THE BEST OF SOUTH AFRICA BIRDING SAFARI - Beautiful Birds, Bountiful Beasts - Red Hill Birding
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Red Hill Birding info@redhillbirding.com
THE BEST OF SOUTH AFRICA BIRDING SAFARI
Beautiful Birds, Bountiful Beasts
15 October – 31 October 2018 $4850 per person based on double occupancy
Guide: Josh Engel $580 single supplement
CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS OR TO REGISTER: JOSH@REDHILLBIRDING.COM
Thanks to its stability, safety, natural beauty, friendly people, and incredible wildlife, South
Africa has become the continent’s top tourist destination. The Western Cape, where the trip
begins, is known for its gorgeous coastline, rugged mountains, delicious food and wine, and its
endemic birds. From there, the trip heads to the high-altitude grasslands of the eastern part of
the country. The rolling hills are home to several endangered species of grassland birds that are
found nowhere else in the world. Off the beaten tourist path, this beautiful region has
incredible birdlife in a traditional rural environment. We finish the trip with a bang, in South
Africa’s flagship national park, Kruger. Kruger is home to among Africa’s healthiest populations
of elephants, lions, leopards, wild dogs, rhinoceros, and other large animals. It is also home to
an extraordinarily diverse birdlife, including many large birds that are rarely found outside of
protected areas, including five species of vultures and an incredible array of hawks, eagles,
bustards, storks, and hornbills. South Africa has world class infrastructure, with excellent roads,
wonderful hotels, and delicious food, not to mention some of the world’s best birding and
animal-viewing.
1Red Hill Birding info@redhillbirding.com
Birds: 350-400 species Mammals: 40-45 species
Photographic opportunities: Excellent Physical difficulty: Easy Pace: Moderate
Accommodations: Good to excellent. Kruger and Karoo National Parks have simple accommodations,
but with hot water, en suite bathrooms, and air conditioning.
Bird highlights: Cape endemics such as Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, and Agulhas Lark;
Karoo endemics such as Karoo Korhaan, Rufous-eared Warbler, and Karoo Eremomela; Benguela
current endemics such as three cormorants and African Penguin; South African forest endemics such as
Swee Waxbill, Knysna Turaco, and Knysna Warbler; High-elevation grassland endemics such as Botha’s
and Rudd’s Larks and Blue Korhaan; Kruger specialties such as five species of endangered vultures,
Brown-headed Parrot, and Southern Ground Hornbill.
Mammal highlights: An excellent chance at the Big Five: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Cape
Buffalo; Southern African endemics such as Meerkat, Cape Gray Mongoose, and Bontebok; small
mammals like Dwarf and Banded Mongoose and Klipspringer; Hippo, giraffe, a wide variety of antelope,
and endless possibilities, including Cheetah and Wild Dog, in Kruger and other national parks.
About your guide: Josh Engel has been leading birding trips and safaris in Africa since 2006, including
when he lived in South Africa from 2006-2010. He is the owner and founder of Red Hill Birding. A
second guide will be added if the group is 9 or more participants (maximum group size is 12).
*Note that if you are interested in other activities before or after the tour, such as visiting Cape Town
cultural sights like Robben Island or the Cape wine country, birding in KwaZulu Natal, or visiting Victoria
Falls, Red Hill Birding can help make those arrangements. *
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival
Your guide will meet you at Cape Town International Airport and transfer you to the hotel, where we
will be based for a three-night stay. We will bird around the hotel grounds or at nearby sites as time
permits.
Day 2-3: Cape Town
One of our full days in Cape Town will be devoted to a pelagic trip onto the Atlantic Ocean (the trip is
optional). The nutrient-rich waters of the Benguela Current bring a wonderful diversity of seabirds with
it, including several species of albatross (Yellow-nosed, Shy, and Black-browed are seen on most trips),
as well as shearwaters, petrels, and storm-petrels. It’s possible to see marine mammals as well,
including Southern Right Whale. When the boat returns to land in the afternoon, we will visit the
nearby African Penguin colony, one of three mainland colonies on the continent, located, amazingly, in
the Cape Town suburbs. Please note that because not everybody chooses to go on the pelagic trip, the
cost is not included in the tour price. We will let you know the cost if you choose to sign up for it.
For those who choose not to go on the pelagic trip, we will spend the day birding on the Cape Peninsula,
visiting the gorgeous Cape Point as well as the Kommetjie Lighthouse. We will be looking for the three
species of cormorants (Bank, Cape, and Crowned) that are endemic to the west coast of Southern
2Red Hill Birding info@redhillbirding.com
Africa, as well as local endemic songbirds like Cape Sugarbird, Cape Grassbird, and Orange-breasted
Sunbird.
Our other full day in the Western Cape will be spent visiting the West Coast, north of Cape Town. This
region of coastal scrub known as renosterveld is home to many unique birds, including Black Harrier,
Southern Black Korhaan, and Blue Crane. Songbirds are common, too, including Southern Double-
collared and Malachite Sunbirds, Karoo Scrub-Robin, and Bokmakierie. The wetlands contained in
West Coast National Park offer us out best chance of the trip to see shorebirds. A few will be familiar to
North American observers—Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone, for example—but many will be very
different, including African Oystercatcher, Chestnut-banded Plover, and Little Stint. There’s a strong
possibility to find flocks of both Lesser and Greater Flamingoes, among the 100+ species that we will
likely see today.
Day 4: Cape Town to Betty’s Bay
We will leave our hotel in the morning and start our eastward journey along the coast. It is just a short
drive, but the birding is tremendous. We will start at the world-famous Kirstenbosch National Botanical
Gardens, where the protea flowers in the shadow of Table Mountain are full of Cape Sugarbirds,
several species of sunbirds, and where Cape Francolins scurry about the lawns.
We will then make our way along the coast, with a stop at the Strandfontein Wetlands, one of South
Africa’s premier waterbird hangouts. We will also stop in at Rooi Els to try for one of the Cape’s most
charismatic and sought-after endemic birds, Cape Rockjumper. We should also find Cape Rock Thrush
here, along with Karoo Prinia, Gray-backed Cisticola, and possibly Cape Siskin.
Day 5: Betty’s Bay to Bontebok National Park via the Agulhas Plain
Our morning will begin with a search of the nearby coastal mountains for Cape Rockjumper, if we didn’t
see it the day before. We will then continue east, slowly birding our way across the wheat fields of the
Agulhas Plain. Birds have adapted well to the agricultural landscape here, and we should find flocks of
Blue Cranes, pairs of Karoo Korhaans and other bustards, Jackal Buzzard, several species of larks, and
Cape Longclaw. Ponds in the landscape attract ducks, geese, and herons and egrets, and raptors stalk
the fields, including Cape Vulture, here near their only remaining colony in the province.
Day 6: Bontebok National Park to Wilderness
Near our hotel lies Bontebok National Park, where its namesake animal was saved from extinction. Now
common here, we should see Bontebok and several other species of antelope. We are also likely to see
two locally endemic larks, Agulhas Long-billed Lark and the Agulhas subspecies of Cape Clapper Lark.
We may come across the huge Denham’s Bustard and the beautiful, endangered Black Harrier. While
looking up for harriers we could see the flight display of the well-named Cloud Cisticola. After a morning
in the park, we will continue east to another great national park that shares its name with the adjacent
town, Wilderness.
In Wilderness we will be situated in the subtropical coastal forest, with its huge trees and rainforest
birds. Among the highlights here is the verdant Knysna Turaco, whose raucous calls fill the forest. We
will enjoy an afternoon and a full day around the forests and wetlands of Wilderness National Park.
Day 7: Wilderness National Park
3Red Hill Birding info@redhillbirding.com
You don’t have to go far here to be in the forest. Typical of forest, the birding isn’t necessarily easy, but
the birds themselves are wonderful. We hope to find Narina Trogon, Cape Batis, Green Woodhoopoe,
Gray Cuckooshrike, Olive Bush-Shrike, and Red-necked Francolin. Overhead we will keep an eye out for
the endemic Forest Buzzard and we will check the coastal scrub for some of the more difficult-to-find
endemics in this area: Southern Tchagra, Knysna Warbler, and Knysna Woodpecker. The wetlands are
rich here, too. Well-situated hides will give us a chance to get close views of ducks, herons, Purple
Swamphen, African Darter, and more. We will also take advantage of the town’s excellent restaurants
for our dinners here.
Day 8: Wilderness to Karoo National Park via Swartberg Pass
We will get an early departure from Wilderness, cross the Little Karoo, and head up the historic, rugged
Swartberg Pass. The pass is home to some of the more difficult-to-find Cape endemics, like Protea
Canary, Cape Rockjumper, and Victorin’s Warbler. The Swartberg Mountains, which the pass crosses,
separates the coastal habitats from the arid Karoo, and as we descend the pass we will enter that
environment. The Karoo, a vast semi-desert that occupies a swath of western South Africa, is home to a
unique avifauna. We stand a good chance to find most of its special birds with a two-night stay in Karoo
National Park.
Day 9: Karoo National Park
The mountainous Karoo National Park provides a stunning backdrop to our day’s birding, as does the
abundant mammal life, including the endemic Cape Mountain Zebra and the stunning Southern Oryx.
The birds are great here, too. We will be looking for the suite of Karoo endemics, including Layard’s Tit-
babbler, Southern Gray Tit, African Rock Pipit, Fairy Flycatcher, Namaqua Prinia, Karoo Long-billed
Lark, and many more. We will also bird outside the park, along a nearby rural road that’s famous for its
Karoo endemic birding. Although it looks undistinguished on the surface, this area offers a chance to
find birds like Namaqua Sandgrouse, Double-banded Courser, and Pale Chanting Goshawk. We will also
have the option to take a night drive in the park, where strange nocturnal animals like Aardwolf and
Bat-eared Fox are sometimes seen.
Day 10: Karoo to Johannesburg, via Cape Town
Today is mostly a travel day. We will have time for some final birding in the park before breakfast, then
we will drive back to Cape Town and hop on a plane to Johannesburg, where we will spend the night.
Day 11-12: Johannesburg to Wakkerstroom
An early start from Johannesburg will get us to Wakkerstroom at a reasonable hour so that we can
enjoy an afternoon of birding to get a head start on the local specialties before our full day there the
following day.
The grasslands of Wakkerstroom, at about 1700m (5200 ft.) elevation, contain some of South Africa’s
most endangered birds. These birds inhabit the unique grassland habitat around the small town, which
is imperiled by overgrazing. But the grasslands are still full of birds, including those rare endemics—
Botha’s Lark, Rudd’s Lark, Yellow-breasted Pipit, and Blue Korhaan—and the birding in these areas is
truly enjoyable. Flocks of Long-tailed and other widowbirds and Spike-heeled and other larks fly up
from the roadsides. Anteating Chats display around their termite mound homes as Cape Longclaws peer
4Red Hill Birding info@redhillbirding.com
out of the grass. Meerkats stand sentinel over their colonies. Cranes are also common here, including
the wonderful (but endangered) Gray Crowned Crane, and there’s always a chance to find
Secretarybirds stalking the grasslands. This is an area where the abundance and diversity of larks and
cisticolas—the classic “little brown jobs”—will make your head spin, but your guide will be there to help
sort them all out.
Day 13: Wakkerstroom to Kruger National Park
We will get an early start from Wakkerstroom and head to Kruger National Park for the tour’s grand
finale. We will arrive in time to get a great start to our birding and wildlife viewing in the park, where we
will be situated for the next three nights.
Days 14-15: Kruger National Park
Kruger is one place that deserves its outsized reputation. The list of megafauna that we are likely to see
in our two full days of exploring the park is long: Elephant, Lion, Giraffe, Burchell’s Zebra, Blue
Wildebeest, White Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Impala, Cape Buffalo, Spotted Hyena, and on and on.
With luck, we might spot a Leopard, a Cheetah, or even a pack of Africa Wild Dogs, Africa’s most
endangered large predator. We won’t ignore the minifauna, either, and we have a chance of seeing
Dwarf Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Steenbok, and Greater Bushbaby. Optional night drives in the
official park vehicles can get us out into the park at night, when a whole different suite of animals
becomes active: genets, civets, nightjars and owls, Leopard and Serval and much more.
Of course birds don’t take a backseat. Kruger is renowned for its bird diversity, and seeing more than
100 species in a day is possible. Many species that have become endangered or are nearly so because of
loss of habitat, poisoning, or other factors are still common in the park. This includes five species of
vultures, Bateleur, Kori Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Saddle-billed Stork, and Martial Eagle.
Brown-headed Parrot is a specialty of the park. Common birds that are easily seen there include Lilac-
breasted Roller, Magpie Shrike, Red-billed Hornbill, and Tawny Eagle. Waterholes hold their own suite
of birds, including African Jacana, Three-banded Plover and other shorebirds, and the hulking Goliath
Heron. The camps themselves, with their lush vegetation and watered lawns, provide excellent birding,
especially if there are fruiting trees. In camps we will look for Red-faced Mousebird, African Mourning
Dove, Brown-headed Parrot, White-throated Robin-Chat, and a variety of hornbills, barbets, thrushes,
and warblers.
Day 16: Kruger to Johannesburg
We will have one final morning to enjoy Kruger as we work our way out of the park. The nature of
Kruger is that even after 2 ½ days here, we will continue to see new and interesting things this morning.
We will take one last view of elephants, impala, giraffes, and the rest of Kruger’s megafauna. Once
we’re out, we’ll head straight to Johannesburg for our final night of the trip.
Day 17: Departure from Johannesburg
Depending on the timing of your departure, we may have some time for birding near the hotel. Despite
being a metropolis, Johannesburg offers excellent birding. Eventually we will make our way to the
airport for our international departures.
5Red Hill Birding info@redhillbirding.com
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Contact information
The Red Hill Birding tour manager for this trip is Amanda Zeigler. To sign up, or if you have any
questions, please contact Josh at josh@redhillbirding.com or Amanda at info@redhillbirding.com. Your
spot on the trip will be confirmed upon our receipt of the deposit and booking form (we will give you the
requisite mailing information and forms upon request).
Timing
The trip will begin in Cape Town on Tuesday, October 15, 2018. This is an arrival day, with no activities
planned. The trip will end in Johannesburg on October 31, 2018. You can schedule your departure for
any time that day; if you have an afternoon or evening flight, we can spend time birding in the morning.
If you would like help planning activities before or after the trip, we would be happy to help make those
arrangements. We cannot book international flights for you; however, we are happy to give advice on
routes and timing.
Passport and visa information
It is always best to check on the latest visa and passport information before you travel. Please contact
us if you have any concerns. Americans do not need visas to travel to South Africa. You will need two
consecutive blank passport pages and your passport must be valid for six months after your scheduled
departure from South Africa. There are no arrival or departure fees.
Physical difficulty
This trip is physically easy. Most of our walking will be on flat trails or on roads, and while we may be on
our feet for extensive periods, we will be walking at a “birding pace.” Much of our birding will be done
along roads, driving and stopping frequently. The roads in South Africa are excellent and there are
usually places along the way to stop with clean bathrooms and cold drinks.
Pace
The pace of the trip is moderate. A typical day will have us up early to catch the peak early morning bird
activity. Some days will have us returning for breakfast at the lodge where we are staying; some
breakfasts will be in the field. Lunches will sometimes be picnics and sometimes will be at cafes along
the way. Some days we will be in the field all day, other days will afford us the opportunity for an
afternoon siesta. We will have optional nighttime excursions in Karoo National Park and in Kruger
National Park. We will compile our daily checklist, which your guide will provide at the beginning of the
tour, at dinner.
Price
The price of the trip is $4850 and the single supplement is $580. This price may change slightly at the
time of the final payment due to exchange rate fluctuations. This price includes all meals (including soft
drinks and bottled water), from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 17; all transportation and
accommodation during that period; a Red Hill Birding guide (two guides if 9 or more people sign up for
6Red Hill Birding info@redhillbirding.com
the trip); and all entrance fees. It does not include alcoholic beverages, optional activities such as the
pelagic trip or night drives, snacks, laundry, tips (apart from meals), or other items of a personal nature.
We will coordinate with you about the pelagic trip and the price will be determined closer to the time of
departure. They generally cost about $200/person. This money will be refunded if the trip is canceled
due to weather.
A deposit of $1125 will secure your place on the trip. Final payment is due by June 15, 2018. At the
moment we only accept payment by check or bank transfer. Upon indicating you would like to sign up,
we will send you our mailing address and a booking form to send in with the deposit.
Hotels
The hotels we use in South Africa are generally excellent. We aim for small hotels that provide the best
value and are near our birding destinations. All have en suite bathrooms, hot showers, electrical outlets
for charging electronics, good service, and some have air conditioning. The accommodations in Karoo
and Kruger National Parks are simple but more than adequate and are located in the heart of the parks
(these are also the hottest areas we will go, and there is air conditioning). Most hotels, except for in the
national parks, have free wireless internet, although the quality is sometimes unreliable. Electrical
outlets are “Type M”, with three large round prongs.
Photography
The photographic opportunities in South Africa are excellent. That said, this is primarily a birdwatching
tour, so while there will be ample opportunities for photography along the way, we will not be making
special considerations for photographers. If you are a photographer, you are sure to go home with many
great photos.
Weather
This trip is scheduled to coincide with the South African spring. The weather will generally be mild and
comfortable, with nighttime temperatures as low as the 40s in Wakkerstroom and the high temperature
possibly as high as 90° in Kruger. Typical early morning temperatures will in the 50s-60s and typical
daytime highs will be in the 70s-80s. Rain is possible, especially in the eastern portion of the trip, but
rainy weather typically does not last long.
Food
The food is generally of a very high standard on this tour. The food has strong European influences, so is
generally familiar to Americans. There will be opportunities to sample more distinctly South African
foods and drinks, such as boerwors, pap, game meat, Rooibos tea, and South African wine. Vegetarian
and other dietary restrictions are easily accommodated; please let us know of any when you complete
the booking form. Snacks can be easily purchased at gas stations and elsewhere, but if there’s a
particular birding snack you like at home, feel free to bring some along.
Packing considerations
You will generally want to wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. The dress
for the tour is entirely casual. Lightweight clothing, with layers, and long pants and long sleeved shirts
7Red Hill Birding info@redhillbirding.com
are recommended for protection from the sun and to be prepared for various weather conditions.
Comfortable walking shoes are a must, but hiking boots or rubber boots are not necessary. An umbrella
and/or raincoat as well as a mid-weight jacket or sweater for cold mornings are also important. Some
lodges having swimming pools, so a bathing suit is recommended if you think you might take advantage.
There will be opportunities to do laundry along the way.
In terms of gear, apart from the usual binoculars, hat, field guide, etc., a flashlight or head lamp is very
useful. Most people appreciate having a camera along. Sunscreen and bug repellant are useful, although
biting insects are rarely a problem on this tour.
Resources
The best bird field guide for this region is The Birds of Southern Africa by Ian Sinclair and Phil Hockey.
Our favorite mammal guide is Stuarts’ Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa by Chris Stuart and
Mathilde Stuart.
There are many good books about Southern Africa, many of them with themes about apartheid and race
relations. There are literature classics, such as Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, the books of
Nadine Gordimer, and The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, The
Long Walk to Freedom, is also highly recommended.
Tipping
We aim to provide exceptional service, using guides that are knowledgeable, interesting, personable,
and experienced. While tipping is never expected, if you feel that your guides went above and beyond,
you are welcome to leave them a gratuity. Tips at restaurants, for porters, and for local guides is
included in the tour price.
Money
The South African currency is the Rand. You can easily change money upon arrival at the airport.
Alternatively, ATMs are widely available and accept most American debit cards. Credit cards, especially
MasterCard and Visa, are widely accepted.
Travel insurance
We do not require travel insurance for South Africa trips. However, we recommend buying it as it is
inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed flights, sudden illness,
and damaged equipment.
8You can also read
