For our Cape & Kruger birding and wildlife tour we have specifically selected the two most productive and diverse regions of South Africa: the fabulous Cape Peninsula in the south-west and the vast world famous Kruger National Park in the north-east of the country. Spending about five days in each area, we have the opportunity to explore both the Cape and Kruger by means of a variety of day trips visiting the essential highlights of each distinct region. The birding and scenery in the smallest Floristic Kingdom in the world is spectacular and the world famous Kruger National Park gives us chance to get close to the typical African wildlife such as Lion, Leopard, African Elephant, both Black and White Rhinoceroses, Plains Zebra, Giraffe and Warthog - not to mention its rich birdlife. This tour promises a whole host of endemic and super special African bird and wildlife species and comes highly recommended!
Please note: these prices are subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.
2023 Tour price is an estimate and will change. Tour dates could be adjusted.
Top Birds
Western Cape: Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Siskin, Protea and Cape Canaries, Orange-breasted, Malachite & Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, African Penguin, African Oystercatcher, Crowned, Bank & Cape Cormorants, Hartlaub’s Gull, Black Harrier, Southern Black and Karoo Korhaans, Cape Spurfowl, Bokmakierie, Jackal Buzzard, Southern Boubou, Swee Waxbill, Karoo and Large-billed Larks, Karoo Eremomela, Ground Woodpecker, Cape Weaver, Cape Bulbul, Maccoa Duck, Cape Teal, Cape Shoveler, South African Shelduck, Victorin’s, Cinnamon-breasted, Rufous-eared and Namaqua Warblers, Cape Penduline Tit, White-backed Mousebird, Greater and Lesser Flamingos.
Kruger: Common Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Bateleur, Martial, Crowned, African Hawk- & Tawny Eagles, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Lizard Buzzard, Marabou & Saddle-billed Storks, Lappet-faced, White-backed, Hooded & White-headed Vultures, chances for African Finfoot, White-crowned Lapwing, Swainson’s & Natal Spurfowls, Coqui, Crested and Shelley's Francolins, Bronze-winged Courser, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Verreaux’s and Spotted Eagle-Owls, Southern White-faced, African Scops Owls, Pearl-spotted & African Barred Owlets, Southern Red-billed and Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills, Brown-headed Parrot, Bennett’s, Cardinal and Golden-tailed Woodpeckers, Mosque Swallow, Grey-headed and Orange-breasted Bushshrikes, Burchell’s Starling, Southern White-crowned Shrike, Red-headed Weaver, White-browed Robin-Chat, Bearded Scrub Robin, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Bushveld Pipit
Top Mammals
Western Cape: Afro-Australian Fur Seal, Common Eland, Blesbok (Bontebok), (Cape) Mountain Zebra, (Red) Hartebeest, Cape Grysbok, Southern Right Whale, Long-beaked Common Dolphin
Kruger: The ‘Big 5’ (Lion, Leopard, African Elephant, Black and White Rhinoceroses, African Buffalo), Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Side-striped Jackal, Greater Kudu, Giraffe, Spotted Hyena, Nyala, Common and Central African Large-spotted Genet, Wild Cat, African Civet, Cape Porcupine, White-tailed Mongoose, Klipspringer, Plains Zebra, Warthog
Habitats Covered
Western Cape: mountains, fynbos, coastal waters, semi desert, wetlands
Kruger: acacia savanna, bushveld, terminalia woodland, riverine forest, grasslands, rivers, wetlands
Expected Climate
Western Cape: subtropical with occasional rain, can be cold at times
Kruger: subtropical and dry, warm to hot
Max Group Size
6 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Tour Pace & Walking
relaxed to moderate pace with undemanding walks
Accommodation
comfortable to very comfortable
Ease of Birding
mostly easy with a few tougher species
Number of Species Expected
290+
Other Attractions
Western Cape: Table Mountain, incredible coastal and mountain scenery, Tanqua Karoo, great food & wine
Kruger: vast, pristine wilderness, huge numbers of African mega-fauna
Photographic Opportunities
excellent
Client Testimonials
I thought Doug McCulloch was a wonderful guide. He was extremely dedicated and persistent in getting the key targets. It was clear he was personally frustrated by some of the misses, even though that was well out of his control (much of it was due to weather). And he even did a little extra homework to help me get a couple of targets that I went after by myself after the tour ended. He didn't have to do that, and I just want to thank him again for that.
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!
Andre Bernon was excellent at sharing his expertise and assisting even the most novice birder (me). We couldn't have asked for a better professional. And he was so personable, considerate and had a great sense of humor.
Jeremy Exelby was well-beyond excellent, extremely knowledgeable and did a terrific job of seeing to everyone's individual needs.
Our guide Doug McCulloch was excellent; superb at finding birds, hard working and good with people. His knowledge about, not only the birds, but also ecology and South African society, contributed to making the trip a wonderful experience.