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Avid bird watchers will delight in viewing some of the 858 species recorded in the country. The focus is on Wakkerstroom, the Mkuze Game Reserve, and the Kruger National Park.
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ItineraryOnce you've arrived in Johannesburg and have cleared customs and immigration, you'll find your African Sky guide waiting for you as you enter the arrival hall. First, we'll take care of a few formalities. The road then heads southeast through the Mpumalanga province, reaching the cozy town of Wakkerstroom around lunchtime. Known as 'the jewel of Mpumalanga,' Wakkerstroom is the second-oldest town in the province and is internationally renowned as a 'birder's paradise.' It is on the edge of a spectacular wetland with over 370 bird species recorded.
After check-in, lunch, and some time for relaxation, your guide will accompany you to excellent spots for observing various species. The wetland is roughly 1000 hectares in extent and offers four bird hides with excellent locations. Your overnight accommodation is on a six-hectare farm that blends the beautiful grasslands and wetlands that characterize the region. Martin's Dam is only 100 m away, ceding stunning views.
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Itinerary We start our day early and travel to the wetland area to spot water birds like the yellow-billed duck, African Spoonbill, and black-winged stilt. We return to our accommodation for a late breakfast before visiting the local grassland areas, where we could spot the blue crane, grey crowned crane, secretary bird, and southern bald ibis. Some of the rarest birds in the area that could be ticked off on this day include the endemics listed under day one, the blue korhaan, yellow-throated sandgrouse, and Cape Vulture.
Some time is then devoted to lunch and relaxation before traveling to the nearby Ntsikeni Nature Reserve to spot, amongst others, the southern ground hornbill, tawny eagle, and African fish eagle, arguably the bird with the most haunting call. Following the day's birding adventure, we briefly explore Wakkerstroom before returning to the overnight accommodation.
Distance ItineraryAfter breakfast, the birding safari turns northeast until it reaches Piet Retief and then snakes back southeast, tracing the Swaziland border into KwaZulu-Natal. The road is incredibly scenic, dressed in astonishing greenery that gradually becomes more subtropical as the route edges toward the coast. As you enter Zululand, sugarcane and fruit plantations abound.
In the afternoon, we reach Ghost Mountain Inn on the edge of the Mkuze Game Reserve. The hotel is named after the imposing Ghost Mountain, a mythical peak that hosted the unburied Battle of Tshaneni and houses the chiefs of the Ndwandwe tribe. After lunch and relaxation, we enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Jozini, spotting wildlife and countless bird species on the shores of this man-made lake with its picturesque surroundings.
Distance ItineraryThese days are devoted to morning and afternoon birding and game drive excursions in uMkuze Game Reserve. Over 420 bird species have been documented in the reserve, making it one of South Africa's finest birding destinations. The reserve boasts several habitats, including wetlands, woodlands, grassland, sand, and riverine forest. The region is explored on both drives and stationary bird spotting from several hides located in the reserve, including Fig Tree, KuMasinga, Kwamalibala, Kamasinga, and Mantuma.
Notable bird species include purple-crested turaco, narina trogon, little bea-eater, bateleur eagle, and the grey headed bush shrike uMkuze is home to the Big Five and an abundance of plains game and other mammal species. The high concentration of black and white rhinos is notable. These days of wilderness interaction, birding, and game viewing in one of South Africa's unique wilderness areas will be a highlight of your South African Birding Tour.
Distance Itinerary After breakfast, we depart from Ghost Mountain Inn and head north to the tiny kingdom of Swaziland, where we reach our destination of Reilly's Rock around noon. It is a beautiful historic lodge once home to the writer and conservationist Esme Reilly. After check-in, lunch, and relaxation, we travel a short distance to the Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary for an afternoon devoted to birding and wildlife viewing.
The reserve is set in the beautiful Ezulwini 'Heaven' Valley; it is home to white rhino, giraffe, and numerous antelope species as well as over 300 identified bird species, each with a preference for the local habitats that include grassland, woodland, and wetland areas. Species that could be spotted during the afternoon excursion include African hoopoe, purple crested lourie, brown-headed parrot, and trumpeter hornbill. We return to the overnight destination during the late afternoon. The grounds around the lodge are home to many small antelope, including suni, blue duiker, common duiker, and steenbok.
Distance ItineraryBreakfast overlooking the Ezulwini Valley is followed by a drive via Mbabane, the Swazi Capital, to the South African border with Swaziland at Jeppes Reef. After taking care of formalities, the tour enters South Africa, and shortly after that, we stop at Matsamo Cultural Village for an immersive experience of the traditions and customs of the Swazi people. During the visit, guests can visit a traditional homestead and get an explanation of roles and responsibilities, as well as a cattle herding demonstration. The highlight of the visit is sure to be the energetic dance performance.
A drive of around forty minutes then leads to the Malelaan gate of the Kruger National Park, from where a short game drive is conducted en route to the overnight destination of Berg en Dal Camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing, admiring the view of the surrounding wilderness, or spending time at Matjulu Waterhole's lookout point - sure to be rewarded by viewing numerous animals and birds.
Distance Itinerary These days in the southern Kruger National Park are focused on morning and afternoon interpretive birding and game viewing drives, with your knowledgeable guide greatly enhancing your experience in South Africa's premier conservation area. The number of bird species identified in Kruger exceeds 500. Your guide will venture to different habitats, and bird hides to ensure you can spot as great a diversity of species as possible. The Lake Panic bird hide is sure to be on the agenda one of these days as it offers an excellent location to spot waterbirds, including herons, egrets, storks, and ibises. The Afsaal picnic spot is ideal for viewing eagles, vultures, and hawks. Some rare species include Pel's fishing owl, saddle-billed stork, African finfoot, Verreaux's eagle, and the African barred owlet.
Although the focus is on birding, these days will immerse you in the African wild with sightings of the Big Five—lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhinoceros, numerous antelope, and common mammal species. You could also encounter rare and endangered species like the African wild dog and cheetah. The waterways of Kruger are inhabited by Nile crocodiles and hippopotamus.
Distance ItineraryYour last morning game drive is devoted to finding the few more elusive animals you haven’t yet seen. Often, some of the best safari sightings occur on the very last drive! Later you’ll travel to Johannesburg via the National N4 highway. Guests are dropped off at any location in Johannesburg or Pretoria after a South African birding adventure that should be painted in memory.
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