A Birding Safari via
the Land of Legends & Giants

Host: Pieter du Plessis

When: Anytime

Length of tour: Below a ten-day itinerary is proposed but any length of tour can be customized to your needs.

Number of guests: 4 to 15

Fee: This depends upon the final customized itinerary. We hope to have a ballpark idea for you for the 10-day itinerary, for 4 people, soon, so please return later for that information.

Once we have the fee, you will know that the following items are included in it:

• Outstanding book on South African birds for each participant
• Detailed and illustrated itinerary
• Birding & Wildlife observation lists
• Accommodation with meals as per itinerary
• Services of a registered tour director
• Entrances to all parks, gardens and places of interest as per itinerary
• All porterages for luggage handling included
• Transport in luxury air-conditioned midi bus with free on board refreshments.
• Special cool boxes for photographic material while on Safari
• On-board library – books on birds, wildlife, cultures etc.
• Free use of specially sensitive outside microphones to monitor the sounds of nature.

Note that early reservations are essential to ensure accommodation at exclusive birding/wildlife lodges. A deposit of 25% of the tour costs is required on reservation unless special arrangements are made in writing. The balance of the tour price is to be paid to the company by not later than 37 days prior to the date of scheduled departure of the tour.

After clearance from the authorities and introduction of your host we transfer to an interactive centre that supports the Endangered Wildlife Trust be fore we head for our base camp for the next two nights.

Some 90 km west of the busting metropolis of Johannesburg is one of the most fascinating nature regions of Gauteng. The vastness of the north western highveld (high plains) with it’s flat sandy grassveld (grass-fields) and an overwhelmingly blue sky hints strongly of the great Kalahari basin. With clumps of acacia thornbush in sweet and sour grassveld that is plainly related to the neighbouring country of Botswana, the sand is white rather than the red colour of the Kalahari region.

The fauna and flora is very similar with the noticeable exception of the rare black wildebeest (gnu), that is indigenous to the Free State highlands region. The most characteristic feature of this species is the long, yellowish-white tail which almost reaches the ground. They were on the verge of extinction during the 1960’s, but through careful conservation efforts and relocation breeding programmes they are now doing very well.

The nature reserve comprises of four Ecozones: wetlands, acacia bushveld, acacia woodland and sweet and sour grass lands. Water that is pumped from the nearby goldmines has created the 400 ha wetland Eco system that is the home of more than 230 resident bird species. Regular visiting species include flamingos and the majestic lord of the African skies and African fish eagle. Of special interest is the cranes, storks and kingfishers that can be seen on a regular basis.

Mammal species that can be seen on the reserve includes springbok, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, duiker, steenbok and zebra.

Accommodation is provided in chalets on a full board basis and comprises of 1x en-suite bedroom with four beds. Optional activities includes a guided walks, canoeing on the wetlands and game viewing drives.

DAY 2:
Full day technical and field visit in this outstanding nature reserve

DAY 3: (IN THE LAND OF LEGENDS AND GIANTS)
There are a few places that give one a greater feeling of being in Africa than being in the land of the legendary Rain Queen. Her world comprises of virgin African bushveld, awe-inspiring valleys, spectacular mountains, majestic giants such as the imposing African elephant and the baobab trees, the greatest number of mammal species on earth, a unique wealth of flora and birding and to compliment this wonderland a fascinating world of cultures and legends.

Depart this morning from Johannesburg and travel via the famous Cape to Cairo highway to the Northern Province of South Africa and the Land of Legends and Giants. On route visit the largest baobab tree in the world (46.8mtr around) and the renown gardens of the Rain Queen. A spectacular scenic drive take us to our exclusive Lakeside Lodge that is located in a natural habitat where each privately chalet overlooks the lake.

DAY 4:
Awake this morning with the call of the African fish eagle, a resident bird of prey that is often see near the lodge. The Soutpansberg Mountains (Saltpan Mountains) is the most northerly mountain range in South Africa and comprises of spectacular scenery of forests and valleys. Our destination this morning is the Hanglip forest, a superb birdwatching site one of the few places in the country where the Narina Trogon, Purple-crested Loerie and Knysna Loerie have all been spotted. The scenic trails through the forest offers outstanding birding opportunities and the trees in this forest boasts world-wide dendrological interest. Latish afternoon we set out for a sunset cruise on the lake where many waterbirds can be seen including hippopotamus and crocodile.

DAY 5:
Prior to breakfast enjoy a short rumble around the lodge where a number of antelope species can be seen as well as some more birding opportunities. No visit to Africa is complete without visiting the famous African arts and craft centres of the local indigenous peoples. More than 150 artists including beaders, woodcarvers, weavers, potters, painters, silk screening and many others can be seen. The renown John Baloyi an exceptional woodcarver and Shangaan philosopher is testimony to their great skills and their crafts are rated as the finest in Africa. A number of artists will be visited and during the latter part of the afternoon we will visit a traditional village and enjoy the traditional dancing before returning to our lodge in the late afternoon.

DAY 6:
Reluctantly we depart this morning from our Lakeside Lodge and head for the greatest wildlife sanctuary of Africa, the Kruger Park. The geology of this region with its temperate climate created one of the most splendid wildlife sanctuaries on our planet. No other sanctuary anywhere in the world including Africa boasts with more mammal species than Kruger, 147 species of mammal, more than 500 bird species, 114 species of reptile, 49 fish species, 34 amphibian and more than 200 butterfly species.

On entering the Kruger Park you will notice immediately how the environment has changed to a pristine wilderness area where nothing has changed since the creation. We set out in search of more bird species with close encounters of wildlife that may include the big 5 of Africa -- Lion, elephant, buffalo , rhino and leopard. Latish arrival at our very comfortable restcamp where your tour director will treat you with a special African sundowner liqueur and experience on of the great wonders of nature as you can hear the sun as it sets on the horizon!

DAY 7:
Early pre-breakfast game and birding viewing and the rest of the day we set out to explore this wonderland with a photo afari supreme. Our routes in the park will concentrate in the northern region an area that not many tourists visit and thus we can concentrate and spend more time at the various waterholes and hides. This evening after dinner depart on a special night-drive and search for nocturnal birds i.e. owls, nightjars etc.

DAY 8:
Leaving our northern base camp this morning we set out for the central region of the park where large herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra can be seen. Our object in this region is to have a close encounter with the largest/heaviest bird in the world, the Kori Bustard -- 19 kilograms!

DAY 9:
A leisurely drive through the park will take us to the great escarpment for a splendid scenic drive that includes a visit to the Blyderiver canyon. We continue in the afternoon to one of the most fascinating regions in South Africa, the only sub-alpine region in the entire highveld where we will overnight. Choice of budget accommodation or luxury upmarket lodge.

DAY 10:
After breakfast visit the only raptor centre in Africa before departing at midday for Johannesburg where the tour will terminate. Optional tour can be arranged to include Cape Town and the Garden Route with a number of options i.e. 4 to 5 days or more.