KwaZulu-Natal – Verdant Wonder of South Africa

Behold the rich biodiversity of the Zulu Kingdom

The stunning eastern region of KwaZulu-Natal boasts an abundance of lush greenery and breathtaking scenery. From rolling hills to cascading waterfalls, this area is a nature lover’s paradise.

The verdant landscape is home to a diverse range of bird- and wildlife, including rare bird species and elusive big cats.

The warm and welcoming local communities offer a unique insight into the region’s history and traditions, and the rich biodiversity offers wonderful treasures.

Day 1

Beaufort West to Aldam Resort

We leave Beaufort West early and stop along the road for interesting birds like Blue Crane, Blue Korhaan, etc. We visit the Gariep Dam, South Africa’s largest dam, where there are usually plenty of birds near the wall. We continue to Aldam Resort where we stay in a lodge.

Day 2

Willem Pretorius Game Reserve

Spend the day in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve adjacent to the resort. The dam hosts a lot of water birds, while in the veld you may spot Kalahari Scrub-robin, Black-faced & Violet-eared Waxbill, African Barred Warbler, Ashy Tit and some water birds. Overnight at Aldam Resort. 

Day 3

Aldam to Wakkerstroom

Travel from Aldam Resort to Wakkerstroom. Birds along the route may include widowbirds, Blue Korhaan and Buff-streaked Chat.  

Day 4

Wakkerstroom

Explore the area around Wakkerstroom with a wide variety of birds. Wakkerstroom is famous for its endemics and we use a local guide. We look for Yellow-breasted Pipit, Rudd’s and Botha’s Larks, Wattled Crane, Denham’s Bustard, Buff-streaked Chat, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Red-throated Wryneck, Drakensberg Prinia. The Wakkerstroom vlei hosts a huge variety of water birds, waders and crakes. COST OF LOCAL GUIDE INCLUDED.

Day 5

Wakkerstroom to Bivane Dam

Bird the mountainous area east of Wakkerstroom looking for more special birds and continue to Bivane Dam east of Utrecht.         

Day 6

Bivane Dam

Bird this beautiful area around the dam and along the Bivane River. It is good for game as well as birds like White-bellied Korhaan, Southern Bald Ibis, Buff-streaked Chat, Gorgeous Bush-shrike, Striped Pipit, Wailing Cisticola, Shelley’s Francolin, Jameson’s Firefinch, Grey Penduline-Tit, etc. Overnight at Bivane Dam.

Day 7

Bivane Dam to Pongola Game Reserve

We drive via an area where widowbirds and cisticolas are common. The Pongola area has more Lowveld birds like rollers, Shelley’s Francolin and Mocking Cliff-Chat. Visit Phongola Nature Reserve en route.

Day 8

Pongola Game Reserve

We spend the day birding in the Pongola Game Reserve and those who want, can go on game drive during which you’ll see many birds. Look for African Hawk Eagle, Shikra, Tawny Eagle, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Burchell’s Starling, Marico Sunbird, Bushveld Pipit, Bronze-winged Courser, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Burnt-necked Eremomela and Gorgeous Bush-shrike. (GAME DRIVE R550pp & BOAT CRUISE R450pp AVAILABLE – NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE) Game drive and boat cruise both are very good and are highly recommended.

Day 9

Pongola Game Reserve to Thembe Elephant Park

We stop at Pongolapoort Dam and bird along the road. You may see                              Brubru, Chinspot Batis, Magpie Shrike, Marico Sunbird, Green-winged Pytilia and a variety of raptors. We stay at Tembe Game Reserve which also hosts some good birds inside the lodge. Game drives included in tour price, starting off with one in this afternoon.

Day 10

Thembe Elephant Park

We bird the day in Tembe and depart on an early game/bird drive.  It is one of the best birding spots in South Africa with Retz’s Helmet-Shrike, Green-capped Eremomela, Grey Penduline Tit, Purple-banded Sunbird, Grey Waxbill, Pink-throated Twinspot & Neergaard’s Sunbird. In afternoon another game/bird drive.

Day 11

Thembe Elephant Park to Nibela Lake Lodge

We have another game/bird drive before we leave Tembe and continue to Nibela Lake Lodge. Nibela Lake Lodge is a lodge on the Nibela Peninsula bordering Lake St Lucia. It is situated in a sand forest with lovely birds like Rudd’s Apalis, Lemon-breasted Canary, Eastern Nicator and Pink-throated Twinspot.

Day 12

Nibela Lake Lodge

Bird around the lodge for the day and go on a guided drive towards the edge of Lake St Lucia. We are looking for Rosy-throated Longclaw, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Caspian & Lesser Crested Terns, Kurrichane Buttonquial and Senegal Lapwing. (COST OF GUIDED WALK INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE) Later on we explore the thickets around the chalets for Gorgeous Bush-shrike, Eastern Nicator, Cuckoo Hawk & Lizard Buzzard to name a few. Overnight at Nibela. 

Day 13

Nibela Lake Lodge to St Lucia

We leave Nibela and head for Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Spend the day game viewing and birding with birds like Lappet-faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, Bateleur, Southern Ground Hornbill, Flappet Lark, Yellow-billed & Red-billed Oxpeckers, Grey-tit Flycatcher, Striped Pipit, Cuckoo Hawk, Black Stork, Black-bellied Bustard, Flappet Lark, and more in Hluhluwe. We continue to St Lucia where you will see Crested Guineafowl, Southern Banded Snake-Eagle, Livingston’s Turaco, Woodward’s Batis, and others. Great birding along the estuary. Overnight in St Lucia.

Day 14

St Lucia

Bird the area around St Lucia looking for Livingstone’s Turaco, Lesser Jacana, Rufous-winged Cisticola, Lesser Crested Tern, Woodward’s Batis, Rudd’s Apalis & Southern Banded Snake-Eagle and then go to Cape Vidal for Rudd’s Apalis, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Lesser Crested Tern, Grey Waxbill, Red-backed Mannikin, Green Twinspot, Croaking Cisticola, Grey Waxbill & Woodward’s Batis. We’ll use a local guide. COST INCLUDED. Overnight in St Lucia.

Day 15

St Lucia to Mtunzini

We drive to Mtunzini which famously hosts Palm-nut Vultures. The Umlalazi Nature Reserve hosts forest birds like Palm-nut Vulture, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Green Twinspot, Black-bellied Starling, Grey Sunbird and White-eared Barbet.  

Day 16

Mtunzini

We visit Ngoye Forest to see Green Barbet, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Brown Scrub-robin, Grey Cuckooshrike, African Crowned Eagle, Striped Pipit and Green Malkoha. Then we visit Dlinza Forest near Eshowe for Trumpeter Hornbill, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Tambourine Dove, Olive Bush-shrike & Spotted Ground-Thrush. COST OF GUIDE FOR NGOYE & DLINZA INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE. Overnight at Mtunzini.

Day 17

Mtunzini to Royal National Park

En route to Bergville we shall stop at Stanger’s Sappi Vlei to look for Lesser Jacana, Yellow Weaver, Purple Gallinule, Hottentot Teal, Red-faced and Rufous-winged Cisticola and other water birds. We continue to the lodge where a variety of cisticolas and other birds can be spotted. 

Day 18

Royal National Park to Golden Gate National Park

We drive to Golden Gate National Park. Along the way Bald Ibis and Cape Vulture are common. Ground Woodpecker, Swee Waxbill, Drakensberg Prinia, Cape and Sentinel Rock Thrush, cuckoos, Wailing Cisticola and Streaky-headed Seedeater are common in the reserve.

Day 19

Golden Gate National Park to Garingboom Guest Farm

Drive through the Free State to the delightful Garingboom Guest Farm where we bird in afternoon.         

Day 20

Garingboom Guest Farm to Beaufort West

We write the final chapter of the trip with some Karoo birds.

Dates

  • 31 August – 19 September 2023 (FULLY BOOKED)

Tour Price

  • R 35 900 / person sharing
  • Single supplement is R 6 000

Included

  • Transport. 
  • Accommodation mentioned in itinerary. 
  • Breakfast where it is not included in the accommodation. 
  • One square meal per day. 
  • All entry fees, guides and excursions mentioned. 
  • Our guide fee. 

Excluded

  • Transport to and from Beaufort West – our point of departure. 
  • Accommodation and dinner the night before departure. 
  • Alcohol, cold drinks, or any refreshments not mentioned. 
  • Personal or medical travel insurance. 
  • Any Visa fees (if applicable). 
  • Personal expenses like laundry and souvenirs. 
  • Tips for guides and drivers. 
  • Any additional tours or activities, services or visits not mentioned. 
  • Lunch, unless otherwise indicated. 
  • Snacks. 
Please mention the tour you are enquiring about, if contacting us about a scheduled tour.

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