10 Day Birding Tour in South Africa

Greater Kruger National Park
4th to 14th November 2010

This 'Birds and Big Cats' itinerary covers the Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa’s main wildlife destination, as well as some different and diverse areas such as the 2000 metre grasslands of Dullstroom and the unique mist-belt forest of the escarpment edge.

Birds and Big Cats - Tour Itinerary

Day 1 and 2: Critchley Hackle; Dullstroom

• Arrive in Dullstroom for lunch, followed by afternoon birding activity.
• Early morning excursion to Veloren Valei Nature Reserve in the morning, followed by breakfast and an afternoon birding activity.
• Birding and wildlife highlights include Southern Bald Ibis, Denham’s Bustard, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Buff-streaked Chat, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Jackal Buzzard, Gurney’s Sugarbird, Malachite Sunbird, Grey Crowned Crane and many others. Mammals include Blesbok, Mountain Reedbuck, Grey Rhebok and Yellow Mongoose.

Day 3 and 4: Mount Sheba; On the Escarpment

• Leave Dullstroom after breakfast and head on to Mount Sheba.
• Forest birding will be the highlight of our stay here as there is a large patch of indigenous mist-belt forest surrounding the hotel.
• Birding and wildlife highlights here include Narina Trogon, Knysna Turaco, Chorister Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Orange Ground Thrush, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Cape Batis, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Olive Bush-Shrike and Olive Woodpecker, among others, as well as the forest-dwelling Samango Monkey.

Days 4 to 7: The Kruger National Park

• Leave Mount Sheba early and take in some of the sights of the Panorama Route such as God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels.
• Enter the Kruger National Park and spend the next four days viewing game and listing huge numbers of bird species.
• We divide our time between Skukuza and Satara Rest Camps, each with different habitats and slightly different bird and animal components.
• Birding and wildlife highlights include Saddle-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, Lappet-faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, Southern Ground Hornbill, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Lilac-breasted Roller, Purple-crested Turaco and the Big Five: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Cape Buffalo, to mention but a few.

Days 8 and 9: Nkorho Bush Camp; Sabi Sand Game Reserve

• After a last morning drive in the Kruger depart for the adjacent Sabi Sand Game Reserve, a world-renowned private conservancy of 65 000 hectares and which boasts some of Africa’s finest game viewing.
• Our time here will include morning and afternoon open vehicle safaris, where close-up encounters with big game will be the highlight of this wonderful itinerary. Bush walks, fine food and wine, and alfresco dining under the stars in the boma (open eating area) will complement the game viewing and make for a cherry-on-the-top experience.
• Birding and Wildlife highlights include Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, White Rhino, Spotted Hyena, Kudu, Burchell’s Zebra and Blue Wildebeest, among others.  

Day 10: Departure

• After a final safari from Nkorho Bush Camp we’ll have breakfast and head back to Johannesburg, a seven hour drive away.

Other Highlights and Attractions

A vast array of big game in the Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the Blyde River Canyon, the luxury private lodge experience and a continually changing scenic
journey as we descend from the highlands to the low-lying savannah of the Kruger Park.

What's Included in Your Tour

• Accommodation
• All meals
• Ground transport
• Bottled water in vehicles whilst travelling
• Game drives in open vehicles when in private reserves
• Personalised bird and mammal checklists
• Entrance fees
• National Park Conservation fees where necessary
• Specialist guide fees
• Single accommodation for tour leader

What's Not Included

• All airfares
• Travel and medical insurance
• All drinks
• Optional night drives when in Kruger Park
• Excursions not mentioned in the itineraries
• Items of a personal nature

To find out more about any of our birding tours, please email us or call on 0844 415 0155

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