Our western South Africa Cape extensions, combined with our eastern South Africa tours, can produce up to an incredible 500 bird and 50 mammal species, including many South African endemics and near-endemics. Commencing in Cape Town, widely considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities, we set out to explore the breathtaking Cape Peninsula, the succulent Tanqua Karoo, West Coast National Park and teeming pelagic waters. Cape targets include the comical African Penguin, Black Harrier, Ludwig’s Bustard, elusive Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, attractive Victorin’s Warbler, Karoo Lark, stunning Orange-breasted and Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, Cape Sugarbird, Protea, Cape and Forest Canaries, Cape Siskin, Cape Bulbul and Cape Rockjumper, the last belonging to a family that is endemic to southern Africa. Regional endemics could include Rufous-eared Warbler, Southern Boubou, Cape Batis, Cape Grassbird, Karoo Prinia, Karoo Eremomela, Cape Weaver, Fiscal Flycatcher, Namaqua Warbler, Cape Spurfowl and Olive Thrush. An unforgettable experience is definitely a pelagic trip out to sea from Cape Town, whereby finding a fishing vessel could produce literally thousands of birds in its wake. Indian and Atlantic Yellow-nosed, Black-browed and Shy Albatrosses, Cape and White-chinned Petrels, Southern and Northern Giant Petrels and Cape Gannet are regularly encountered.
Please note: these prices are subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.
Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Bulbul, Cape Siskin, Protea, Forest, Cape & Black-headed Canaries, Orange-breasted, Malachite & Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, African Penguin, African Oystercatcher, Crowned, Bank & Cape Cormorants, Hartlaub’s Gull, Black Harrier, Southern Black & Karoo Korhaans, Ludwig’s Bustard, Cape Spurfowl, Bokmakierie, Victorin’s, Namaqua, Rufous-eared, Cinnamon-breasted, and Layard’s Warblers, Karoo Eremomela, Cape Penduline Tit, White-backed Mousebird, Karoo and Tractrac Chats, Karoo Scrub Robin, Southern Boubou, Fiscal and Fairy Flycatchers, Cape Batis, Cape Grassbird, Karoo Lark, Grey Tit, Grey-winged Francolin, Olive Thrush, South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveler, Indian & Atlantic Yellow-nosed, Black-browed & Shy Albatrosses, Southern & Northern Giant Petrels, Cape and White-chinned Petrels, Cape Gannet
Afro-Australian Fur Seal, Southern Right Whale, Common Eland, Blesbok (Bontebok), (Cape) Mountain Zebra, (Red) Hartebeest, Cape Grey Mongoose, Klipspringer, Springbok, Steenbok, Cape Grysbok, Grey Rhebok, Chacma Baboon, Rock Hyrax, Meerkat
mountains, semi-desert, fynbos, coastal and pelagic waters, wetlands
subtropical with occasional rain, can be cold in winter
6 with 1 Rockjumper leader
moderate pace with undemanding walks, some long drives
comfortable guesthouses
easy
+-200
Tanqua-Karoo, Table Mountain, Cape Peninsula, great food & wine
excellent
As a guide myself for more than 10 years (starting back in the early 90s), I believe I can give a sincere and realistic review of Greg de Klerk's performance during our nearly 2 weeks in Eastern South Africa. With this in mind, I can say that Greg did an excellent of maintaining and overseeing all aspects of our trip from start to finish. I particularly felt that his capacity for maintaining the various and sometimes complex logistics was impressive and well above average. Whether it was making sure that everyone's accommodations were comfortable, or helping us find a restroom during one challenging afternoon, when the restaurant we were eating in randomly closed their bathrooms down, Greg was always "on top of his game." This is not to mention his excellent abilities in the field as well. As a professional wildlife biologist, I was very impressed with Greg's abilities "beyond " just identifying species, so to speak. ln other words, Greg gave impressive, in-depth natural history descriptions of nearly every species of wildlife we recorded.
Greg de Klerk was a truly superb guide, and his supporting guides were a great complement to his leadership. He was knowledgeable beyond our highest expectations, patient, helpful, well-organized, and disciplined. If we have the chance to do further tours with you, chances are very high that I would specifically look for ones that Greg leads, because he personally made the tour special. His expertise and professionalism speak well for the South African guiding profession, your company, and the country as a whole. We felt genuinely fortunate to be introduced to South Africa by Greg. Susan and I have worked with several South Africans over the course of our careers, and they all returned back to their homeland when they stopped working. Greg’s display of the country showed us why they all do this, and he personally could not have been a more clear-headed and knowledgeable spokesperson for the country (including its challenges). We normally dread long drives, but he made them not only tolerable, but educational, fun, and memorable. You have a special resource in your employ, the kind of person who can go beyond creating satisfied customers, and convert us into stark raving fans of your tours. We hope you realize that, because it is not common.
Wow! We assume Wayne Jones trains your new guides. He is the example of what an excellent bird guide should be. Most sightings are pointed out with apparent off-hand references to the unique characteristics and differences, so they become learning experiences rather than a mere bird count. He attempts to preempt difficult and time-consuming situations by planning in advance how best to solve them. He worked hard to make the tour work - and we got the birds!
There are not enough superlatives to describe Daniel Danckwerts! He is a superstar of a guide and I am glad I had the opportunity to tour with him, because he will be in great demand when the word gets out how amazing this tour was! Although he is one of your junior guides, he conducts himself with poise and confidence in excess of his years. His passion for birding, culture and history is unsurpassed and his laugh is absolutely infectious. He knew all the hotspots for the notoriously difficult species on this tour and even when the birds weren't cooperating, he devised innovative means to ensure the group would have the best opportunity to see these very, very elusive birds. We learned a few lessons on this inaugural tour about patience and stamina.... it is certainly not for the faint-hearted because it requires a lot of hard work but the rewards certainly exceeded the effort. Where else do you have the opportunity to see mythic flufftails and crakes all in one place? I will absolutely travel with Daniel again!
Jeremy Exelby is the perfect guide for this. The fact he didn¹t know all birds (mainly larks, cisticolas!) and had to consult a bird book, was NOT an issue with any of us. In fact, that made us discuss ID as a group, making us better birders, giving us a stake in ID - not at all a negative, especially for this tour. This was refreshing, rather than just accepting an ID by an RJ guide. We love his honesty and integrity.
04 Oct 2024 - 09 Oct 2024 (6 days)
ZAR35,950 - Spaces Available
Tour price (Per person): ZAR35,950 * USD1,932 * GBP1,511 * EUR1,766 * AUD2,921
Single Supplement: ZAR4,100 * USD220 * GBP172 * EUR201 * AUD333
Flight costs: ZAR3,100 * USD167 * GBP130 * EUR152 * AUD252
25 Oct 2024 - 30 Oct 2024 (6 days)
ZAR35,950 - 4 Spaces Available
Tour price (Per person): ZAR35,950 * USD1,932 * GBP1,511 * EUR1,766 * AUD2,921
Single Supplement: ZAR4,100 * USD220 * GBP172 * EUR201 * AUD333
Flight costs: ZAR3,100 * USD167 * GBP130 * EUR152 * AUD252
24 Jan 2025 - 29 Jan 2025 (6 days)
ZAR38,000 - Spaces Available
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): ZAR38,000 * USD2,043 * GBP1,597 * EUR1,867 * AUD3,088
14 Feb 2025 - 19 Feb 2025 (6 days)
ZAR38,000 - Spaces Available
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): ZAR38,000 * USD2,043 * GBP1,597 * EUR1,867 * AUD3,088
07 Mar 2025 - 12 Mar 2025 (6 days)
ZAR38,000 - Spaces Available
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): ZAR38,000 * USD2,043 * GBP1,597 * EUR1,867 * AUD3,088
03 Oct 2025 - 08 Oct 2025 (6 days)
ZAR38,000 - Spaces Available
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): ZAR38,000 * USD2,043 * GBP1,597 * EUR1,867 * AUD3,088
24 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025 (6 days)
ZAR38,000 - Spaces Available
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): ZAR38,000 * USD2,043 * GBP1,597 * EUR1,867 * AUD3,088
South Africa - Harris (RWT) 2023 - August 2023
South Africa - Heller 2023 - June 2023
South Africa - Woo 2023 - June 2023
South Africa - Cape & Kruger I 2023 - May 2023
South Africa - Inglet 2023 - February 2023
South Africa - Eastern I 2023 - January 2023
South Africa - Mega Birding Tour II 2022 - November 2022
South Africa - Mega: Kruger Extension II 2022 - November 2022
South Africa - Eastern V 2022 - October 2022
South Africa - Cape Extension IV 2022 - October 2022
South Africa - Eastern IV 2022 - September 2022
South Africa - Kornfeld 2022 - September 2022
South Africa - Tomsa 2022 - June 2022
South Africa - New Frontiers 2022 - March 2022
South Africa - Flock to Marion and Western Cape I 2022 - January 2022
South Africa - Prentice 2022 - January 2022
South Africa - Flock to Marion and Kruger National Park I 2022 - January 2022
South Africa - Flock to Marion and KwaZulu Natal I 2022 - January 2022
South Africa - Flock to Marion and Western Cape III 2022 - January 2022