Black Heron, African Crake and a variety of Herons.
In the afternoon we head North towards Polokwane and Magoebaskloof (3 hour drive)
Overnight: Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge/B&B in Haenertsburg. http://www.krm.co.za/
Day 3: 15 Nov (Tue) Magoebaskloof to Kruger.
Magoebaskloof is a fine tract of afro-temperate forest situated in the northern drakensburg. Dawn will find us in the forests around woodbush. Forest specials we have a chance to see include Blackfronted Bush Shrike, Narina Trogon, Knysna Turaco, Orange Ground Thrush, Longtailed (Mountain) Wagtail, Cape Parrot, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Yellow-streaked Bulbul and Green Twinspot. We will also visit a stakeout for Bat Hawk, and may encounter a host of other forest birds such as Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Crowned Eagle, Cinnamon Dove, Starred and Chorister Robin, Scalythroated Honeyguide, Emerald Cuckoo, Forest Buzzard, Barratt's Warbler, Bluemantled Flycatcher and several sunbirds including Collared and both Lesser and Greater Doublecollared Sunbirds.
In the afternoon we proceed eastwards via Tzaneen to the Phalaborwa Gate of the Kruger National Park.
We enter the park in the early afternoon, with some time to enjoy the first animals and birds we encounter on our way to our overnight camp. Time permitting we may either bird in the camp on arrival, or go for a further game drive.
Accomodation: Letaba Rest Camp
Day 4-5, 16-17 Nov (Tue) Kruger National Park.
We will spend two full days birding and game-viewing in the Southern/Central Kruger National Park. This area provides a wonderful mosaic of big rivers, riparian woodland, thorn thickets and more open plain areas. On the river we may see African Fish Eagle, Saddlebilled Stork, Water Thick-knee and some areas of more open plains. Here we expect to encounter a variety of storks, eagles, vultures and bustards. Typical African families like Hornbills, Barbets, Rollers and Starlings are all well-represented.
The most productive approach is to leave early and drive in a circular route, ensuring that we get to one of the picnic spots for breakfast and lunch and then continuing back via a different route to our base-camp, getting back either in the early afternoon or just before dusk. Afternoon times may be spend birding around the excellent camp, and several good look-outs and hides are also worth visiting. We will also have opportunities to see what most visitors come here for: Animals such as Elephant, Rhino, Hippo, Crocodiles, Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, Zebra and many others.
Accomodation Satara/Lower Sabie/Pretoriuskop Rest Camps (Park Chalets)
Day 6: 18 Nov (Fri) Kruger National Park - Dullstroom
After a full morning birding and game driving in the Kruger National Park, we leave one of the parks western gates and travel up the very scenic escarpement to Dullstroom, which lies close to 2000m above sea level and offers a dramatic change in the birds.
Accomodation is at a beautiful Trout Fishing Lodge, near Dullstroom, very close to the best birding.
Day 7: 19 Nov (Saturday) Dullstroom to Johannesburg
The Dullstroom area has some of the most pristine high altitude grassland anywhere in Southern Africa. A host of endemics are on offer, including the wonderfully incongruous Ground Woodpecker and the fascinating Southern Bald Ibis. Rarities include Yellow-breasted Pipit, Rudd's Lark and Wattled Crane. Other highland birds we are likely to see include Sentinel Rock Thrush, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk Gurney's Sugarbird, Blue Crane, Denham's Bustard, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Black-winged Plover, and Buff-streaked Chat. Common species include widows, weavers and crows (which you will not have seen thusfar).
Time permitting, we will visit a wetland area near Belfast, where a variety of waterfowl may be seen. In the afternoon we return to Johannesburg.
(end of module 1)
For those doing the Cape and Pelagic extension (4 days) the group will spend the night at the Afton Grove Guest House near Johannesburg International.
Accomodation: Afton Grove Guest House http://www.aftonguesthouse.com/
Day 8: 20 Nov (Sun) Johannesburg to Cape Town
After breakfast your Guest House will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Cape Town.
On arrival, you will be met by your Cape Town guide. You will then drive through the Tanqua Karoo, with birding en route.
You will be accommodated at the quaint, superbly positioned Tanqua Guest House, which is in the heart of the Tanqua Karoo.
Accomodation Tanqua Guest House
Day 9 21 Nov (Mon) Tanqua Karoo - Cape Town
The Tanqua Karoo beyond Ceres provides an excellent sample of the dry karoo interior - and offers a glut of dry-country endemics. Birding will concentrate on the Tanqua Karoo flats where we search for Pale chanting Goshawk, Southern Black Korhaan, Karoo Korhaan, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Karoo, Thick billed, Karoo Chat, Grey Tit, Karoo Eremomela, Rufous-eared Warbler and others.
We stop for a picnic lunch at Skitterykloof (also known by birders as Katbakkies), which is an excellent spot for Pririt Batis, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Pale-winged Starling, Fairy Flycatcher, Layard's tit-babbler and others. The trip back to Cape Town will lead us through spectacular mountain passes including the narrow Bains Kloof Pass, which may hold further endemic specials. Other birds one may encounter on this day include South-African Shelduck, Jackal Buzzard, Pale chanting Goshawk, Verreaux's Eagle, White backed Mousebird, Cape Clapper Lark, Cape Bulbul, Mountain Wheatear, Cape Rockjumper, Karoo Scrub-Robin, Layard's Tit- babbler, Namaqua Warbler, Grey backed Cisticola, Bokmakierie, Lesser double collared Sunbird, White throated Canary and if lucky, Black-headed Canary
Day 10-11: 22-23 Nov (Mon) Cape Town and Pelagic Birding
We are scheduled to do a Pelagic outing on 22 November, with the 23rd as a reserve day should the weather be too bad to go out. The Pelagic will leave at about 07:00 from Simonstown harbour, amd takes one about
The pelagic off Cape Town is considered to one of the best day-pelagics one can do anywhere in the world due to the nutrient-rich waters brought in from the south, by the cold Benguela current. Likely birds in November include White-chinned Petrel, Southern Giant Petrel, Sooty Shearwater, Great Shearwater Cape Gannet, Subantarctic Skua, the diminutive Wilson's Storm Petrel Shy, Black-browed and Atlantic and Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and Sabine's Gull.
Also possible are Cory's and Manx Shearwater, Arctic, Pomarine and Long-tailed Skua, Great-winged Petrel, European Storm Petrel, Arctic Tern and others.
Day 11 23 Nov (Tue) Cape Peninsula Birding
The Cape Peninsula offers a day trip which combines superb scenic beauty. The birding focuses on the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which offers a variety of seashore and inland fynbos habitats. Kommetjie is a good spot for the endemic cormorants and other marine specials, and the nearby Boulders Beach is a way of seeing African Penguins close-up. We also visit the world-famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Here one can walk at ease through the superb gardens and watch endemics such as Cape Sugarbird. Other localities visited may include the Strandfontein Sewage Works and Tokai forest which is excellent for raptors such as Forest Buzzard. Other species possible for this outing include: Cape, Bank and Crowned Cormorants, Cape Francolin, African Black Oystercatcher, Hartlaubs Gull, Cape Bulbul, Cape Rock Thrush, Knysna Warbler, Grey backed Cisticola, Karoo Prinia, Cape Batis, Bokmakierie, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Lesser double-collared Sunbird, Cape Siskin and Cape Bunting.
Tour ends.
ENQUIRE about prices and availability for Module 1 (13-19 November), Module 2 (20-23 November) and the full tour
ALSO: See information on Tailor-made Tours
Other Tours offered in 2005
Day Trips
|
