Our eastern South Africa birding and wildlife tours combine the great birds and mammals of the world-renowned Kruger National Park, the teeming Zululand game reserves, the endemic-rich mist-belt forests and grasslands of the Natal Midlands and the lofty peaks of the magnificent Drakensberg. Target species include Kori Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Bateleur, Southern Bald Ibis, Bearded Vulture, Blue and Wattled Cranes, Blue Korhaan, Ground Woodpecker, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Rudd’s and Botha’s Larks, Spotted and Orange Ground Thrushes, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Gurney’s Sugarbird, the splendid Pink-throated Twinspot, Neergaard’s Sunbird, Narina Trogon, Woodward’s Batis, Gorgeous and Olive Bushshrikes, Chorister Robin-Chat, Brown and Bearded Scrub Robins, Knysna and Livingstone's Turacos, Bush Blackcap and Rudd’s Apalis. Our chances of achieving the classic ‘Big Five’ (Lion, Leopard, African Elephant, African Buffalo and both Black & White Rhinoceroses) are excellent, while less common mammals include African Wild Dog, Cheetah and the endemic Black Wildebeest.
Please note: these prices are subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.
Blue, Wattled & Grey Crowned Cranes; Denham’s Bustard; Blue Korhaan; Southern Bald Ibis; Drakensberg Rockjumper; Gurney’s Sugarbird; Bush Blackcap; Ground, Bennett's & Olive Woodpeckers; Rudd’s & Botha’s Larks; Knysna, Purple-crested & Livingstone’s Turacos; Chorister Robin-Chat; Drakensberg & Karoo Prinias; Grey Tit; Karoo & Olive Thrushes; Fairy Flycatcher; Layard's & Chestnut-vented Warblers; Cape Parrot; Narina Trogon; Gorgeous & Olive Bushshrikes; Spotted & Orange Ground Thrushes; Cape & Sentinel Rock Thrushes; Rudd’s Apalis; Woodward’s & Cape Batises; Grey Waxbill; Brown & Bearded Scrub Robins; Buff-streaked & Sickle-winged Chats; Pink-throated Twinspot; Neergaard’s, Scarlet-chested & Southern Double-collared Sunbirds; Green Malkoha; Half-collared & Giant Kingfishers; Little & White-fronted Bee-eaters; Southern Boubou; Cape & Forest Canaries; Cape, Spectacled & Southern Brown-throated Weavers; Yellow-breasted Pipit.
Lion; Leopard; African Elephant; African Buffalo; Black & White Rhinoceroses; Meerkat, African Wild Dog; Black Wildebeest; Nyala; Cheetah; Southern Giraffe; Greater Kudu; Plains Zebra; Common Warthog; Common Eland; Sloggett’s Vlei Rat; Common Hippopotamus.
Dune and mist-belt forest, acacia savanna, high elevation and coastal grasslands, mountains, wetlands
Subtropical with chances for occasional rain, warm to hot in Kruger and Zululand, cooler in highlands, can be cold in winter
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Moderate. Suitable for all birding / wildlife interest levels and most mobility capabilities. Can be a little tiring due to travel distances.
Good to comfortable.
Undemanding, most species provide good visuals. A small number of scarce/rare species.
320 - 380 (400 - 450 with extension)
Kruger National Park, Sani Pass and Drakensberg Mountains, dramatic scenery, Zulu culture, Indian Ocean, iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Good to very good. Some hides, mostly for mammal photography.
André in particular went out of his way to make sure our stay was as wonderful as it could be. Andre is also a great guide, with the ability to spot just about everything that moves, even if the movement is only breathing.
The tour was expertly led by David Hoddinott, who was attentive to the clients and exceptionally knowledgeable. He ensured everyone had seen each species of bird encountered. The weather took a turn, but David was keen to stick out as long as it was safe to give us the best chance of maximising our species. Highly recommended.
Greg gave the best introductory talk (regarding group dynamics and birding etiquette), that I have ever heard. Excellent.
This was our first tailor-made tour. It won't be our last. We had a great time. Dan was an excellent guide, working all the angles to get us our target birds while still covering the area specialties, affording us great looks at birds for which we had only fleeting views on our previous South Africa tour with Rockjumper (which was also great!). Dan was very persistent, which paid off in seeing a good number of very difficult specialty birds that many avid South African birders have not seen. We even had two lifer flufftails in a single day, thanks in part to Doug McCulloch, who took the morning off from his new job to help out with the Red-breasted Flufftail. Thanks, Doug! We could have used one more day in the Joburg area, as there were a few birds that were not accessible within the time frame of the tour. This always happens, though, and I am glad we went from a 6-day to a 10-day tour. This is the reason for the overall rating of 9 rather than 10. Overall, the three of us had a great time on the tour. Thanks for putting it together for us!
As an experienced world traveller and birder, I must say that the Eastern South Africa and Cape Extension III tours went beyond my already high expectations. All in all, we saw nearly 540 bird species, plus many mammals, including the "Big Five". Our guide, Andre Bernon, really made an effort for us all to see each and every species, and was also very knowledgeable about reptiles, mammals, South African history etc. An excellent guide!
Tour Leader: James Wade Lee
Tour price (Per person): ZAR79,950 * USD4,395 * GBP3,470 * EUR4,046 * AUD6,586
Single Supplement: ZAR7,100 * USD390 * GBP308 * EUR359 * AUD585
Can be linked with: South Africa - Cape Extension IV 2024
Tour Leader: Quinton Paul Josop
Tour price (Per person): ZAR79,950 * USD4,395 * GBP3,470 * EUR4,046 * AUD6,586
Single Supplement: ZAR7,100 * USD390 * GBP308 * EUR359 * AUD585
Can be linked with: South Africa - Cape Extension V 2024
Tour Leader: James Wade Lee
Tour price (Per person): ZAR79,950 * USD4,395 * GBP3,470 * EUR4,046 * AUD6,586
Single Supplement: ZAR7,200 * USD396 * GBP312 * EUR364 * AUD593
Can be linked with: South Africa - Cape Extension I 2025
Tour Leader: Ryan Tyrer
Tour price (Per person): ZAR79,950 * USD4,395 * GBP3,470 * EUR4,046 * AUD6,586
Single Supplement: ZAR7,200 * USD396 * GBP312 * EUR364 * AUD593
Can be linked with: South Africa - Cape Extension II 2025
Tour Leader: Ryan Tyrer
Tour price (Per person): ZAR79,950 * USD4,395 * GBP3,470 * EUR4,046 * AUD6,586
Single Supplement: ZAR7,200 * USD396 * GBP312 * EUR364 * AUD593
Can be linked with: South Africa - Cape Extension III 2025
Tour Leader: James Wade Lee
Tour price (Per person): ZAR79,950 * USD4,395 * GBP3,470 * EUR4,046 * AUD6,586
Single Supplement: ZAR7,200 * USD396 * GBP312 * EUR364 * AUD593
Can be linked with: South Africa - Cape Extension IV 2025
Tour Leader: James Wade Lee
Tour price (Per person): ZAR79,950 * USD4,395 * GBP3,470 * EUR4,046 * AUD6,586
Single Supplement: ZAR7,200 * USD396 * GBP312 * EUR364 * AUD593
Can be linked with: South Africa - Cape Extension V 2025
South Africa - Bletsch 2024 - March 2024
South Africa - Rallid Quest (Small Group) 2024 - February 2024
South Africa - Williamson Wild Dog ext (RWT) 2024 - February 2024
South Africa - Frederick 2024 - February 2024
South Africa - Cape Extension I 2024 - January 2024
South Africa - Eastern I 2024 - January 2024
South Africa - Kruger Extension I 2023 - November 2023
South Africa - Mega Birding Tour I 2023 - November 2023
South Africa - Ball Karoo 2023 - October 2023
South Africa - Eastern VI 2023 - October 2023
South Africa - Cape Extension V 2023 - October 2023
South Africa - Eastern V 2023 - September 2023
South Africa - Budget Eastern (Small Group) 2023 - September 2023
South Africa - Harris (RWT) 2023 - August 2023
South Africa - Heller 2023 - June 2023
South Africa - Woo 2023 - June 2023
South Africa - Cape & Kruger I 2023 - May 2023
South Africa - Inglet 2023 - February 2023
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