South Africa: The Southwestern Cape & Kruger

Cape Rockjumper © Clayton Burne/Shutterstock

A country of contrasts, from the spectacular southwestern Cape to the subtropical game country of the east and the temperate grasslands of the interior. Our tour focuses on these three very different areas, each offering special birds, many of them endemic to southern Africa. Plus, the world-renowned Cape flora should be in full bloom at this season, while the Greater Kruger Conservancy is famous as one of the best game reserves in Africa, home to a full complement of mammals.

South Africa is so diverse that it has been called “a world in one country.” From the rugged coastline of the Cape through the temperate grasslands to the subtropical woodlands of Kruger and the grasslands of the interior, the terrain and wildlife are remarkably varied, making it a paradise for the visiting naturalist.

Our first week will be spent in the spectacular southwestern Cape, with its near-perfect Mediterranean climate and world-renowned flora. Endemism is the key word here, and because of its complex geography and long isolation, this region is home to an amazing number of birds, plants, and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. Habitats that we will visit include the twisted and folded mountains that plunge to the sea, protected patches of native prairie and coastal “fynbos” scrub, and the scrubby semi-deserts of the Karoo. In them we will seek a host of special birds ranging from penguins, cormorants, sugarbirds and sunbirds, and bustards through a plethora of larks, flycatchers, and warblers to oddities like the elusive Cape Rockjumper.

Weather permitting, we will undertake a pelagic trip offshore into the rich Benguela Current, its waters literally teeming with tubenoses and other ocean birds. A second boat trip--into Walker Bay, Hermanus offers the chance of close encounters with Southern Right Whales, which come to mate and calve in the protected waters; this trip is also weather dependent.

Our visit is timed for the southern spring, the best time of year to catch the famed Cape flora in full bloom. Many consider this to be the most spectacular wildflower display in the world.

From the Cape we will fly to the opposite side of the country, to the Sabi Sands sector of the Greater Kruger Conservancy. This huge area has long been famous as one of the great game parks of the world and offers a complete safari experience. It is home to all of “The Big Five,” plus a long list of other mammals including African Wild Dog, Cheetah, and Nyala. Birds are abundant in the subtropical woodlands and savannas and include many classic African species such as Ostrich, raptors, hornbills, and Lilac-breasted Roller, plus a wide variety of smaller ones. Based at the exclusive and well-appointed Inyati Game Lodge, away from the crowds, our game drives here are sure to be action-packed and incredibly productive!

An added bonus to a visit to South Africa is the great infrastructure for tourism. This agricultural and industrial giant is the only truly modern country on the continent, and the accommodations, food, and other facilities are excellent, while health problems are almost non-existent. Expert local leadership, an extensive system of parks and reserves, and a wealth of printed materials on the birds and other aspects of natural history add to the pleasure of visiting this unique part of the continent.

An optional extension will visit the tiny community of Wakkerstroom and the temperate grasslands of the interior plateau, where we will seek special endemic birds such as Southern Bald Ibis, Blue Bustard, Buff-streaked Chat, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, and Ground Woodpecker, plus such African classics as Hamerkop and Secretarybird. We’ll also enjoy several new mammals including the charismatic Meerkat.

Excellent accommodations; excellent food; moderately paced with easy walking; comfortable vehicles (including specially-designed safari vehicles for the game drives in Kruger); temperatures pleasantly cool to warm; possibly cold in Wakkerstroom.

Cape Buffalo © EcoPrint/Shutterstock