South Africa - Western Endemics (Small Group) 2024 - 07 Jun 2024 - 18 Jun 2024 (12 days)
ZAR59,500
Spaces Available
Tour price (Per person): ZAR59,500 * USD3,344 * GBP2,709 * EUR3,077 * AUD5,000
Overview Tour Facts Top Birds
Southern Africa’s dry west is a unique and fascinating yet under-visited land. A hotbed of faunal and floral diversity, this area harbours two botanical regions found nowhere else on earth; the Cape Floristic Region and the Succulent Karoo. Our Western Endemics tour showcases these areas and the range of special birds endemic to them; you can expect not only great birds, but some of the most dramatic scenery in Africa! Tour highlights include the unique fynbos-clad slopes of the Western Cape, home to the stunning Cape Rockjumper, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Bulbul and Cape Sugarbird, amongst a plethora of highly range-restricted endemics; the world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for Cape Spurfowl, Southern Double-collared Sunbird and the delightful Bokmakierie; De Hoop and Grootvadersbosch for both Cape Clapper and Agulhas Long-billed Larks, Knysna Woodpecker and Knysna Warbler, West Coast National Park where targets include the smart Black Harrier, Grey-winged Francolin and Cape Siskin; the rugged Hottentots-Holland Mountains region, home to Sentinel Rock Thrush and the beautiful endemic Victorin’s Warbler and Protea Canary; the arid and semi-arid areas of the Karoo, which provide another great backdrop for a variety of bustards, larks and other endemics before finish our tour in Bushmanland for some of the scarcest endemic larks of the tour.
Please note: these prices are subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.
*2024 Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Siskin, Cape Bulbul, Protea & Black-headed Canaries, Orange-breasted, Dusky, Greater Double-collared & Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, African Oystercatcher, Crowned, Bank & Cape Cormorants, Hartlaub’s Gull, Southern Black, Northern Black & Karoo Korhaans, Ludwig’s & Denham's Bustards, Cape Spurfowl, Victorin’s, Namaqua, Knysna, Cinnamon-breasted, Layard’s & Rufous-eared Warblers, Fairy & Fiscal Flycatchers, Karoo Eremomela, Barlow’s, Red, Sclater’s, Stark's, Karoo-long-billed, Sabota, Cape Clapper, Agulhas Long-billed & Cape Long-billed Larks, Capped Wheatear, Cape Penduline Tit, White-backed Mousebird, Karoo & Tractrac Chats, Southern Tchagra, Knysna Woodpecker, Narina Trogon, Karoo Scrub Robin, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Cape Grassbird, Karoo Prinia, Pririt Batis, Verreaux's, Crowned & Booted Eagles, South African Shelduck, Karoo Thrush, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Burchell's Courser, Orange River White-eye, Greater Kestrel, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Forest & Cape Canaries.
Top Mammals Afro-Australian Fur Seal, Common Eland, Blesbok (Bontebok), Mountain Zebra, Hartebeest, Cape Grey Mongoose, Cape Grysbok, Springbok, Klipspringer, Grey Rhebok, Chacma Baboon, Springbok and Meerkat
Habitats Covered mountains, semi-desert, fynbos, coastal waters, wetlands, dunes, gravel plains
Expected Climate temperate with occasional rain, can be cold in winter. The hinterland reaches high temperatures during the day, before plunging at night.
Max Group Size 6 with 1 Rockjumper leader
Tour Pace & Walking moderate
Accommodation comfortable
Ease of Birding easy, with some tricky species
Number of Species Expected 220 - 240
Other Attractions Tanqua-Karoo, Table Mountain, Cape Peninsula, great food & wine
Photographic Opportunities good to excellent
Tour Route Map 
Client Testimonials
Client Testimonials Dates, Leaders and Pricing
2024 DEPARTURES
Trip Reports
Tour Enquiry
Gareth Robbins was a very good guide. He had a lot of responsibilities doing all the driving, dealing with logistics, keeping various interests satisfied.
Doug McCulloch did a good job picking up the tour after Greg had to depart. He is very good at communicating with the group and answering all questions.
I am not a twitcher or even a knowledgeable birdwatcher, but I am always keen to see new things. Our ranger André had a huge knowledge of birds. He shared this and more about all the flora and fauna that we came across. He explained about insects and trees as we passed them and didn't fail to answer a question.
Gregory was an excellent tour leader and bird guide. I would happily travel with him again.
Gareth studiously worked to meet each participant’s individual needs without sacrificing the overall experience of the group. His audio sense and grasp of song probably even exceeded his other birding skills (which were quite formidable in their own right). His sense of humour and engagement with people was excellent.