South Africa: Photo Tour

South Africa is a mega-diversity country. In the southwest, it contains habitats found nowhere else in the world, holding a host of endemic species. Among these are sensational birds such as the African Penguin, African Black Oystercatcher, Blue Crane, Cape Rockjumper, Knysna Turaco, and Chorister Robin-chat. In the northeast of the country, South Africa metamorphosizes into bush and savannah vegetation similar to that of East Africa, and species diversity increases dramatically, with hundreds of bird species possible in a day. In addition, this is “safari” country, and holds some of Africa’s most impressive mammals, like leopard, lion, cheetah, wild dog, elephant, hippo, zebra, and giraffe. Our main locality here is the Zimanga private reserve, which is specially designed for photographers. The blinds (hides) here have quickly been recognized as one of Africa’s top localities for bird photography. They attract a host of storks and vultures, spectacular raptors and bee-eaters, hornbills, kingfishers, barbets, sunbirds, starlings, waxbills and bush-shrikes. We conclude the trip in the magical Kruger National Park where we focus on photographing the massive array of mammals present in the park, including all of the “big 5”, as well as many other ungulates. Where else in the world can you photograph penguins one day and lions the next?!