This comprehensive 6 Day Southern Kruger Park Birding Safari,gives you many opportunities to experience a variety of birds.
Our 6 Day Southern Kruger Park Birding Safari is privately guided so it moves at your own.
This 6 Day Southern Kruger Park Birding Safari can be extended to cover other areas as well.
DAY 1: JOHANNESBURG TO DULLSTROOM
Departing from Johannesburg, we head east towards the village of Dullstroom.
On route we may stop for some birding at local pans. Dullstroom is at an altitude of 2000 metres in montane grassland amidst beautiful hills and marshy valleys.
We will overnight at a comfortable guest farm outside town.
DAY 2: DULLSTROOM TO MOUNT SHEBA
With an early rise enter the nearby Verloren Vlei Nature Reserve. Specials could include Montagu’s Harrier, Red-winged Francolin, Long-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Sentinel Rock-Thrush and Gurney’s Sugarbird.
Head back to lodge for breakfast, before packing up and leaving for Mount Sheba.
After lunch we enjoy a walk along one of the trails in prime mistbelt forest. Species could include Grey Cuckooshrike, Chorister Robin-Chat, Olive Woodpecker, Knysna Turaco, Olive Bush-Shrike, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler and many more.
Overnight in comfortabe en suite rooms overlooking the forest.
DAY 3: MOUNT SHEBA TO KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Early morning do a final search in the forest, before making our way to Kruger. Scenic drive via the Abel Erasmus Pass.
Here will try our luck at finding the highly localised Taita Falcon. Overnight at Satara Camp in the central part of the Kruger.
Once in the park we have a 45km drive to camp. This will give us some time too not only do some birding, but also to enjoy Kruger’s diverse mammal and plant life. Could see Lion, African Elephant and even Cheetah if we are lucky.
This area is open lowveld savanna at an altitude of around 400 metres. Birds to look out for include African Mourning Dove, Brown Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, Groundscraper Thrush, Marabou Stork, Dusky Lark and Flappet Lark.
Overnight in en suite chalets.
DAY 4: SATARA CAMP TO LOWER SABIE CAMP
Head further south for Lower Sabie Camp.
This camp has great birding within its boundaries and is situated along the Sabie River.
The adjoing riverine bush is the perfect habitat for birds such as Red-faced Cisticola, Willow Warbler, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Purple-crested Turaco and Burchell’s Coucal.
The surrounding bush offers a range of raptors as well as Collared Sunbird, Burchell’s Starling, Violet-backed Starling, African Green-Pigeon and Woodland Kingfisher. Overnight in en suite chalets.
DAY 5: LOWER SABIE TO BERG EN DAL
Drive across from the eastern section to the west.
Today will notice the change in vegetation and habitat. Berg en Dal Camp is situated within vegetated granitic hills and offers different birds.
On route to camp will enjoy some general bushveld birding, and could see Green Wood-Hoopoe, Brown-headed Parrot and Black-bellied Bustard, Coqui Francolin, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Greater Honeyguide, Mocking Cliff-Chat and Striped Pipit.
This area also has a good concentration of Leopard and White Rhinoceros.
Overnight in en suite chalets.
DAY 6: BERG EN DAL TO JOHANNESBURG
Exiting the park today we make our way back to Johannesburg.
On our way we will visit the Kaapsehoop area in the hope of getting a glimpse on the endangered Blue Swallow.
Other possibilities are Jackal Buzzard and Wing-snapping Cisticola.
We will arrive in Johannesburg in the late afternoon.