Target species are dictated by the various habitats we will explore on this tour as outlined below.

Day 1: Durban, Creighton, Coleford to Sani Pass 

Our first stop is the Creighton area, searching for our main target – the Cape Parrot. We then head to the Coleford Nature Reserve to look for numerous endemic and red-list bird species.

Target bird species:  African Grass Owl, Coqui Francolin, Denham’s Bustard, Mountain Pipit, Red-winged Francolin, Secretarybird, Shelley’s Francolin, Short-tailed Pipit, Southern Ground Hornbill, Striped Flufftail, Wattled Crane, Yellow-breasted Pipit 

Target mammals: Black wildebeest, blesbok, grey rhebok, oribi, red hartebeest, Southern reedbuck  

We then travel through Underberg to the Himeville area where we spend 2 nights. 

Accommodation: Mkomazana Mountain Cottages, Sani Pass 

Day 2: Sani Pass and Drakensberg  

Today, we undertake a guided 4×4 mountain expedition up and down the breathtaking Sani Pass and explore the greater region before returning for a second night at the same mountain accommodation. Here, we focus on the many bird endemics and specials with our main targets being the Drakensberg Rockjumper and Gurney’s Sugarbird.  

Target bird species: African Rock Pipit, Barratt’s Warbler, Bearded Vulture, Bokmakierie, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Buff-streaked Chat, Bush Blackcap, Cape Eagle-Owl, Cape Grassbird, Cape Vulture, Drakensberg Siskin, Fairy Flycatcher, Fan-tailed Grassbird, Grey-winged Francolin, Ground Woodpecker. Layard’s Warbler, Mountain Wheatear, Olive Woodpecker, Red-chested Flufftail, Red-throated Wryneck, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Sickle-winged Chat, Southern Bald Ibis, Wailing Cisticola 

Target mammals: Black-backed jackal, chacma baboon, eland, grey rhebok, mountain reedbuck, serval, Sloggett’s ice rat, Southern reedbuck, spotted-necked otter, water mongoose 

Accommodation: Mkomazana Mountain Cottages, Sani Pass  

Day 3: Himeville, Marutswa Forest, Midmar to Karkloof 

We rise early and drive through the Himeville grasslands on our way to the Marutswa Forest trail and boardwalk in search of the critically endangered Cape Parrot, and others like the Knysna Turaco, Olive Bush-Shrike, Yellow Woodland Warbler, White-starred Robin, and Chorister Robin-Chat.

We continue to the Midmar Dam Nature Reserve in search of the Black-rumped Buttonquail, Short-tailed Pipit, Marsh Owl, African Marsh Harrier, and the diminutive African Quailfinch, Wing-snapping Cisticola and Pale-crowned Cisticola. In winter, we may also enjoy sightings of the Buffy Pipit, Black-winged Lapwing and Eastern Long-billed Lark. 

We then travel a short distance to the mistbelt grasslands, wetlands and mistbelt forests of Karkloof, where we search for 3 crane species: the Wattled, Grey-crowned and Blue Cranes, as well as the Jackal Buzzard, Red-chested Flufftail and African Rail, among others.
Mammals to spot today include serval, the Cape clawless otter and the Samango (blue) monkey.  

We spend our last night in a cosy mistbelt country cottage. 

Accommodation: Thistledown Country House (or similar), Karkloof 

Day 4: Karkloof, Ongoye Forest to Eshowe 

We set off to Benvie Gardens to search for Orange Ground Thrush, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Forest Buzzard, African Emerald Cuckoo, Chorister Robin-Chat, Scaly-throated Honeyguide and Mountain Wagtail.

We then depart for the North Coast, where we visit the enchanting scarp forests of the Ongoye Forest Reserve in the afternoon to search for Green Barbet, Narina Trogon, Striped Pipit, Plain-backed Pipit, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Croaking Cisticola, Southern Ground Hornbill and Black-rumped Buttonquail.

We travel to the town of Eshowe where we overnight for 1 night. 

Accommodation: Birds of Paradise B&B, Eshowe 

Day 5: Eshowe, Dlinza, Umlalazi to St Lucia 

The day begins with a visit to the towering Dlinza Forest Reserve and Aerial Boardwalk, a 250-hectare, indigenous coastal scarp forest that is home to our target mammal – the diminutive blue duiker.

Target bird species: African Emerald Cuckoo, African Olive Pigeon, Black Sparrowhawk, Crowned Eagle, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Green Twinspot, Grey Cuckooshrike, Knysna Turaco, Lemon Dove, Narina Trogon, Olive Bush-Shrike, Red-backed Mannikin, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Southern Bald Ibis, and Spotted Ground-Thrush.

In the late morning, we travel to the Umlalazi Nature Reserve on the coast, where our targets include African Finfoot, Black Coucal, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Green Malkoha, Livingstone’s Turaco, Mangrove Kingfisher, Trumpeter Hornbill and Palm-nut Vulture.

We then head for the famous estuary town of St Lucia for 2 nights to explore the ‘Miracle and Wonder’ of South Africa’s first World Heritage Site − the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. That evening, we search for Swamp Nightjar, African Wood Owl, hippo and thick-tailed galago (bushbaby), among others. 

Accommodation: AmaZulu Lodge (or similar), St Lucia 

Day 6: St Lucia and iSimangaliso (Eastern Shores) 

Today, we have many targets on the Eastern Shores and at the St Lucia Estuary. We start by exploring the coastal forest trails looking for Black-throated Wattle-eye, Livingstone’s Turaco, Southern Banded Snake-Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Narina Trogon, Green Malkoha, Woodward’s Batis, Crested Guineafowl, Green Twinspot and Rudd’s Apalis.  

We then head to the shoreline and estuary mouth to seek out African Skimmer, Palm-nut Vulture, Western Osprey, African Fish Eagle, Yellow-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Yellow Weaver, Sooty Tern, Little Tern, other waders and shorebirds, as well as many migrant specials and rarities in summer.  

That afternoon, we head to the Eastern Shores with its abundant mammals and bird species.  

Target mammals: African buffalo, African elephant, black rhino, blue wildebeest, Burchell’s zebra, bushpig, giraffe, greater kudu, hippopotamus, leopard, Nile crocodile, red duiker, spotted hyena, warthog, waterbuck, and white rhino.

Target bird species: African Cuckoo Hawk, African Pygmy Goose, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Black-bellied Korhaan, Brown Scrub-Robin, Cape Longclaw, Grey Sunbird, Lesser Jacana, Orange-breasted Waxbill, Rufous-bellied Heron, Sooty Falcon, Trumpeter Hornbill, and White-backed Duck.

Accommodation: AmaZulu Lodge (or similar), St Lucia 

Day 7: St Lucia, iSimangaliso (Western Shores) to Mkuze Game Reserve 

In the morning, we venture back onto the forest trails, searching for birds we may have missed, and then head to the Western Shores section of the park. Once again, we’ll look for additional species we may have missed, including the Black-chested Snake Eagle and Broad-billed Roller, and mammals like the side-striped jackal, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, tsessebe and Burchell’s zebra.  

We continue to the Nibela Peninsula, Mpempe Pan and Muzi Pan, before heading to Mkuze Game Reserve, for 2 nights. Our targets in these areas are all birds. 

Target bird species:  African Pygmy Goose, African Rail, African Snipe, Blue-billed Teal, Black Heron, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Collared Pratincole, Great White Pelican, Greater Flamingo, Lemon-breasted Canary, Lizard Buzzard, Lesser Flamingo, Pink-backed Pelican, Red-faced Cisticola, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Rufous-winged Cisticola, Saddle-billed Stork, Senegal Lapwing, Temminck’s Courser, and Woolly-necked Stork.

In the summer, we target Caspian Plover, Lesser Moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, African Openbill and the odd vagrant and rarity. 

Accommodation: Mantuma Rest Camp (or similar), Mkuze Game Reserve  

Day 8 and 9: Mkuze Game Reserve 

Over two days, we’ll immerse ourselves in the Mkuze Game Reserve, considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of Southern African birding hotspots. It’s also a Big 5 reserve, home to many interesting mammals.  In the morning, we go on a fig forest walk in search of Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Narina Trogon, Purple-crested Turaco, African Broadbill, African Green Pigeon, Grey Tit-Flycatcher, while also looking out for Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Bateleur and many other eagle, accipiter and raptor species.  

Target mammal species: African buffalo, African elephant, black rhino, blue wildebeest, Burchell’s zebra, bushbuck, Cape porcupine, cheetah, giraffe, greater kudu, hippopotamus, honey badger, leopard, lion, nyala, spotted hyena, waterbuck, white rhino, and white-tailed mongoose.

Additional target bird species: African Firefinch, African Pygmy Goose, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Bearded Scrub-Robin, Bearded Woodpecker, Broad-billed Roller, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Common Ostrich, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Dwarf Bittern, Eastern Nicator, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Greater Honeyguide, Green-winged Pytilia, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Grey Penduline-Tit, Half-collared Kingfisher, Jameson’s Firefinch, Lappet-faced Vulture, Neergard’s Sunbird, Pink-throated Twinspot, Purple-banded Sunbird, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Rudd’s Apalis, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Secretarybird, Southern Ground-Hornbill, and Stierling’s Wren-Warbler.

Accommodation: Mantuma Rest Camp (or similar), Mkuze Game Reserve 

Day 10: Mkhuze to Wakkerstroom 

We depart inland today and travel up the escarpment to the misty high-altitude wetland and grasslands of Wakkerstroom and spend 1 night there. On the journey, we search for White-bellied Korhaan, Ground Woodpecker, South African Cliff Swallow and Southern Bald Ibis.

On reaching Wakkerstroom, we look out for Yellow-breasted Pipit, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Secretarybird, and explore the vast wetlands for Red-chested Flufftail, African Rail, Little Bittern, African Snipe and Marsh Owl, among others.

Mammals to spot include the spotted-necked otter, suricate (meerkat), oribi, eland, and at night – serval and springhares. 

Accommodation: Wetlands Country House & Sheds (or similar), Wakkerstroom 

Day 11: Wakkerstroom to Kruger National Park 

Early morning, we head into the rolling grasslands. We then proceed northwards to the southern region of Kruger National Park, where we spend our next 2 nights. 

Target bird species: African Grass-Owl, Amur Falcon, Blue Crane, Blue Korhaan, Botha’s Lark, Cape Longclaw, Cloud Cisticola, Denham’s Bustard, Desert Cisticola, Eastern Clapper Lark, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Grey-crowned Crane, Long-tailed Widowbird, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Pink-billed Lark, Rudd’s Lark, Wing-snapping Cisticola, and Yellow-crowned Bishop.  

Accommodation: Berg-en-dal Rest Camp  (or similar), Kruger National Park 

Day 12: Kruger National Park 

Resident mammals and birds are plentiful in the Kruger as shown in our lists below. What we didn’t find yesterday, we’ll search for today.

Target mammals: African wild cat, African wild dog, black rhino, Cape buffalo, caracal, cheetah, dwarf mongoose, elephant, honey badger, Jameson’s red rock hare, klipspringer, leopard, lesser bushbaby, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, lion, sable, Sharpe’s grysbok, spotted hyena, Temminck’s ground pangolin, and white rhino.

Target bird species: African Crake, African Cuckoo Hawk, African Golden Oriole, African Hawk-Eagle, African Mourning Dove, African Scops-Owl, Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Bateleur, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Black-bellied Bustard, Broad-billed Roller, Brown-headed Parrot, Comb Duck, Corn Crake, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Dwarf Bittern, Dusky Indigobird, Dusky Lark, Eurasian Hobby, European Golden Oriole, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Grey Penduline Tit, Hooded Vulture, Kori Bustard, Lappet-faced Vulture, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Little Bittern, Meves’s Starling, Mosque Swallow, Red-billed Helmetshrike, Saddle-billed Stork, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Village Indigobird, White-crowned Lapwing, and White-headed Vulture.

Accommodation: Berg-en-dal Rest Camp (or similar), Kruger National Park 

Day 13: Kruger to Blyde River Canyon, Mount Sheba and Dullstroom 

We continue to explore the vast Kruger landscape, departing before lunchtime to head up the grand escarpment of Blyde River Canyon onto the altitudinal grasslands of the highveld. We first stop off at Mount Sheba in search of our target birds.

Target bird species: Africa Emerald Cuckoo, African Cuckoo Hawk, African Grass-Owl, Blue Swallow, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Bush Blackcap, Cape Eagle-Owl, Forest Canary, Grey Cuckooshrike, Gurney’s Sugarbird, Half-collared Kingfisher, Olive Bush-Shrike, Olive Woodpecker, Orange Ground Thrush, Verreaux’s Eagle, White Starred Robin, White-throated Robin-Chat, and Yellow-streaked Greenbul.

In the gardens, we’ll look for Malachite Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Red-necked Spurfowl and Knysna Turaco. From here, we leave for the mistbelt grasslands of Dullstroom for our final night.

Accommodation: Linger Longer Country Retreat (or similar), Dullstroom 

Day 14: Verloren Vallei to Rust de Winter 

On our penultimate morning, we visit the pristine Verloren Vallei Nature Reserve and surrounding country roads. Here, we seek out a multitude of birds. 

Target bird species: Blue Crane, Blue Korhaan, Booted Eagle, Buff-streaked Chat, Cape Rock Thrush, Cape Vulture, Cuckoo Finch, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Ground Woodpecker, Grey Crowned Crane, Mountain Wheatear, Orange-breasted Waxbill, Plain-backed Pipit, Red-throated Wryneck, Red-winged Francolin, Secretarybird, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Short-tailed Pipit, Southern Bald Ibis, Striped Pipit, Swee Waxbill, Wattled Crane, Yellow-breasted Pipit.

Target mammal species: Black-backed jackal, black wildebeest, Cape porcupine, grey rhebok, mountain reedbuck, oribi, red hartebeest, rusty-spotted genet, spotted-necked otter, white-tailed mongoose

We depart around lunchtime, headed for our final destination, and arrive at our comfortable lodge near Rust de Winter in the late afternoon. 

Accommodation: Zenzele River Lodge (or similar), Rust de Winter 

Day 15: Birding Rust de Winter, Zaagkuilsdrift and Kgomo-Kgomo 

On our last morning, we’ll be birdwatching in the rich acacia-dominated savannas, wetlands and grasslands of the area. We’ll initially focus on the Zaagkuilsdrift Road and its many typical Kalahari edge-type species. The road arrives at a vast floodplain, bountiful with birds in the right season (best from January to April). Another of the country’s premier birding sites, it offers huge diversity, allowing us to add extensively to our species list.  

Target Kalahari-type bird species: Barred Wren-Warbler, Black-faced Waxbill, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Cape Penduline Tit, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Cut-throat Finch, Great Sparrow, Kalahari Scrub Robin, Marico Flycatcher, Northern Black Korhaan, Scaly-feathered Weaver, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Southern Pied Babbler, Violet-eared Waxbill, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Yellow Canary.

The above are just a few of the many birds occurring in the thornveld, while the more open areas around the floodplain support interesting birds such as Temminck’s Courser and Caspian Plover. 

We depart around lunchtime on our final road trip, ending our epic adventure at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.