| South Africa: November 3 to 13, 2009 with extension November 13 to 17 with Patrick Cardwell as the Lead Bird Guide and Host The main trip will cover a number of key birding spots in South Africa, starting in Cape Town and surrounding areas and then to Johannesburg. These sites include Cape Point Nature Reserve, Boulders Coastal Park, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Strandfontein Wetlands, Langebaan Lagoon, the Strandveld region of Saint Helena Bay, the coastal foothills and the Berg River estuary, the Tanqua Karoo and back to the edge of the Cedarberg Mountains, the Little Karoo, the Agulhas Plain, the Langeberg Mountains via Barrydale, De Hoop Reserve and Potberg Mountain, the eastern sector of the Agulhas Plain, the Langeberg Mountains, the forest at Grootvadersbosch, the Succulent Karoo, the Outeniqua mountains, the coastal village of Wilderness Area. After enjoying birding at these sites, then its off to Johannesburg and Kruger National Park for another 4 days of birding and wildlife watching. This bird list based upon this itinerary for the main trip averages between 300 to 350 species. This will likely include over 70 South African endemics and another 30 near-endemic species. Click here to review the list of endemics and near-endemic bird species for the trip and also a list of mammals. The main bird guide for the trip will be Patrick Cardwell, who has been leading professional bird-watching and safari tours in South Africa for over a decade. His extensive field experience is well-demonstrated, as he leads an effective bird-watching tour and provides a delightful trip for all participants. He is a fully qualified member of the Field Guides Association of South Africa and endorsed by Bird Life South Africa. He has a personal Southern Africa bird list exceeding 850 species. |
| Nestling Tour's Itinerary for South Africa in 2009 1 Day of Day by Day Itinerary Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Cape Town Link up with your Patrick Cardwell in the arrivals hall and travel through to Simon’s Town. After settling in we cross the Cape peninsula to pick up on the Atlantic seaboard with Bank Cormorant, Cape Cormorant, White-breasted (Great) Cormorant and Crowned Cormorant in mind. Other sightings along the rocky shore include African Black Oystercatcher, White-fronted Plover, Pied Kingfisher and Little Egret. Heading towards Cape Point through the scenically delightful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve we will search for Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Gray-backed Cisticola, Cape Bulbul, Familiar Chat, Cape Francolin and Rock (Common) Kestrel. Taking a side route to the coast we will search for Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Gray-backed Cisticola, Cape Bulbul, Familiar Chat, Cape Sugarbird, Jackal Buzzard, Cape Bunting, Cape White- eye and Red-winged Starling.From the heights above Cape Point itself we will scan for Peregrine Falcon and Cape Siskin as well as passing pelagic seabirds. Nest stop will be the famous Boulder’s Coastal Park where we will enjoy close up views of African Penguin coming ashore in the late afternoon. Overnight in Simon’s Town. Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Pelagic Trip Given adequate weather, our pelagic trip starts at 7 AM, as we head towards the deep sea trawling grounds about 35 nautical miles southwest of Cape Point. On the way out, we will encounter Cape Gannet, White-chinned Petrel, and Sooty Shearwater. Soon after rounding spectacular Cape point, we can expect our first sighting of Shy Albatross and either of the two Yellow-nosed Albatross (Atlantic or Indian). Crossing birds could include Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Cory Shearwater, Arctic Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Arctic Tern, Wilson’s Storm Petral, and European Storm Petrel. All being well, the sighting of an active trawler or pole boat could add Black-browed Albatross, Northern & Southern Giant Petrel, and the rare Spectacled Petrel to the pelagic list. Other possibilities for October include Great-winged Petrel, Great Shearwater, Flesh- footed Shearwater, Sub-Antarctic Skua, Pomerine Skua and Black-bellied Storm Petrel on northbound migration at this time of year. We may also see several species of dolphins and whales, and Cape Fur Seal. The odd Sunfish could add a further dimension of excitement to the day. Overnight in Simon’s town. Thursday, November 5, 2009 Cape Peninsula Birding commences with an early start for Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in search of Southern Boubou Shrike, Cape Batis, Black Sawwing Swallow, African Goshawk, Black Goshawk, Olive Thrush, Sombre Bulbul, Cape Robin Chat, Forest and Cape Canary, Knysna Scrub Warbler, African Black & Alpine Swift, Cape White-eye, Olive Pigeon, and Spotted Eagle Owl. Later in the morning, we will visit the number of wetlands and settling ponds that constitute clutch sighting opportunities. For more of the Day by Day Itinerary with more birding details, click here. |
To learn about our other great trips, click here. For information about the the price of these services, click here. For more information, contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at info@pibird.com. |
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Small Group Adult Trip to South Africa: November 3 to 13, 2009
| Brief Itinerary Tuesday, November 2: Flight day from parts around the world for most participants. Namibia trip participants wrap up the day before and enjoy a day of rest and/or touring on own. Wednesday, November 3: By noon, arrival at Cape Town International Airport. Bird watching begins at Cape Point Nature Reserve and Boulders Coastal Park. Thursday, November 4: Offshore Pelagic trip. Friday, November 5: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and surrounding areas in morning; Strandfontein Wetlands in the afternoon. Saturday, November 6: Start of the West Coast leg of the trip, as we head up to the Langebaan Lagoon and beyond to the Strandveld region of St. Helena Bay. Sunday, November 7: We begin the with bird watching the coastal foothills and Berg River estuary area. Next, we head east into the rain shadow of the Cedarberg Mountains to bird the Tanqua Karoo. Monday, November 8: In search of a number of arid country specialties, we start at Tanqua Karoo on a circular route to the edge of the Cedarberg Mountains. Tuesday, November 9: We start off with the the Little Karoo, known for its incredibly diverse mix of succulent vegetation. Next, we descend to the Agulhas Plain. Also, the Langeberg Mountains via Barrydale. Wednesday, November 10: Start early at De Hoop Reserve and Potberg Mountain. We then take the ferry across the Breede River to the eastern sector of the Agulhas Plain. From here, we bird across rolling wheat lands to the evergreen slopes and indigenous forest of the Langeberg Mountains. Thursday, November 11: We start birding the forest at Grootvadersbosch. Following a picnic breakfast in the forest, we cut cut through the mountain range via a spectacular pass to the Succulent Karoo. In the afternoon we cross the rugged Outeniqua Mountains to arrive at the coastal village of Wilderness in the heart of the Garden Route. Friday, November 12: Full day birding the impressive indigenous forests and several wetlands in the Wilderness Area. Following great day of birding, flight from George to Johannesburg. Saturday, November 13: Transition Day (1) From Johannesburg, participants on the main trip can then head home with most flights available that day. (2) For those looking for more birding and excellent wildlife watching, the extension trip flys to Nelspruit. Shortly after noon, we head towards the southern end of Kruger National Park, allowing plenty of time to get in some birding at Crocodile Bridge at a good try at some of the trips most colorful and enigmatic bird species. Kruger National Park Extension: November 13 to 17 More details below the White-fronted Bee-eaters. |
Malachite Sunbird
Photo by W. Tarboton
| Extension Description: Kruger National Park Part two of the journey commences with a flight to Johannesburg from the Garden Route to connect with a short flight to the globally acclaimed Kruger National Park. Kruger is set in a pristine savanna below the Great Escarpment. Following the breakup of Gondwanaland some 200 million of years ago, a geological uplift of catatonic proportions gave rise to a treasure trove of valuable mineral wealth and a more rich and fertile alluvial landscape. Biodiversity is unequalled anywhere else in the sub-region. It is home to an incredible variety of plants, trees, reptiles, insect life, mammals and birds. Kruger is classic savanna and represents wild Africa at its best. Here you will follow roads less traveled in search of totally new birding and wildlife viewing experiences within a matrix of scenic routes that criss cross the midsection of this enormous National Park. You will be sure to be struck by the sheer diversity of life around you, but you also will enjoy the thrill of the chase, as you search for mega listings such as Southern Ground Hornbill, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Saddle-billed Stork, Kori Bustard and Secretarybird. You could also encounter the classic ‘Big Five’ mammals for which Kruger is famous – African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, Lion and Leopard. For a more detailed itinerary on a day by day basis, click here. |
Photo by W. Tarboton
Cape Sugarbird
White-fronted Bee-Eater.
Photo by W. Tarboton
Photo by W. Tarboton
Cape Rock-Jumper.
| Main Trip Description: Note: The following is a nice trip overview for a more detailed itinerary (including more birding details, click here). Table Mountain stands astride the Cape Peninsula as a universally recognized geological landmark associated with times long gone of global exploration. More recently, the area's biodiversity of life and natural beauty is recognized worldwide. Here in the shadow of the main face of towering sandstone, dating back some 200 million years, lies the city of Cape Town looking west across to Robben Island and south to the Cape of Good Hope. This spectacular landscape of mountain splendor is home to a host of highly localized and sought after South African endemics, such as the Cape Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird. Beyond Cape Point and further to the south, the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela currents converge to create a nutrient rich offshore pelagic environment, providing some of the most spectacular pelagic birding in the world. Aside from the seabirds, the area is rich in marine life with dolphin and whale regularly seen on trips to the edge of the continental shelf. To the north, in the rain shadow beyond the imposing barrier of forested mountain ranges, lies the Great Karoo – a vast thirst land that is host to a wide diversity of natural delights and specialist life forms that have successfully adapted to this hot and arid environment. This is the tapestry of the Western Cape and the start of a two part journey into the interior of Southern Africa. Learn more about the Kruger National Park extension trip which you will not want to miss. Days are likely to be warm to hot, but the nights will be pleasantly cool. Rain is unlikely except in the Cape. Clear skies in the evening will add a further dimension of pleasure to the trip, as the southern constellations reveal themselves for celestial enjoyment to the rhythm and beat of the African bush. |
African Penquin cannot be missed in Cape Town.
For more information (including an easy to print itinerary), contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at info@pibird.com. |
Orange-breasted Sunbird
South Africa 2009 and 2010
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2010 Plans: Hopefully, we will have enough bookings to run this trip at the prime time for this birding route in 2010. Please contact us early to make these reservations. |