South Africa Birding & Wildlife Safari

• Exceptional, high quality birding and wildlife viewing in a range of habitats.
• Visit the fabulous Kruger National Park and Mkhuze Game Reserve with world-class birding alongside iconic wildlife including good chance of the Big Five.
• Expect a large bird list with many special and endemic species
• Spectacular African wildlife including lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, rhinos, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, antelope, and more.

Tour Overview

South Africa is a land of astounding diversity—not only in culture but in its extraordinary natural heritage. South Africa is a true haven for bird enthusiasts, as the country hosts around 840 bird species and boasts an impressive 69 endemic and near-endemic bird species. Its array of distinctly different ecosystems allows birders to explore an exceptional variety of bird-rich habitats, from highland grasslands and sub-tropical wetlands to savannas and fynbos-covered mountains. It’s also the exclusive stronghold for two remarkable bird families, the Rockjumpers and the Sugarbirds, found only here and in the tiny neighbouring nations of Lesotho and eSwatini.

Our birding tour will begin in Johannesburg and venture to the high-altitude grasslands of Dullstroom, home to localized species like the Yellow-breasted Pipit (Endemic) and Gurney’s Sugarbird (Near Endemic). In the nearby Blyde River Canyon, dramatic cliffs and escarpment forests provide habitat for raptors such as Cape Vulture, as well as a host of forest species.

Next, the iconic Kruger National Park, where birders can enjoy a mix of savanna and riverine species—rollers, storks, hornbills, eagles—and the bonus of world-renowned mammal viewing, including the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalos).

In the grasslands and wetlands of Wakkerstroom, endemics like Yellow-breasted Pipit (Endemic) are key targets. From here, the route follows the sub-tropical coastline to iSimangaliso Wetland Park and St Lucia, where forest, estuary, and wetland habitats support species such as Green Malkoha, and Livingstone’s Turaco. Eshowe adds further forest specials, including the Spotted Ground Thrush, Lemon Dove, and Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon. The cool, misty forests and rolling grasslands of Karkloof in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands offer sightings of threatened species like Wattled and Grey-crowned Crane.

Finally, the tour heads to the Western Cape, a truly remarkable region defined by rugged mountain ranges, strong summer winds, and a winter rainfall regime that has shaped the Cape Floral Kingdom—home to the unique vegetation known as Fynbos. This singular habitat hosts a wealth of range-restricted and endemic birds like, Orange-breasted Sunbird and Cape Sugarbird making the Western Cape a must-visit for endemics-seekers. The region also delivers unforgettable scenery, a rich cultural tapestry, friendly locals, and excellent travel infrastructure. The tour culminates with a pelagic trip from Cape Town, where birders venture into the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Atlantic in search of albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters—an exhilarating finale to our South African birding tour.