| The Western and Northern Cape Provinces cover
much of what is known as the "dry west" of South
Africa. The area extends north and east of the beautiful Cape
Peninsula into a vast, sparsely populated semi desert known
as the Karoo. Further north still lies the unique and mysterious
Kalahari desert. To our east lie the forests of the Southern
Cape. |
| Module
1 - Cape Town (4 days/3 nights) |
 Target
180 birds including 45 Southern African endemics or near endemics
and 6 Cape Mountain Fynbos specials. |
| Cape Town is an underrated South African birding
destination and has much to offer the bird-watcher and naturalist.
The indigenous flora of the area comprises the smallest of the
six floral kingdoms of the world. The protea, erica, bulbous
plants, succulents and spring annuals support 200 relatively
easily seen bird species of which over 60 are endemic to Southern
Africa. These endemics include 6 passerine endemics unique to
the vegetation of the area.
Probably the best time to visit the Cape from a birding perspective
is in the Southern Hemisphere spring - late August - November.
This is the height of both the spring flower and the breeding
seasons. Masses of daisies, bulbous plants and succulents
are in bloom. Southern Right Whale are easily seen from our
shorelines between August and November. |
| Day One
Combine your day’s birding with a visit to a number
of the Cape Peninsula's top scenic and natural history attractions.
Our day begins at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – one
of the world’s leading indigenous gardens on the eastern
slopes of Table Mountain. We then spend an hour or so at one
of the Cape Flats Wetlands before heading for Kommetjie on
the Atlantic Ocean – a good spot for all the endemic
cormorants plus Antarctic Tern in
winter. Our next stop is the Cape Point Nature Reserve and
Lighthouse before returning home via the African Penguin
breeding colony at Boulders Beach. Overnight in a comfortable
hotel in or near Cape Town’s famous Waterfront. |
| Day Two
A day at the West Coast National Park approximately 80
km north of Cape Town. This park was established for the preservation
of our unique strandveld vegetation that supports some of the Karoo
bird specials. Southern Black Korhaan, Black
Harrier and Grey-winged Francolin
are three endemics most easily found here. It is also famous
for its massed spring annuals that coincide with a peak in
the birding season. The Park encircles the Langebaan Lagoon
that in summer hosts the largest number of migrant shorebirds
in South Africa. Overnight Cape Town. |
Southern Black Korhaan
Photograph Ria Grant |
| Day Three
A morning in the Hottentots Holland mountains. This provides
the best opportunity in the Western Cape to see five of our
mountain Fynbos passerine endemics – Cape Rock-jumper,
Victorin’s Warbler, Cape Sugarbird,
Orange-breasted Sunbird and Cape
Siskin. Ground Woodpecker can also
put in an appearance. Included is a visit Rooi Els –
where the mountains literally come down to the sea and a great
spot for Cape Rock Thrush. We end the day
at another of the Cape Flats wetlands. Overnight Cape Town.
Day Four
We begin the day at the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve,
an excellent spot for the more common mountain fynbos endemics
and also provides a home for some of our more elusive birds
– including Swee Waxbill, Fiscal
Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis
and the endemic Forest Buzzard. We then head
down to Paarl Bird Sanctuary, the most beautiful of the Western
Cape wetlands, and home to most Western Cape wetland species.
We return to Cape Town via the wheatlands of Philadelphia
– see a variety of Larks, Pipits,
Bishops and Weavers. These
lands are also home to our National bird - the Blue
Crane. |
| Module
2 - Karoo (2 days/1 night)
|
| Target
80 birds including 35 Southern African endemics. About 20 of
these endemics are not seen on other tours listed. |
| An overnight trip into the succulent Tanqua Karoo
region about 150km from Cape Town. The word Karoo is derived
from a Khoi word meaning thirstland which perfectly describes
a remote area of semi desert with stark, geologically interesting
landscapes. |
| The succulent Karoo is comparatively rich in birds - particularly
after rains. Of the species seen about 30 will be Southern
African endemics including Karoo specials like Karoo
Korhaan, Rufous-eared Warbler, Fairy
Flycatcher and Karoo Eremomela.
We overnight in a comfortable guesthouse in the heart of
the Tanqua. |
Karoo Scene
Photograph Ria Grant |
| Module
3A - West Coast (2 days/1 night)
|
| Target
110 birds. 30 Southern African endemics and the only real chance
for Protea Seedeater - the sixth and most difficult
of the Cape Mountain Fynbos passerine endemics. |
| Two days in the unique lowland and mountain fynbos vegetation of the Cape. West Coast National Park, (See Module 1 – Day 2) Vredenberg wheatlands for a variety of larks, pipits and
wheatears including the highly localised endemic Cape
Long-billed Lark and the Sickle-winged Chat,
Berg River Estuary for Chestnut-banded Plover,
Lesser Flamingo and a variety of shorebirds.
|
Protea Seedeater
Photograph courtesy Lois Knaggs, Canada |
| We overnight in a comfortable chalet high in the Cape mountains and take an early morning walk in search of the elusive Protea Seedeater. |
| Module
3B - Overberg (3 days/2 nights)
|
| Target
130 birds. 25 Southern African endemics. |
| The focus of this trip is the sandveld fynbos
of the Agulhas coastal plains. This provides an opportunity
to see birds not readily seen closer to Cape Town including
Denham’s (Stanley’s) Bustard, Southern
Tchagra and an isolated population of Cape
Vulture. We also spend some time in the Grootvadersbos
State Forest – the most noteworthy indigenous forest in
the Western Cape. |
We follow the False Bay coastline along to Gansbaai via
Hermanus, taking time out to look at well known birding spots
along the way. From Gansbaai it is into the Agulhas plains
with opportunities for the localised endemic Agulhas
Long-billed Lark and the Blue Crane.
We overnight in a comfortable cottage on a working farm on
the area.
Day two is spent exploring the de Hoop Nature Reserve and
includes a visit to the isolated Cape Vulture
colony at Potsberg – also a good spot for Knysna
Woodpecker. |
Agulhas Plains
Photograph courtesy Christian Frische, South Africa |
| We spend our second night on a Guest Farm adjoining
the Grootvadersbos State Forest and our final morning is spent
in the Forest – great opportunities for Narina
Trogon, Forest Canary, Terrestrial
Brownbul and a variety of other forest birds. |
| Module
4 - Kalahari (5 nights)
|
| Target
227 birds. 75 Southern African endemics. This tour can be customised
to include an additional night in Bushmanland with a focus on
the specials of that area. Collection/drop-off in Upington is
also an option - thus eliminating the long drive from Cape Town. |
| 1200km north of Cape Town, with an overnight stop
at the Augrabies Falls National Park on the Gariep (Orange)
River, lies the Kalahari Desert. The stark granite landscape
of Augrabies, and the push of South Africa’s mightiest
river through the gorge it has carved for itself, is dramatic.
Augrabies is also a good spot for Orange River White-eye,
Karoo Thush, Pale-winged Starling
and Dusky Sunbird.
We spend the next three nights in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Bordered by Namibia and Botswana this venture into the Kalahari provides the finest raptor viewing in Southern Africa. Vultures, eagles, falcons, goshawks, owls, buzzards, secretary birds, bustards etc. are all regularly and easily seen. Typical African bushveld birds such as Yellow-billed Hornbill and Lilac-breasted Roller are also common whilst the brilliantly marked Crimson-breasted Shrike is a special of the area. The park also supports lion, cheetah, hyena, leopard and large antelope herds. We return to Cape Town via a prime Bushmanland birding destination - Brandvlei.
Accommodation |
     
Photographs Ria Grant |
| Module
5 - Garden Route (3 days/2 nights)
|
| Target
150 birds. 35 Southern African endemics. |
| The scenically attractive Garden
Route area extends from Mossel Bay to the Storms River. The
Southern Cape forests, which benefit from rainfall throughout
the year, support approximately 30 birds which are not seen
on the other modules listed in this section. |
| Day One
Depart for Worcester and the Karoo. Our first morning is spent
in search of some the Karoo specials this part of our journey
has to offer. We then head on down through the spectacular
fold mountain gorge known as Seweweeks Poort to the Klein
Karoo and Garden Route.
Overnight Blackwaters River Lodge, Knysna. |
Knysna Turaco
Photograph courtesy Paul Slade, UK |
Day Two
A full morning birding the extensive forests of the Southern
Cape will produce a number of forest specials including the
spectacular Knysna Turaco, Chorister
Robin-chat, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher,
Grey Cuckooshrike and Olive Woodpecker.
In the afternoon we visit bird hides situated on the Wilderness
Lakes. Overnight Knysna. |
| Day Three
A final wrap up in the forests before returning to Cape Town
via the Southern Cape coastal plain and the Bontebok National
Park where, amongst other birds, we look for Denham's
(Stanley's) Bustard.
The above Tour can be customised to start OR end in
Port Elizabeth.
(ZAR 6900 * per
person sharing) |
Module
6 - Garden Route/Addo/Port Elizabeth (5 days/4 nights)
|
|
Days One to Three
As for Module 5 except transfer to Addo Elephant Park on afternoon
day three. Overnight Addo. |
Addo Elephants
Photograph courtesy Risa Kassoff, USA |
| Day Four
Proclaimed in 1931 to save the last survivors of the once
numerous Eastern Cape elephants this 12126 Ha Park is a fine
example of undulating Valley Bushveld. See elephant and other
game in addition to a nice variety of birds not seen further
west than this. Overnight Addo.
Day Five
Morning Game and Birding Drive
Addo. Transfer to Port Elizabeth
for a late afternoon flight
to onward destination. (or return
to Cape Town with vehicle the
following day - at an extra cost per
person) |
