3 Day Kruger Park Birding Safari - South Africa Tours, Special Interest
3 Day Kruger Park Birding Safari
Spent 3 days in Kruger Park - with a list of over 500 bird species - pursuing the big 6 (Saddle-billed Stork, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Pel's Fishing-Owl and Ground Hornbill) as well as tracking wildlife. The Park's numerous water
Tour Code: B2/Out
Depart From: Johannesburg
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Duration: 3 Days
Country:
South Africa
Departures: On request
Type: Safari | Special Interests | |
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Tour Description
With nearly 800 bird species recorded in South Africa, bird watching has become a popular special interest pursuit which is easily combined with game viewing in the bigger national parks. The incredibly diverse eco-systems ranging from forest to bushveld-savannah to montane grasslands, support a fascinating variety of birds.
Kruger Park has a list of over 500 species, some of which are not to be found elsewhere in South Africa . Hornbills, Starlings, Vultures, Rollers, Bee-eaters and Shrikes typify the ubiquitous avi-fauna and birders can look forward to pursuing the big 6 (Saddle-billed Stork, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Pel's Fishing-Owl and Ground Hornbill).
The Park's numerous water points make for excellent birding, while the rest camps and picnic sites are exceptionally rewarding for birders.
Itinerary
Day 1: Johannesburg - Kruger Park - Pretoriuskop Camp
Departing Johannesburg in the early morning, we travel East through Mpumalanga Province. Along the way we drive through open grasslands and may be rewarded with our first good sightings on this road.
In the summer months Long-tailed Widowbirds are commonly found along the road, with various egret, heron and duck species to be seen as well. Today we will enter the Kruger at its southern boundary stopping on the Crocodile Bridge where, African Pied Wagtail, Black Crake, Reed Cormorant and if we are lucky Purple Heron and Half-collared Kingfisher may be seen.
We then continue onto our camp, enjoying great wildlife and spectacular birding en-rout. Birds to be on the look out for include: Martial Eagle, Southern Ground Hornbills, Lilac-breasted Rollers, Southern Black Tit and many more. We arrive at our camp in the late afternoon. You will then have the opportunity to buy some drinks for the evening before we enjoy dinner under the African night skies. Your guide will go through the list of all the birds seen today and discuss the program for the next day. (D)
Day 2: Kruger Park - Satara Camp
With another early start we make our way north through the park to Satara Camp where we will stay this night. Apart from the birdlife Satara 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. You will be keeping our eyes open for: Gabar Goshawk, 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.
We will arrive at camp in time for lunch, and after having had a great morning seeing a host of different mammal and bird species. Satara Camp is can also be a good place to see Bennett’s Woodpecker, Black-headed Oriole, Groundscraper Thrush and Woodland Kingfisher - (Summer months).
After a short break we head back out in search of more new species. Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, Temminck’s Courser, Secretary Bird and Kori Bustard may be seen in the area. Remember to keep your eyes open for lions, cheetah and leopard that are regularly seen. (B D)
Day 3: Kruger Park - Johannesburg
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 Jo'burg Int Airport or at any hotel. (B)
Note:
1. (B L D) refers to the meals included - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
2.Time is often spent at the camps as there are birds in abundance. You do also spend time at waterholes as they make for excellent birding.
3. Itinerary may vary slightly due to accommodation availability, gate opening times, weather etc.
4. A minimum of two (2) persons required for safari to run.
Tour Include
• Transport for the duration of your safari
• Pick up and drop off in Johannesburg/Pretoria
• Professional guides
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• All day drives in the Kruger National Park
• All entry fees and daily conservation levies
• Accommodation with en-suite facilities and air-conditioning (accommodation is also mosquito proofed)
• Sunset/ night drive
• Bottled mineral water during the day
• Wine with evening meals
• Panorama route on the last day
On the safari facilities and accommodation situated within Kruger National Park are used.
Please note that we cannot guarantee your arrival time in Johannesburg on the last day.
Tour Exclude
• Drinks other than bottled water and wine
• Lunches
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