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| Start: Johannesburg
| Day 1 Haenertsburg
Depart at 7.00 - 7.30am from Outlook Lodge, you travel North to the small town of Haenertsburg, situated in the mountain forests and grasslands of the Northern Drakensberg Mountains.
You will enjoy an afternoon bird watching in the wood bush forest where you will search for amongst others: Black-fronted Bush Shrike, White-starred Robin, Green Twinspot and if we are lucky Buff-spotted Flufftail during the summer months. The surrounding grasslands are home to breeding Blue Swallows, a highly endangered species.
You enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants with the plans for the next day being discussed.
Overnight in Haenertsburg (Dinner only) | Day 2 Northern Kruger
Departing Haenertsburg we continue driving North for a few more hours to the Northern section of the Kruger National Park. Before entering the park at Punda Maria Gate you will have the opportunity to do some shopping, to stock up the cooler box with some drinks, film, snacks, insect repellent.
You will spend the next two days exploring the Northern limits of the Kruger Park with the view of seeing some of the bird 'specials' only found in this part of the park.
On a good day around the Punda Maria region you could record several of the following specials: White-breasted Cuckoo Shrike, Crowned Hornbill, Chestnut-bellied (Greyhooded) Kingfisher, Crested Guineafowl, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Gray-headed Parrot, African and European Golden Oriole (both summer), Eastern Nicator, Stierling's Wren Warbler and Dickinson's Kestrel.
Arriving at Punda Maria camp, you check in, visit the camps shop to stock up with drinks, move into your chalet and freshen up ready for dinner. A traditional South African meal is prepared giving you a taste of our countries delicious, barbeque cuisine.
Overnight at Punda Maria Camp (Breakfast & Dinner included) | Day 3 Northern Kruger
On the third day we will have an early morning departure making our way north to the Pafuri region for the day. This area has some beautiful river line forest and we will stop for breakfast at a famous picnic site. One can simply spend several hours in this picnic site seeing: Trumpeter Hornbill, Purple-crested Turacos, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Tropical Boubou, Meve's Starling, Narina Trogon, Gorgeous, Grey-headed and Orange-breasted Bush Shrike and several different species of Robin, Sunbird and Firefinch. Other rarities recorded at the picnic site include Lemon Dove, Brown Scrub-Robin and Wood Owl. To conclude this very productive day we return back to camp in time for an open vehicle sunset drive. A SANParks ranger in an open sided truck conducts the drive, which lasts for approx three hours.
On your return from your sunset drive your dinner would have been prepared, cooked and ready to be served outside under the stars, with talk of the days events.
Overnight at Punda Maria Camp (Breakfast & Dinner included) | Day 4 Northern Kruger
Making our way south down through the Kruger Park we drive via Shingwedzi camp where you will have several more birds to add to our list: Bennett's Woodpecker, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Grey Penduline Tit, Dusky and Village Indigobirds, Green-capped Eremomela, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Saddle-billed Stork and if we are lucky we may get a glimpse of the Collared Palm Thrush. Continuing south we head through Mopane woodland and open savannah. When given the time these areas may yield: Pallid Harrier, Lesser Moorhen, Secretary Bird as well as Double-banded Sand grouse.
Arriving at 'Letaba' camp just before the entrance gates close for the evening, you check in, visit the camps shop to stock up with drinks, move into your chalet and freshen up ready for dinner. Letaba is particularly good for viewing and hearing Owls: Pearl-spotted, Barred, Scops and Giant Eagle Owl. You enjoy dinner out in the open listening to the African night sounds whilst we discuss the next day's exciting events, relaxed and enjoying a little beverage.
Overnight at Letaba Camp (Breakfast & Dinner included) | Day 5 Central Kruger
The day starts early with a wake up call at 5.30pm. At 6.00pm the camp gates open. We leave Letaba and head towards 'Satara' camp. Satara is your camp for your last night. Apart from the birdlife it's also well known for its Lion population and for being one of the better areas in the park to see Cheetah.
The landscape in this area is quite open with large Marula trees scattered across the open savannah. We will be keeping our eyes open for: Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vultures, Acacia Pied Barbet and Brown-crowned Tchagra. The open plains to the north of camp are perhaps the best place in the park to record Montagu's and Pallid Harrier.
You arrive at camp for approx 2.00pm for lunch with a siesta after or to stock up with drinks for a quick afternoon game drive. We see so many different animals - Elephant, Buffalo, Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Impala, Kudu and Waterbuck; just to name a few common species.
After enjoying a very different day you return back to camp before the gates close, knowing your last full day was indeed maximised.
Accommodation at Satara Camp (Breakfast & Dinner included) | Day 6 Blyde River Canyon
Leaving the Kruger National Park in the early morning we make our way back to Johannesburg via the J.G. Strydom Tunnel, where we will hope to see one of only a few breeding pairs of Taita Flacons within southern Africa. Scanning the skies we may also be lucky enough to see both Cape Vultures and Verreaux's Eagles soaring above. From here our next stop will be the spectacular Blyde River Canyon - 3rd largest in the world. Keep your eyes open for Jackal Buzzard, Cape Bunting and Mocking Cliff-Chat.
Returning to the main road our next diversion will be through the Verloren Vlei Valley. This is a protected area and being at an altitude of 2000m is home to a few very select species. Here we will hope to find Cape Rock Thrush, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Southern Bald Ibis, Gurney's Sugarbird and if we are lucky some Wattled Cranes.
Our lunch stop will be in the town of Dullstroom and then we push on to Johannesburg, but make one last stop at a roadside pan where we will hope to find Cape Shoveler, Lesser and Greater Flamingo's and provided it is the summer a host of other waders too. We will arrive back in Jo'burg at approx 6.00pm with drop off at the airport or at any hotel.
(Breakfast only)
The itinerary may vary slightly due to accommodation availability, gate opening times, weather etc.... | End: Johannesburg
| Rate includes
. accommodation in chalet, cottage or guesthouse - 3 star
. birding guide (FGASA SKS Ornithology)
. meals as per itinerary
. game/birding drives
. one open vehicle night game drive
. return via Panoramic Route
. conservation levy, reserve entrance fees
. transport for the duration of the safari and collection & drop off at Johannesburg Int Airport (JNB) and from any hotel in Jo'burg or Pretoria. | Rate excludes
. drinks
. personal expenses and curios
. meals not specified in the itinerary | Group size
The Birding Kruger Tour caters for couples, small groups and club groups with prices allowing for a minimum of 2 people forming a tour. The tours are not more than 6 people per vehicle (small groups) so you are assured of enjoying more of a personal, private safari. For big private groups we would use bigger vehicles. For single travellers we would add to any existing tour where possible. |
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