From the classic African savanna of the world-renowned Kruger National Park, to the teeming Zululand game reserves, the endemic-rich mist-belt forests of the Natal Midlands, the mangroves and mudflats along the coast to the lofty peaks of the magnificent Drakensberg, this tour of Eastern South Africa offers the very best of African birding and game watching.

Day 1, October 24: Durban region to Underberg. Our tour begins at Durban International Airport thereafter we will do some birding around Durban, the localities depending upon your time of arrival. Options include searching for the Black-throated Wattle-eye and Purple-banded Sunbird in mangrove forest, wader watching at Durban Bayhead or birding coastal forest for Black Goshawk, the elusive Buff-spotted Flufftail, Green-backed Twinspot and many other forest species. In the afternoon we will travel inland by air-conditioned minibus to Underberg, at the base of the great Drakensberg massif.

Day 2, October 25: Underberg and Sani Pass. Today, we depart for the drive up Sani Pass into the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho, home to some highly localised Southern African endemics, namely, the stunning Orange-breasted Rockjumper and Drakensberg Siskin.

The grassy slopes and rocky outcrops at the lower end of the pass are home to the bizarre Ground Woodpecker, Cape Rock-Thrush and Yellow Bishop, whilst stands of Protea support the spectacular, endemic Gurney’s Sugarbird (belonging to a family endemic to Southern Africa), Greater Double-collared Sunbird and the dazzling Malachite Sunbird.

We will also search for Black Stork, the strikingly unusual Southern Bald Ibis, Lammergeier, Verreaux’s Eagle and a number of birds more typical of the dry Karoo plains (all of which are also Southern African endemics), such as Gray Tit, Large-billed Lark and Sickle-winged Chat.

Atop the plateau, the steep slopes and rugged cliffs are replaced by gently undulating terrain and endless vistas of distant, blue mountains. Black Stork and Southern Bald Ibis may be found alongside the mountain streams, whilst Gray-winged Francolin, Large-billed and Red-capped Lark, Sicklewing Chat, Layard’s and Fairy Warbler, Mossie, Yellow Canary and Cape Bunting prefer adjacent meadows. We will keep a careful watch skywards as Cape Vulture, the magnificent Lammergeier, Verreaux’s Eagle, Jackal Buzzard, Lanner Falcon and White-necked Raven are regularly encountered. Other animals of particular interest atop the “Roof of Africa” are the approachable Ice Rat, the endemic Drakensberg Crag Lizard, the colourful Southern Rock Agama, and herds of the world’s largest antelope, the Eland.

Day 3, October 26: Underberg area. This area of moist rolling grasslands and forests will be our venue for the day as we search for the regions special birds. The Afro-montane forest support some uncommon Southern African endemics and we will be searching for local species such as Mountain Buzzard, Chorister Robin-Chat, African Scrub-Warbler, Swee Waxbill and Forest Canary, as well as many more widespread yet no less spectacular birds including Rameron Pigeon, Olive Woodpecker, the uncommon Orange Ground-Thrush, Yellow-throated Wood-Warbler and White-starred Robin.

Other species we may see include the stately Secretarybird, localized and highly threatened Wattled Crane and the brightly coloured Half-collared Kingfisher. A visit to Xumeni forest will see us focused on obtaining a view of the endangered brown-headed form of the Cape Parrot (considered a valid species by most authorities and now numbering less than 500 individuals).

Day 4, October 27: Underberg to Hilton via Midmar. This morning we will begin making our way eastwards towards the midlands region. Our first stop will be at a site for the critically threatened Blue Swallow. Other species that we have a chance of locating are African Yellow-Warbler, Red-necked Francolin and Fan-tailed Grassbird. Some other rare species are also found in these grasslands however we will need to be extremely fortunate to obtain a view of either Hottentot Buttonquail or Striped Flufftail.

We will spend the next two nights at a hotel on the Midlands Meander near Hilton. After supper, we will offer an optional night drive to Midmar Game Reserve, famous for its Black Wildebeest, a highly localised species. The moist grasslands and open marshes of the reserve support a variety of nocturnal birds and we hope to see Spotted Thick-knee, Crowned and Wattled Lapwing and Blacksmith Plover, Barn, Marsh and Spotted Eagle-Owl, and if we are fortunate, the rare African Grass-Owl.

Day 5, October 28: Karkloof and the Howick area. We commence our birding this morning in the Karkloof, a range of forested hills near Howick, home to a number of uncommon and local birds restricted to Afro-montane forests. We will be searching for more Southern African endemics including the elusive Bush Blackcap, Cape Robin-Chat, Southern Tchagra, Olive Bushshrike and Drakensberg Prinia. Other species that we will keep an eye out for include Long-crested Eagle, Little and Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, Stanley Bustard, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Lemon Dove and Gray Cuckoo-shrike.

Further up the Karkloof range, we visit a pristine area of upland grassland hosting breeding Blue and Wattled Crane and a plethora of cisticolas including Pale-crowned, Wing-snapping, Zitting, Wailing and Croaking. If the weather conditions are right, we should have the opportunity of witnessing these “cloud-scrapers” involved in their spectacular, aerial display flights. Black-winged Lapwing and several species of pipit also occur here but the star bird is undoubtedly the striking Buff-streaked Chat, an endemic wheatear that is breathtaking both in its appearance and in its call.

Mountain Reedbuck and the colourful Oribi antelope may also be seen. Wetlands in this area host a variety of waterfowl that might include the uncommon Maccoa and White-backed Duck, as well as Gray Crowned-Crane.

Day 6, October 29: Hilton to Eshowe. This morning we will venture down into the nearby Umgeni valley, a scenic area that looks onto the impressive Howick Falls. The dense acacia thickets at the bottom of the valley are good places to search for the rather shy and skulking Southern Tchagra. Lazy Cisticola is often encountered on the bushy slopes while in the forest itself we will look and listen out for the uncommon and delicate Green-backed Twinspot and Dark-backed Weaver. Mountain Wagtail occurs along the forested streams in the area. A pair of Crowned Hawk-Eagle breed in the forested area while Lanner Falcon breed on the cliffs. On our drive through the reserve we will watch carefully for Streaky-headed Seed-eater, Familiar Chat and Cape Grassbird. Thereafter, we will drive to Eshowe. In the late afternoon we will spend a little time birding in the intriguing Dhlinza Forest, a forested area right within the confines of the town. This beautiful forest reserve supports an avifauna combining both coastal and mistbelt bird species.

Day 7, October 30: Eshowe Bushlands via Mtunzini. This morning we will be up early to explore the forest and canopy walkway area where we will search for African Goshawk, the rare Delegorgue’s Pigeon, Purple-crested Turaco, Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbill, Square-tailed Drongo, Green-backed Twinspot, Brown-backed Mannikin, Chorister Robin-Chat, Olive Woodpecker and the highly endangered Spotted Ground-Thrush. Later we travel to Mtunzini, home to the southernmost breeding population of Palmnut Vulture. We will take the opportunity to stroll through the prehistoric Raphia Palm Monument where we will look for the vultures as well as Woolly-necked Stork, White-eared Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Lesser Honeyguide, Black-throated Wattle-eye and Eastern Olive-Sunbird. In the afternoon we will make our way up into the Zululand area where we will settle into our comfortable accommodation at the Malala Lodge.

Day 8, October 31: Bushlands to St Lucia Wetland Park and the Hluhluwe - Umfolozi Complex. We will leave the stunted woodland and palm savannas behind us this morning as we strike out towards the Indian Ocean; our destination is the small village of St Lucia. The forested dunes in St Lucia Wetland Park, reputedly the tallest of their kind on earth, support a variety of scarce “specials” such as Fasciated Snake Eagle and Woodward’s Batis. The beautiful Livingstone’s Turaco call persistently from their hidden perches in the foliage of the large forest trees while Brown Scrub-Robin and Red-capped Robin-Chat frequent the undergrowth. We will search for Black-tailed Waxbill, Red-backed Mannikin, Grosbeak Weaver and Green-backed Twinspot at the edge of the forest especially if there are seeding grasses. Other forest specials include the delightful Rudd’s Apalis, Black-throated Wattle-eye and sparse Yellowbill. Samango Monkey and Red Forest Squirrel are other rare species that we may encounter. We will take some time at midday to have a look at the nearby Umfolozi River estuary where Pink-backed Pelican, Woolly-necked and Yellow-billed Stork, African Fish Eagle and Goliath Heron are often found.

We will spend the afternoon in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi complex of parks, which are credited with saving the White Rhinoceros from extinction. These primeval-looking animals are no-where easier to find than here. However, this is “Big Five” country and we also have the chance of spotting African Elephant, African Buffalo, Black Rhinoceros, Lion, or even Leopard, Cheetah and African Wild Dog. The park’s predator’s support a healthy population of large scavenging birds and we hope to see Lappet-faced and White-headed Vulture, Tawny Eagle and the handsome Bateleur, as well as other raptors such as the unique Secretarybird and two species of snake eagle.

Day 9, November 1: Bushlands to Mkuzi Game Reserve. Today we will make our way to Mkuzi Game Reserve, arguably the most productive birding hotspot in Southern Africa. On our way up to this magnificent reserve we will stop at the fabled Muzi Pan. Muzi is part of a large series of freshwater bodies that dot the area and when the water levels are right support large numbers of waterbirds. We could see a variety of waders including Ruff, Kittlitz’s Plover, Little Stint and Common Greenshank as well as various storks, egrets and ducks. Our real quarry here will be the magnificent Pel’s Fishing Owl, a species that is reliant upon pools in the nearby Mkuzi River for its food requirements. This huge ginger teddy bear like bird is mainly nocturnal however we will be with a local guide who knows the movements and roosting sites of this species, which will help us in our quest to locate this scarce species.

From here we will move on to Mkuzi Game Reserve an area protecting a wide variety of savanna, forest and wetland habitats. Large numbers of bird and other wildlife species can be expected during our stay here but we will concentrate on finding the localised specials of this area. These include Black-bellied Bustard with its strange, “cork-popping” display, the nomadic Senegal Lapwing, Eastern Nicator, Bearded Scrub-Robin, Rudd’s Apalis, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Four-colored Bushshrike, Crested Guineafowl, Neergaard’s Sunbird and Pink-throated Twinspot (the last two species having highly localized ranges restricted to northern Zululand and southern Mozambique.).

Some of the mammals we may see include both species of rhinoceros, the localised Nyala, Giraffe, diminutive Suni, Hippopotamus and if we are fortunate, Leopard.

We will spend two nights in Mkuzi Game Reserve making the most of one of the Top Birding Destinations in Africa.

Day 10, November 2: Mkuzi Game Reserve We will spend the whole day in the Mkuzi Game Reserve searching for species we have not yet seen. These may include a variety of raptors such as Crowned Hawk-Eagle, Martial Eagle, Little Sparrowhawk and Lizard Buzzard. African Barred Owlet and African Broadbill are extremely uncommon denizens of the sand forest while African Penduline-Tit, Bush Pipit, Sabota Lark, White-fronted and Little Bee-eater, White Helmetshrike, Gray-headed and Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike and Purple-banded and Mariqua Sunbird are often encountered in the areas of more open woodland. This small reserve holds over 400 species, so there will be plenty of birds for us to find.

If available, we will do a nightdrive tonight to look for owls, nightjars and mammals (Leopard, Bushpig and White-tailed Mongoose are often seen.)

Day 11, November 3: Mkuzi Game Reserve to Wakkerstroom We will spend our morning birding in the Mkuzi Game Reserve, before bidding farewell to this wonderful wilderness. We move inland to the country village of Wakkerstroom for a two-night stay. This quaint village is surrounded by pristine upland grasslands rich in endemic birds many of which are currently threatened by the ongoing destruction of their grassland habitat.

This afternoon will be spent at the Wakkerstroom marsh, a haven for waterbirds, offering the chance of finding a number of uncommon birds such as Gray Crowned-Crane, Maccoa Duck, South African Shelduck, African Snipe, Red-chested Flufftail, African Rail and Marsh Owl. Our two nights will be at a comfortable guesthouse in the quaint town of Wakkerstroom

Day 12, November 4: Wakkerstroom region. Driving along the network of dirt roads radiating out from Wakkerstroom, we will explore the grasslands, rocky outcrops and gorges of this unique area in search of Southern Bald Ibis, endemic Blue and Southern White-bellied bustards, Jackal Buzzard, the rare and localized Botha’s and Rudd’s larks (the latter considered the world’s most endangered larks), Pink-billed and the recently split Eastern Long-billed Lark, Southern Anteater-Chat, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Yellow-tufted and Yellow-breasted Pipits, Cape Longclaw, African Pied Starling, the spectacular Long-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-crowned Bishop, African Quailfinch and Cape Canary. Red-winged Francolins are fairly common in the moist grasslands and we may find them feeding at the roadside or sunning themselves at dawn.

Many of the farms in the area around Wakkerstroom support populations of the peculiar Black Wildebeest (also known by its less-used English name of White-tailed Gnu) and Blesbok, whilst smaller mammals occurring in the grasslands include Yellow Mongoose and the rare Cape Fox. One of the other interesting denizens of these grasslands is the curious Suricate or Meerkat, immortalized in Walt Disney’s ‘Lion King’. We have a good chance of finding family groups of these unusual animals.

Day 13, November 5: Wakkerstroom to Kruger National Park. Leaving these enchanted uplands, we will make our way to the world famous Kruger National Park where we have a total of three nights in this fantastic wilderness. Skukuza is a great camp for general bird watching as it is idyllically situated on the banks of the Sabi River. The impressive Goliath Heron and Saddle-billed Stork are often seen along the river, as are Water Thick-knee, White-faced Whistling Duck and the spectacular White-fronted Bee-eater. The camp is also blessed with a number of really large trees and this is a great place to see some beauties such as Purple-crested Turaco, Klaas’s Cuckoo and African Green Pigeon. Many weavers take up residence in the camp during the summer months and are often the subject of the Diderick Cuckoo, a species that parasitises them. The camps confines are also good places to search for White-browed Robin-Chat, Terrestrial Brownbul and the stunning Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike.

Kruger National Park also provides us with fantastic birding opportunities. Of special note here are species requiring vast areas of wilderness, such as Ostrich, Kori Bustard (the world’s heaviest flying bird), Southern Ground-Hornbill, Martial Eagle, Bateleur, Marabou and Saddle-billed Stork and up to five species of vultures. Kruger National Park is the ultimate example of a wealthy African savanna biome and the “classic” African families such as turacos, mousebirds, bee-eaters, kingfishers, rollers, woodhoopoes, hornbills, barbets, shrikes, starlings, widows, weavers and sunbirds are well represented. We expect to find a variety of examples of each of these families.

Particular bird species that we will search for include Crested, Swainson’s and Natal Francolin, Shikra, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, African Finfoot, Brown-headed Parrot, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Desert Cisticola, White-crowned and Magpie Shrike and Red-billed Oxpecker, which favor the park’s large herbivores.

Day 16, November 8: Kruger National Park to Johannesburg. Today we will make our way to the Johannesburg however en route we will visit the Able Erasmus Pass, a spectacular mountain pass where a resident pair of rare Taita Falcons provide the most accessible site in Southern Africa and perhaps the world for this difficult species. This stake out may also provide us with sightings of Cape Vulture, Verreaux’s Eagle, White-necked Raven, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Purple-crested Turaco, Mocking Cliff-Chat and Striped Pipit.

Finally our African adventure will draw to a close and the tour ends at Johannesburg International Airport.