Eastern South Africa Intro

Single Supplement: TBA

 

ARRIVAL IN SOUTH AFRICA: Your tour begins the afternoon of August 13, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The main portion of our group will fly together from the USA to Johannesburg departing Sunday, August 12, 2018.

 

 

If you have not provided us with your flight details into South Africa, please do so as soon as possible.

 

ENTERING & LEAVING SOUTH AFRICA:  U.S. citizens are required to have a passport which is valid for six months beyond their intended length of stay in South Africa. Please verify your passport expiration date (cannot expire prior to 1 April 2019). A VISA is not currently required for US citizens. HOWEVER, South Africa regulations require a minimum of three open VISA pages in your passport. Citizens of other nations should contact the nearest South African consulate for entry requirements. Evidence of a Yellow Fever vaccination must be shown only if you are coming directly from an endemic zone. There are no unusual customs regulations concerning entry into or departure from South Africa.

 

DEPARTURE FROM SOUTH AFRICA: Our tour ends at the airport in Johannesburg the afternoon of September 1, 2018. Johannesburg is home to the largest airport in the country and is served by most international carriers. Typically, most return flights to the U.S.A. depart in the mid-evening timeframe, i.e. about 7:00 or 8:00 PM. As airline schedules allow, we’ll bird our last morning before beginning our return to the Johannesburg airport. If you haven’t provided me with your flight details out of South Africa please do so as soon as possible.

 

TRAVEL WITHIN SOUTH AFRICA: Our travel will be in one air conditioned vehicle except during our time in Kruger National Park when we will be in a single, open air safari vehicle. We should encounter no problems with space for feet or luggage and comfortable riding for the duration of the tour. We’ve contracted for an open-sided safari vehicle for our time in Kruger to facilitate better photography and wildlife observation. The roads we travel vary greatly in condition. Paved and ‘highway like’ along coastal highways, to dirt/rocky tracks through forest that seem more like bumps atop bumps in more remote areas. Thankfully, these latter drives are short and shouldn’t pose a problem to our vehicles or our spines.

 

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: We recommend having your passport on your person while traveling from one location to another as it may be required to show it to authorities. Never pack it away where it is inaccessible. Good travel advice: you should have two extra copies of the photo page of your passport (one in your handbag and one in your luggage) to cover any situation that may arise. Passports are required to be valid for more than 6 months after the scheduled return date of your visit AND you are required to have at least three empty VISA pages. (A lesson learned the hard way a couple of years ago when I was denied boarding in Atlanta!)

 

PACE OF TOUR: As is typical with birding visits to tropical latitudes, in order to get the most out of the precious early morning hours, most days will consist of early starts with sunrise finding us in the field. Lunches are often picnic style when we are far from ‘civilization’, or at conveniently located restaurants. Dinner will be our most relaxing meal of the day, usually at a better restaurant close to our hotel or at our lodge. Our dinner often begins with ‘cocktail hour’ as we complete a checklist of the days bird sightings.

 

This birding tour is designed to find as many of the interesting African animals, birds and endemic or near endemic birds of southern Africa as possible. We WILL put an emphasis on seeing nightbirds and nocturnal animals found in the areas we visit, so there are some optional night outings to look for them. Remember, this may make some days a little long but the avian and mammalian rewards could be quite high!

 

This tour has a fair amount of driving involved as, in order to cover the full range of habitats, we need to travel long distances at times. Also, in some of the habitats, such as the dry open areas of Hluhluwe and Mkuze, we use the vehicles as mobile blinds and at some locations, like Kruger National Park, we are required to stay in our vehicles. Fair warning, we WILL become very familiar with our vehicles, packing lightly will enable you to enjoy your time more fully.

 

The tour is not a strenuous one. There are no particularly long walks and anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness will be able to take part fully in the tour. In the Drakensburg Mountains we reach altitudes of only around 9,000 feet.

 

Like most NatureScape Tours, there is little time allocated for sightseeing and shopping as a group activity at the areas we will be visiting. We will, of course, do all we can to accommodate anyone who has an interest in doing any activity during our tour when it is possible. As always, I will point out the options for those who wish to experience other facets of life in South Africa.

 

INTRODUCTION: Due to the arrival time of most of the group, we should have our introductory meeting during dinner our first night together. This meeting provides the leader an opportunity to introduce himself to the group, make introductions, and to let participants know what to expect during the tour (pace, conditions, daily routine, etc.)

 

HEALTH: International travel often has a number of health concerns. Thankfully, travel to South Africa is relatively straight forward with few hidden dangers.

 

First, you should verify your medical insurance coverage is effective in South Africa. You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave whether or not your medical insurance will cover you overseas. Ask your insurance company two questions:

 

•  Does my policy provide adequate coverage when I’m outside the United States?

 

•  Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or a medical evacuation?

 

You might wish to seek overseas health insurance or travel insurance to protect you during your trip depending upon the answers that you receive.

 

Be sure to bring sufficient quantities of any prescriptions to last through your tour with a safety margin against an unexpectedly delayed return. It’s best if they are in their original bottles with your name clearly indicated. Remember, you might find it difficult or be unable to obtain a refill should you run out of medication during your tour.

 

Make sure you are up-to-date with all of your routine vaccines before any trip abroad. Such vaccines might include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT) vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. Please discuss your vaccinations with your personal physician in order to bring your routine travel vaccines up-to-date.

 

Most international travelers will find that the investment of time and effort into obtaining Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Typhoid Fever series’ offer much and greatly reduce your risk when traveling.

 

Malaria is present in many parts of South Africa, including most of the northeastern and coastal areas where we’ll be visiting. The risk is reduced at the time of year we’ll be visiting, but the CDC suggests that a malaria prophylaxis is recommended. I DO take my physician’s recommended anti-malarial medication when I travel in Eastern South Africa.

 

Please talk to your family physician or public health or travel clinic regarding which medication is best for you. The CDC currently recommends one of the following anti-malarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariam), doxycycline, or Malarone. Please remember that a some anti-malarial drug regimens must begin one or more weeks prior to exposure, and continued for several weeks after it concludes. Doxycycline also creates an increased sensitivity to sunlight. An important item to keep in mind for travel to South Africa.

 

A yellow fever certificate is not required unless you enter South Africa from a country where yellow fever is present.

 

For years we’ve used the general health information for travelers provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. They operate a 24-hour Travelers’ Information Line (800) CDC-INFO. Of most use to us has been their information-filled website. You can checkout the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/travel.

 

In the tropics one can never completely escape the risk of parasites or fungal infections. And, as described in the miscellaneous column, topical repellants and ointments are recommended equipment to be brought from home.

 

Biting and stinging insects (ants, wasps, and mosquitos) are a minor problem, and you will find many areas are amazingly insect-free. Insect repellents with a concentration of DEET are best.

 

Snakes of any kind are rarely encountered in our travels, and we’ll be lucky, indeed, to see one. Additionally venomous species are in the minority in South Africa, and we spend very little time off of established trails in the areas where one would have the greatest chance of finding one. That being said, do NOT approach any snake you see—spitting cobras of several species occur here—and caution combined with a healthy dose of common sense MUST prevail when encountering ANY animal in the wild.

 

The strong sunlight at times makes sun glasses or sun hat HIGHLY advisable. Travelers who’ve traveled a great deal to Latin America will be happy to hear that upset stomachs are a rare occurrence in South Africa.

 

 

LANGUAGE: English is widely spoken even though it’s but one of South Africa’s 11 official languages. Not much of a language barrier here!

 

CURRENCY:  The official currency of South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR), which is currently exchanging at a rate of a bit over 11 South African Rand to 1 U.S. Dollar. Remember, most of your basic expenses during the tour are covered. In general, only meals at restaurants are not covered. You will almost certainly want to exchange money for South African Rand for your non-covered meals, alcoholic drinks and other incidental expenses. Gift purchases, tips for personal services, liquor, beverages not included with meals and departure tax are typical examples of personal/incidental expenses. Traveler’s checks may make you feel more secure, and can usually be cashed in the larger cities we visit. In recent years they have, however, become much more difficult and/or costly to use. Over the last decade, I’ve found them to NOT be accepted in many small towns/villages. Modern ATMs are now available in most cities we visit, and debit/credit cards are universally accepted. As suggested in the “Miscellaneous” later in this information, you should keep your passport, debit/credit cards and currency on your person at all times.

 

TIME: South Africa is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. (Jet lag may be a real concern for some, so plan accordingly.)

 

CLIMATE: The weather in August/September, late Winter/early Spring in South Africa, will be generally warm and dry with maximum temperatures over most of our route in the mid 70º’s F. The northeastern part of South Africa will be warm, ranging up to very warm—mid 90º’s F—with some humidity near the coast. Rain will be possible in a few places, especially in the Drakensburg Mountains where we can also expect cool nights and early mornings. These elevated grasslands and mistveld forests are likely to have temperatures in the 55ºF – 65ºF range each day. Weather during our day trip up Sani Pass could be quite cold, with snow even! It’s best to prepare for your South African trip using the ‘layers’ method. A waterproof outer shell with clothing applied underneath your raincoat to meet the day’s conditions.

 

LODGING: Our lodging, for the most part, consists of guest houses close to our birding destinations. Guest houses, hotels and lodges in South Africa are generally very good throughout. I find the use of guest houses to provide a more intimate, relaxing and enjoyable experience all around. All of our rooms are reserved with en suite facilities and hot water is usually constantly available. Food is excellent and plentiful with African, European and East Indian influences widely seen, although hot/spicy food is available in many cities.

 

LAUNDRY SERVICE: Laundry service is available at some guest houses and hotels where we have two-night stays. You will be advised in advance as to the best hotels for laundry. Items that can be washed in your room’s sink and hung to dry overnight are always a good idea.

 

ELECTRICITY: When it comes to electrical service in South Africa there are two issues that need to be addressed. First, the standard electrical plug in South Africa is far different from that used in the U.S. And, because the plugs are atypical from most of the world, most international plug adapters DO NOT work in South Africa. The South African electrical plug is composed of three heavy duty, round prongs arranged in a triangle on a single electrical plug. I did a bit of research today and found the following adaptor on Amazon that should work for everyone.

 

 

Secondly, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the standard domestic power supply throughout South Africa is 220 volts AC. This is TWICE the voltage of electrical service found in the U.S. If you are taking an appliance like a laptop, iPad, eReader, cellular phone, hair drier, coffee travel kettle or, most importantly, battery/electronic chargers it is important that your device is able to convert the higher voltage South Africa power supply to the lower voltage U.S. power supply your device requires. Please note (as stated above), because of the different voltage (doubled that of the U.S.), your electronic device MUST have a voltage converter to step down the voltage or your device may be destroyed when you plug it it. Most internationally available products have such converters built into the recharging chord. You can check the small print on your device’s power chord to confirm its power compatibility. Please double check with me if  you are uncertain about your particular device. You can also obtain power converters that will step down the current from 220V-250V to 110V-125V at many electronic stores (Note: I’ve had VERY little luck with them in actual use). It’s a good idea to use a surge protector between the South African plug and your device as well in order to protect your device in the event of an electrical power surge.

 

CLOTHING:  In towns and cities you should generally avoid ultra casual clothing (shorts, T-shirts, and old jeans) when dining in hotels or restaurants. Clothing for use in the field should be as comfortable as possible and, although we can expect generally warm to very hot weather, be prepared for the occasional shower and strong winds. Lightweight trousers or shorts, T-shirts and lightweight ‘bush’ shirts are recommended, but also make sure you have a sweater and windproof jacket. Because of the chance of rain, a waterproof jacket is advisable. Take sturdy footwear with good soles for use in the field. Sandals might be comfortable in the hotter places on our tour or when driving long distances in the vehicle. Heavy duty, waterproof walking boots are NOT really necessary.

 

For the higher altitude portions of our tour, consider bringing gloves and a stocking cap if you know that you chill easily, along with  a flannel nightgown or similar for warmth while sleeping. There is a strong likelihood that we will be out in at least some mist or light rain during our time in the mistveldt and Drakensburg escarpment. We are visiting at a time of more unpredictable weather—the spring season—so remember, it’s better to pack a cap & gloves and not use them than to leave them at home and find you need them.

 

Everyone on this tour is an experienced traveling birder so nothing on this list should come as a surprise. If you have any specific questions about clothing or equipment, please, call or e-mail me.

•  Long pants

•  Shorts

•  Shirts, both long & short sleeved

•  Sweatshirt, sweater or fleece pull-over for cold mornings

•  Swimsuit (some of our hotels do have pools)

•  Hiking boots

•  Sandals for wear around the hotel

•  Rain coat (waterproof/breathable is best)

•  Warm windbreaker or light jacket for nightbirding   

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT: You will want to have:

•  hat, sunscreen and sunglasses to protect you from the African sun

•  rain gear—a rain jacket or umbrella (if you like to use one while birding)

•  comfortable boots/shoes for use in the field

•  day pack for carrying miscellaneous items, water bottle, small flashlight or headlamp

•  insect repellent (no aerosol cans) & cortisone cream for biting insects

 

Consider bringing an extra pair of binoculars, between-meal snacks (granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit & nuts and the like) and Handi-wipes.

 

Your NatureScape Tours leaders will have a spotting scope for the group’s use, but feel free to bring your own if you wish. Note: your tripod may not be able to be carried on the plane as a carry-on item and may need to be checked as luggage. Some airlines do allow them. Good Luck!

 

As always when traveling on birding trips, it’s a good idea to pack all your optics (binoculars, camera, scope), basic toiletry items, medications and travel documents along with a change of clothing in your carry-on bag in the event your checked luggage is delayed or lost.

 

LEADER’S EQUIPMENT:  The leaders will have copies of the relevant field guides for the region, additional references for the group, checklists for each participant to use during our tour, and maps to the areas to be visited. We will also have a good selection of recordings to aid in finding many of the more uncommon species, tape recorder & microphone for use in the field, telescope for the group’s use, and spotlights for night time walks or owling.

 

LUGGAGE: Bring what you need in order to be prepared, but please consider the usefulness of each item. If at all possible, soft-sided luggage is much preferred as it is more easily handled, packed into vans and canoes. The leaders are available to help with your luggage, but please do not bring excessively heavy bags. If you are unable to lift your bag yourself, consider bringing two lighter bags instead. Remember to attach an identification tag to the outside of your bags while not forgetting to insert a similar tag inside each piece of luggage.

 

SMOKING: Generally smoking is prohibited while in the vehicles or when in close quarters with the group such as mealtime, while doing the checklist, or at group meetings. If you share a room with a nonsmoker there is no smoking in the room. While in the field we ask that you smoke away from the group, preferably downwind.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY:  The scenery, activities, lodges, people and birds we visit & witness are going to be extremely memorable. Scenery, people, and memory shots will be relatively simple to take. Also, many will find that even serious bird photography is accomplished with relative ease. While a birdwatching tour may not be the best means of pursuing serious bird photography, as the needs of the group will supersede an individual’s desire to stay behind for photography, this tour will offer many spectacular bird photography subjects and opportunities! As always, any activity that does not interfere with the group is certainly acceptable, and any assistance the leaders/staff can provide is available. Bring all of your film with you as it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find your particular brand once we arrive. Precautionary measures should be taken with your equipment, moisture and dust-proof bags are a good idea.

 

MEDICAL & TRAVEL INSURANCE: The loss of your belongings while traveling is a concern no matter where or when you travel. Most optical equipment used by birders is valuable and expensive, particularly by the standards of the country we are to visit. By insuring that your insurance is going to cover your losses in the  unlikely event of a theft you will be providing yourself some inexpensive peace of mind. Likewise, you should insure that your medical insurance provides you with adequate coverage when traveling outside of the United States. You will be responsible for all of your incurred medical expenses should you become ill. Some participants have lost substantial sums of money when illness or other circumstances prevented them from departing for a tour or completing a tour as scheduled. Therefore, we STRONGLY advise you to consider trip cancellation insurance which may reimburse the entire unrecovered amount if it becomes necessary for you to cancel or depart unexpectedly. We can’t offer refunds for unused portions of a tour unless agreed to before the tour and trip cancellation insurance may reimburse you your losses if you must leave a tour early for illness or other valid reason.

 

 

** = Our recommendations

 

**BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, 4th Edition. Sinclair, I., Hockey, P., and Tarbotton, W. 2011. Princeton University Press, Princeton. Our preferred field guide for this region, the book has excellent plates and will be very useful the entire tour. Those of you who have been birdwatching in Kenya will find that some of the English bird names used in books there differ to the ones used in this guide.

 

BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA – CHECKLIST and ALTERNATIVE NAMES. Hockey, P.A.R., 1994. Very useful for its comprehensive list of alternative bird names.

 

SOUTHERN AFRICAN BIRDS: A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE. Sinclair, I. New Holland. A very useful addition to the previous book.

 

BREEDING BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. Steyn, P. 1996, Christopher Helm. A large ‘coffee table’ book full of wonderful photographs and packed with interesting information about the breeding birds of the region.

 

SMITHERS’ MAMMALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA – A FIELD GUIDE. Apps, P. 1996, Southern Book Publishers. Very similar in layout to the Kingdon guide. An excellent book and well worth taking. It should be possible to get a copy out there if you find it difficult obtaining one in the U.S. or Canada.

 

**THE KINGDON POCKET GUIDE TO AFRICAN MAMMALS. Kingdon, J. 2004. Princeton University Press. This small, but excellent, field guide covers the mammals of the whole of the African continent. Good illustrations are included for most species, with the text abbreviated from the more detailed version of this guide.

**FIELD GUIDE TO MAMMALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA 4th edition, Stuart, C & T. 2007. Struik New Holland Publishers, Cape Town. My personal favorite mammal guide to the region. Excellent text, illustrations and photos made even more helpful as the scope of guide is restricted to southern Africa.

 

ROBERTS’ BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, 6th Ed. Maclean, G. L. 1993. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. With extensive information on behavior, breeding biology, diet and life history details, not to mention it’s large size, this is definitely a handbook/reference book NOT a field guide. Big, expensive and difficult to find in the U.S. it’s still a wonderful reference guide to have on the shelf. I use mine a great deal—after returning home NOT in the field—for doing trip reports and checklists.

 

THE BIRDS OF AFRICA (six volumes). Brown, L., Newman, K., and Urban, E. 1982 to present. An impressive work containing a wealth of information as well as superb color plates of every species. Big, and expensive, but a wonderful reference tool.

 

NEWMAN’S BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. Newman, K.  2002. Struik New Holland Publishers, Cape Town.

 

SASOL BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, 3rd edition. Sinclair, I., Hockey, P. and Tarboton, W. 2002. Struik New Holland Publishers, Cape Town.

 

SASOL BIRDS OF PREY OF AFRICA AND ITS ISLANDS. Kemp, A. and M. 1998. Struik New Holland Publishers, Cape Town.

 

A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO BIRDS OF PREY OF SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA. Allan, D. 1996. Struik New Holland Publishers, Cape Town.

 

THE COMPLETE BOOK OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN BIRDS. Ginn, P., McIlleron, W. G. and Milstein, P. le S. 1989. Struik New Holland Publishers, Cape Town. Excellent photographs with anecdotal text.

 

THE BEHAVIOR GUIDE TO AFRICAN MAMMALS. Estes, Richard Despard. Berkeley: University of California Press,

1991.

 

 

 

• Please tell me ahead of time if you have any allergies or medical conditions that may affect your well-being on the trip. Check with your physician or travel clinic regarding shots, etc. I take the recommended malaria med. Bring Cipro & Immodium for traveler’s stomach.

 

• Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months past your date of return. Put a photocopy of the picture page in your piece of carry-on luggage.

 

• Important: see your insurance agent about out-of-country health or trip insurance.

 

• Do not bring any unnecessary valuables.

 

• My personal preference is to carry cash (both SA Rand and US Dollars), and keep them and my passport on my person at ALL times.

 

• Field guides for personal use. For many trips I cut the plates from my field guide and spiral bind them at my local Kinkos to carry with in the field. The text stays behind in the car or hotel room. If you have question on the procedure just let me know. For South Africa, our preferred field guides do not allow this.

 

• Believe it or not, most places we will find few pesky insects. But bring plenty of repellent, both the spray and rub-on type. If you can find insect repellent to spray on your clothing buy it. In the U.S. it’s carried by REI, Cabella’s or most any outdoor store.

 

• The tropics are warm and humid of course. Bring quick-drying, breathable shirts and pants. Shorts are OK. In the highlands cotton shirts and jeans are fine.

 

• A good hat or cap and sunscreen are critical. Bring ‘em. It’s possible to buy a roll-up wide-brim straw hat at some outdoor clothing stores.

 

• Please, no bright white clothing or hats, particularly on forest trails.

 

• Footwear: I wear a pair of athletic shoes (runners). Teva-type sandals are nice to wear on the beach or at the end of the day. Hiking boots are not needed, but some trails may be wet.

 

• Alarm clock—you don’t want to miss the precious early morning birding hours!

 

• A daypack is handy for carrying your field guide, water bottle, rain jacket, insect repellent, small first aid kit, etc. Put your name on it.

 

• Bring a small flashlight, and extra batteries for anything that uses them.

 

• Sunglasses, an extra pair of eyeglasses, and anti-fogging cloth or spray.

 

• If you use a washcloth, bring one. And a bit of liquid soap for hand washing.

 

• Other stuff I travel with:  binocular rain guard, 15’ or 20’ of twine, Swiss army knife (in checked luggage), sink stopper, various-sized Ziploc bags (to keep books and emergency TP dry), bandanna, notebook/pencil, a big plastic bag for dirty boots, ear plugs, ventilated tooth brush holder, Band Aids, hydrocortisone cream, anti-fungal ointment

 

• Don’t plan on buying sunscreen, film, batteries, etc. in the country. Bring plenty.

 

• Keep in mind that South Africa is a foreign country. Our itinerary is subject to change based on the idiosyncratic nature of birds, weather, and transportation in an emerging third-world country.