Sep 16

(Day 1)

Arrival in Cape Town. Today participants can transfer from the airport to our hotel on the south side of Cape Town. The comfortable Afton Grove guest house is a popular location for birders, due to its location, good accommodations, service and food, and pleasant grounds.  We will meet at 6 pm for drinks and introductions followed by dinner at the guest house. Tom will give the group a briefing on the trip. Night and dinner at Afton Grove guest house, Cape Town. Meals included: D

Sep 17

(Day 2)

Breakfast at Afton Grove. Morning and lunch at Kirstenbosch botanical gardens. These gardens should be a delight (pending weather) as many of the showy proteas should be in bloom. The majority of the world's protea species are restricted to the Cape area. Indeed, the Cape flora is so unique  that it is given the status of a separate floral Kingdom (one of only six in the world). The gardens are also an excellent area for observing many of the special birds of the Cape region including Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Lesser Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Francolin, Knysna Warbler, Cinnamon Dove, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, Cape Batis, Rameron Pigeon and Spotted Prinia to name just a few. In addition, if we are lucky we may be able to track down the resident pair of Spotted Eagle-Owls which often roost in these extensive gardens. After our morning and lunch in the gardens, we will head to the Boulders Beach penguin colony to enjoy point blank views of the charming African (Jackass) Penguin. This is one of only two mainland colonies of this species on the continent. 

A spectacular male Malachite Sunbird on blooming proteas                                    African Penguins playing in the surf

We will conclude the day at the Strandfontein sewage plant complex (hey, what is a birding trip without a sewage plant visit?).  Targets at the sewage ponds include Greater Flamingo, Great White Pelican, Maccoa Duck, Black-necked Grebe, African Marsh-Harrier, Cape and White-breasted Cormorants, South African Shelduck, Pied Avocet, Swift and Sandwich Terns, Cape Shoveler, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-billed Teal, African Purple Swamphen and a good variety of shorebirds.  Night: Afton Grove guest house.  Meals included: B, L, D

Sep 18

(Day 3)

Breakfast at Afton Grove.  Today we will  spend the entire day exploring the southern Cape peninsula. We will begin by making the spectacular drive along the western cape through Hout Bay, Chapmans Peak and Kommetjie, then continue south to Cape of Good Hope National Park. Todays targets include Hottentot Buttonquail (rare), Ostrich, Cape Siskin, Peregrine Falcon, Plain-backed Pipit, African Black Swift, Cape Robin, Grey-backed Cistocola, Karoo Prinia, Southern Boubou, Red-winged Starling, Cape Bunting, Bank, Crowned, Cape and White-breasted Cormorants, Antarctic Tern, White-fronted Plover, African Black Oystercatcher, White-backed Mousebird and Bully Canary. Mammals we will search for include Bontebok, Rock Dassie (Hyrax) and Southern Right Whale. After lunch at Cape of Good Hope we will return to Afton Grove in late afternoon. Night: Afton Grove guest house.  Meals included: B, L, D

The widespread but delightful Cape Robin Chat                                                            Kommetjie shoreline

Sep 19

(Day 4)

Today will be dedicated to visiting the West Coast National Park and areas north of the city. Our goal will be to reach Langebaan for lunch, and then continue north to Velddrif before making our way back south to Cape Town.  Our route may also take in some of the west coast wildflower reserves, depending on the state of blooming in the region. Birds we will search for today include Southern Black Korhaan, Black Harrier, Lesser and Greater Flamingoes, Chestnut-banded and Kittlitz's Plovers, Little Egret, Gray-headed Gull, Darter, Yellow-billed Egret, Ethiopian Snipe, Ostrich, African Rail, Capped Wheatear, Cape Penduline Tit, Pearl-breasted Swallow and Eastern Clapper Lark. Depending upon the tides we may also chance upon some newly arrived wintering shorebirds from the northern hemisphere.   Night: Afton Grove guest house. Meals included: B, L, D

Spectacular Proteas in bloom                                   Greater Flamingoes in flight

Sep 20

(Day 5)

After breakfast, we will say goodbye to Afton Grove and head east for some early morning birding at Rooi Els. This is one of the best sites for the Cape Rockjumper and we will spend several hours this morning searching for this enigmatic species. Other birds we might find in this habitat include Ground Woodpecker, Familiar Chat, Cape Siskin, Cape Rock Thrush, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Grassbird, Neddicky, Karoo Prinia, Victorin's Warbler and Rock Kestrel. Our route north from here will take us through farm country and we will arrive in Ceres in late afternoon.  Night: Village Guest House, Ceres. Meals included: B, L, D

Sep 21

(Day 6)

This morning we will make an extra early start and head east through the pass towards the Tanqua Karoo. Karoo is an arid steppe-like habitat which covers much of northwestern South Africa. It contains a distinct suite of endemic species. The entire day will be spent working our way east and north into the karoo. Today we will have a box lunch likely near Skitterykloof. Targets today will include Namaqua and Cinnamon-breasted Warblers, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Karoo Lark, Karoo, Tractrac, Sickle-winged and Anteating Chats, Karoo Eremomela, Karoo Robin, Layard's Tit-babbler, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Karoo Korhaan, Pririt Batis, Southern Black Korhaan, Red-capped and Spike-heeled Larks, Pale-winged Starling, Black-headed Canary,  Lark-like Bunting and Fairy Flycatcher.  Night: Village Guest House. Meals Included: B, L, D.

A striking Pale Chanting Goshawk in flight over the karoo                The cryptic Karoo Korhaan fluffing up

Sep 22

(Day 7)

After six days exploring the southwest, we will transfer to the eastern portion of our trip. Today is primarily a transfer day. After breakfast in Ceres, we will return to Cape Town airport where we will take a mid morning flight from Cape Town to Durban. Upon arrival in Durban, we will head inland towards the Drakensburg ranges. Enroute we will make several stops to search for Wattled, Crowned and Blue Cranes and other open country species. We should reach the Cedar Garden b and b near Underberg in late afternoon, giving us time to stroll the grounds before dinner.  Night: Sani Pass Lodge.  Meals: B (Ceres), L (on the plane), D.   

The delightful Cedar Garden b and b in Underberg

Sep 23

(Day 8)

After breakfast we will meet several guides who will take us up the road to Sani Pass and into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. We will split into several four wheel drive vehicles for this trip (but will stay close together and in constant radio contact to ensure sharing of birds). Two wheel drive vehicles are not allowed on this road for saftey reasons.  You will need your passports today as we enter Lesotho! This is either our best or only chance for a number of special birds including Orange-breasted (Drakensburg) Rockjumper, Gurney's Sugarbird,  Drakensburg Siskin, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Bald Ibis, Gray-wing Francolin, Ground Woodpecker, Sentinel Rock-thrush, Drakensburg Prinia, Mountain Pipit, Cape Griffon, Jackal Buzzard, Sicklewing Chat, Buff-streaked Chat, Rufous-throated Wryneck, and the stunning Lammergeier. If it is clear, the scenery on the drive is breathtaking, and the landscape of Lesotho feels like one has stepped back in time.  Night: Sani Pass lodge. Meals included: B (at lodge or box), L (picnic provided by 4 wheel drive guides), D. 

The spectacular four wheel drive road up to Sani Pass                                                         The scarce Red-winged Francolin  

Sep 24

(Days 9)

Today we will take a box breakfast and check out from the hotel early. We should arrive at Xumeni forest around 7 am. This will give us a good chance of catching the scarce Cape Parrot leaving their night roosts in the large trees here. Other species we will search for include Barratt's Warbler, Orange (Ground) Thrush and Narina Trogon. When activity slows down we will begin the drive north towards Bonamanzi private game reserve. Depending upon our progress we may stop at either Richard's Bay (for shorebirds) or St. Lucia (for lowland forest species such as Woodward's Batis). We will arrive in Bonamanzi (our lodge for the next three nights) in time for a welcome drink and dinner.  Night: Bonamanzi lodge.  Meals included: B (box), L, D (Bonamanzi). 

Bonamanzi lodge

Sep 25 

(Day 10)

Bonamanzi lodge has superb birding right on the grounds. This extensive private game lodge is somewhat unique in this region. Why? Although there is a good variety of wild game here, there are none of the big five (traditionally considered Africa's most dangerous animals) within the boundaries. As a result, we are not restricted to our vehicles and can enjoy strolling through the varied habitat.  This will not be the case in national and state parks, where our walking will be restricted to a few specific areas such as rest camps. The local guides in Bonamanzi are also quite highly skilled in identifying not just the big showy bird species like hornbills, but the myriad of small songbirds that abound here. Some of the specialties we will seek here include Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Rudd's Apalis, several species of Sunbirds, Gorgeous and Orange-fronted Bushshrikes, the scarce Lemon-breasted Canary, African Broadbill, Rosy-throated Longclaw and the stunning Pink-throated Twinspot.  On our first day here we will spend most of the morning exploring the floodplain. We will return for a late breakfast and then bird the grounds at a leisurely pace. Our afternoon excursion will vary depending upon success this morning. In the evening, we will take a short night drive to search for goatsuckers and mammals.   Night: Bonamanzi lodge.  Meals included: B, L, D. 

The elusive African Broadbill                                              The local Rosy-throated Longclaw at Bonamanzi

Sep 26

(Day 11)

This morning we will head north from Bonamanzi to the renowned Mkuze game park. This park not only contains the 'big five' but is also well known for great birding. We will spend the entire morning birding the trails and  hides of Mkuze. In early afternoon we will head east out of the park to the Muze Pan and meet a local Zulu birding guide. Using his local knowledge we will search for several scarce specialties including  Pel's Fishing Owl, Lesser Jacana and Green Pygmy Goose. The Muze pan also holds a good variety of shorebirds, herons, egrets, pelicans, terns and other water birds. We will get back early enough so that participants can take a stroll and have a relaxing sundowner before dinner. Night: Bonamanzi lodge. Meals included: B, L, D.

Sep 27

(Day 12)

For our final morning at Bonamanzi, we will focus on searching for localized species such as Pink-throated Twinspot, African Broadbill and Rudd's Apalis.  After a late breakfast, we will bill farewell to this wonderful lodge and head north to the town of Wakkerstroom.  We should arrive at our lodge in these high grasslands by mid afternoon. This will allow us time for a break of a few hours. In late afternoon we will head to a local wetland just outside town returning in time dinner. This seasonal wetland often holds Great Crested, Black-necked and Little Grebes, Maccoa Duck, Southern Pochard and Whiskered Tern. Night: Wakkerstroom Country Inn.  Meals included: B (Bonamanzi), L, D (Wakkerstroom Country Inn).  

Sep 28

(Day 13)

Wakkerstroom is well known as the premier site for finding highveld grassland endemics in South Africa. We will spend the entire day with a local Birdlife South Africa guide searching for the regional specialties. Targets today will include Southern Bald Ibis, Grey-wing Francolin, Marsh Owl, Blue and Southern White-bellied Korhaans, Blue and Crowned Cranes, Ground Woodpecker, Rudd's, Botha's and Pink-billed Larks, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Buff-streaked Chat and Pale-crowned Cistocola.  Night: Wakkerstroom Country Inn.  Meals included:  B, L, D.

Blue Cranes stroll across the highveld                                        Crowned Cranes often linger into early summer

Sep 29

(Day 14)

After another few hours of early morning birding, we will return for breakfast and then head north towards Kruger National Park. This drive will take us roughly five hours (plus birding, restroom and lunch stops!). This should bring us to the entrance gate to Kruger by mid afternoon.  After checking into our rest camp at Pretoriuskop (only twenty minutes from the gate), we will go for a late afternoon game drive.  This area of Kruger is a good location for the rare Black Rhinoceros (much harder to see than White Rhinoceros), as well as several scarce antelope species.  We will return to the rest camp before sunset (when the camp gates close!) for sundowners and dinner.  Night: Pretoriuskop rest camp.  Meals included: B, L, D.

Sep 30

(Day 15)

Today will be a full but exciting day. We will be packed up and ready to leave our camp as soon as the gates open. Though the numbers of game in Kruger may not be as great as the Serengeti parks, it has the greatest mammal diversity of any protected area in Africa. We can expect to see large numbers of antelope and wide of diversity of mammals, hopefully including some (if not all) of the 'big five'. Regularly seen species include Impala, Waterbuck, hippos, Giraffe, Elephant and Kudu. Other scarcer species we will search for include Lion, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Leopard, Black and White Rhino and Hyaenas. In addition to mammals, over 500 species of birds have been recorded within its boundaries. Among these, hornbills, starlings, vultures, rollers, bee-eaters and shrikes are well represented in both numbers and variety.  Specialties we will search for include Saddle-billed and Open-billed Storks, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture and Ground Hornbill. Eagles are particularly well represented with Bataleur, Martial, Black-chested Snake, Brown Snake, African Hawk, African Fish, Tawny and Wahlberg's all possiblities. Restcamps and water courses are particularly good for birding in Kruger in early spring due to the scarcity of water (typical at this time of year). We will spend a good portion of the morning searching for game and birds in southern Kruger, stopping in mid morning at a rest camp (likely Skukuza or Lower Sabie) for breakfast. We will pick up supplies of a picnic lunch and continue north through the park arriving at Letaba rest camp in late afternoon. Letaba will be our base for the next two nights. If time permits, tonight we will join rangers for a bush braais (a bush barbecue outside the rest camps).  Night:  Letaba rest camp.  Meals included: B, L, D. 

Left to right, top to bottom: Cape Buffalo, Lion on the road on night drive!, the elusive Wild Dog, Elephant on the move, Epauleted Fruit Bat, Black-backed Jackal at impala kill (all Kruger)

Oct 1

(Day 16)

Today will be another fabulous day exploring the riches of Kruger National Park. This morning we will spend several hours birding the grounds of the rest camp before breakfast. This is usually quite productive with possibilities including Scops Owl, Red-headed Weaver, Goliath Heron, Marabou Stork and Giant Kingfisher. In 2007, we recorded seven African Painted Snipe on our morning walk. We will then explore the Oliphants River loop searching for game and birds, making a lunch stop at the Oliphants rest camp. This drive is especially good for elephants. We will return to Letaba for a mid afternoon break, before again taking a late afternoon game drive. Night: Letaba rest camp. Meals included: B, L, D.

Left to right, top to bottom: Lilac-breasted Roller, Ostrich chick, Crested Barbet, Gray-headed Bushshrike, Martial Eagle with Cape Turtle Dove  (all Kruger)

Oct 2

(Day 17)

After checking out of Letaba rest camp, we will make our way towards the Phalaborwa gate, where we will say goodbye to Kruger. We will try to arrive at the Strijdom tunnel  by mid morning. This is probably the best site in the world for viewing the rare Taita Falcon. A pair of these beautiful falcons regularly nests on the cliffs here.  Continuing west we will head west towards the mist belt forests near Magoebaskloof.  We will arrive at our lodge in time for a late lunch. In the afternoon we will bird the grounds of the lodge and nearby forests. Targets here include Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Cape Parrot, Bat Hawk, Chorister Robin-Chat, Brown Scrub-Robin, White-starred Robin, Kynsna Turaco, Orange Ground-thrush, Narina Trogon, African Crowned Eagle, Grey Cuckooshrike, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Green Twinspot and Mountain Wagtail.  Night: Kurisa Moya lodge.  Meals included: B, L, D.

Oct 3

(Day 18)

This morning will be another opportunity to search for mist belt specialties around the grounds of our lodge. After breakfast, we will  head south towards Johannesburg. Depending upon our progress, we should have time to stop at Polokwane Game reserve. This is an excellent site to search for the local Short-clawed Lark as well as Crimson-breasted Shrike, Northern Black Korhaan, Ant-eating Chat, Double-banded Courser, Burnt-necked and Yellow-bellied Eremomelas and Black-faced Waxbill.  Night: Dinonyane Lodge.  Meals included: B, L, D.

Oct 4

(Day 19)

After a last morning of birding at Dinonyane lodge and a nearby wetland for targets such as Grass Owl, we will pack up and head south to Johannesburg arriving in early afternoon (no later than 2 pm). Participants should not book departures from the international airport any earlier than 5 pm this afternoon.

 Meals included: B, L