Budget Limpopo: Northern Forests and Bushveld Birding Tour

South Africa is one of the premier birding destinations on the African continent. The ease of travel, excellent infrastructure, welcoming people, wealth of birding-related information, affordability, and abundant access to reserves and national parks make South Africa an obligatory destination for any global birder. Over 850 species have been recorded in South Africa, and no fewer than 38 are endemic to the country (some are shared with South Africa’s two smallest neighbors, Swaziland and Lesotho). The highest levels of endemism are found in the fynbos and Karoo habitats of the Cape provinces, as well as in the country’s high-altitude grasslands on its central plateau. In contrast, the subtropical northern provinces are the most species-diverse regions of the country.

The stunning Violet-eared Waxbill should be seen on the first few days of this tour.

This budget Limpopo birding tour focuses on the avian-rich Limpopo Province – the northernmost province in South Africa. In the interest of keeping costs down on this tour, we do not stay in the high-end accommodation typical of our other South African birding tours. Instead, we stay in comfortable, cost-conscious accommodation at all the sites we visit on this tour.

A variety of diverse habitats, including Polokwane Plateau bushveld, montane grassland, Afrotemperate forest, subtropical thicket, Mopani and riverine woodlands, and several types of mixed woodlands, each with their respective avian assemblages, contribute to the impressive array of species on offer on this tour. Over the course of nine days, we may see close to 400 species with highlights including Short-clawed Lark, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Gurney’s Sugarbird, Buff-streaked Chat, Cape Parrot, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Magpie Mannikin, Bat Hawk, African Broadbill, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Arnot’s Chat, and so much more!

Coqui Francolin will be searched for around Polokwane.

Although this tour is not as mammal-focused as some of our other tours in northern South Africa, we should see a few of the more widespread African mammals like Giraffe, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Plains Zebra, Impala, Common Waterbuck, Vervet and Blue (Samango) Monkeys, and Grey Rhebok, among others. Our brief time at the beginning of the tour in Dinokeng may yield members of the famous “Big 5”, including (White/Black) Rhinoceros, Leopard, Lion, African Buffalo, and African Elephant.