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Pelican Safaris |
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Destinations |
Safari to KRUGER PARK, ZULULAND & the DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS Please click here for COST GUIDELINES This 16-day safari is designed to allow African Natural History enthusiasts some of the best birding/game viewing opportunities anywhere in Africa. Throughout the tour we will use comfortable chalets in the prime birding areas and transport of our 10(max) participants will be in a comfortable, airconditioned minibus. On this safari we expect to see over 340 bird species and 40 plus mammal species as we travel through a variety of habitats and areas of spectacular scenic beauty in the eastern regions of South Africa. The Kruger National Park is one of the greatest wilderness areas in the world and is undoubtedly the best place in Africa to view large mammals. Birding is excellent with a tremendous variety of the tropical & sub-tropical Southern African species being found here. Your experienced and specialist guides will meet you in Johannesburg (alternately guests can take a connecting internal flight), before we travel to the Kruger National Park. This legendary wildlife paradise has celebrated its centenary recently & is truly one of the best national parks in Africa. The park has an extremely well developed infrastructure, which facilitates game/bird viewing in comfort. We have a good chance of seeing Africa’s ‘Big 5’ mammals – the Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo & Rhino, as well as a good variety of antelope species and smaller mammals such as Mongooses. We will take an optional night drive with Parks Rangers to see some of the nocturnal mammals (including Genets & Spring Hares) and birds with sightings of the Giant Eagle Owl being a bonus. We also travel through a number of ecozones in the Park, each with characteristic flora and fauna. In spring and summer the birds will be in breeding plumage and activity at nest sites will be at a peak ensuring us hours of fascinating observation. The greatest density of mammal species occurs in the southern regions of the Park, especially in the drier winter months when limited water resources concentrate the game around the waterholes. The 500 bird species recorded here are largely resident except for a number of Palaearctic and intra-tropical summer migrants. We should see at least 12 raptor species as well as a number of larger birds such as Goliath Heron, Kori Bustard, Secretary Bird, Marabou, Yellowbilled and Saddlebilled Storks. Hornbills (6 species), including Ground Hornbills, are widespread as are Francolins (3 species), Doves & Pigeons, Mousebirds, Kingfishers & Bee-eaters as well as a good representation from the passerines. After leaving Kruger, we travel to coastal KwaZulu Natal. This region is influenced strongly by the warm, south flowing Mozambique current, and as a consequence, a number of east African tropical bird species are distributed along the sub-tropical coastal plain. Habitats in this region include coastal evergreen forest, the wetlands of St Lucia estuary, coastal dune forests, sand forest thickets, riparian forests interspersed by grasslands and thornveld savannah. These habitats support a large variety of bird and mammal species. The grassland habitats are favoured by White Rhinoceros, while in the peripheral thickets one may encounter the more aggressive but secretive Black Rhinoceros. Unusual antelope species of the area include Nyala, Suni, Blue and Red Duiker. Tropical bird species that are distributed along this narrow coastal range include Pink Throated Twinspot, African Broadbill, White-eared Barbet, Broadbilled Roller, Rudd’s Apalis, Green Malkoha, Neergard’s Sunbird, Woodward’s Batis & Livingstone’s Turaco. More common but no less spectacular birds include Hornbills, various Bushshrikes, Orioles, Honeyguides, Robin Chats, Sunbirds etc. Coastal & estuarine species can be seen in the St Lucia area – a World Heritage wetland. Leaving the coastal lowlands, we travel to the interior and the Drakensberg Mountains, targeting the Sani Pass – an area known for its endemic and localised bird specials. We use 4x4 vehicles to travel up the Sani Pass into Lesotho – this is the highest road pass in Africa with the top at 3000 m above sea level. Not only is the scenery spectacular, but the sought after birds of the area are also good. On our drive to the mountains we may encounter groups of Southern Grey Crowned Cranes feeding in the agricultural lands. Highland bird specials found in the Drakensberg include Gurney’s Sugarbird and Malachite Sunbird in the Protea belt, Layard’s Titbabbler, Buffstreaked Chat, Wailing Cisticola, and Drakensberg Prinia in the grasslands. In Lesotho we may see raptors such as Lammergeier, Cape Griffon and Jackal Buzzard. Southern Bald Ibis, Orangebreasted Rockjumper, Cape & Sentinel Rock Thrushes and Fairy Flycatcher as well as the more common Drakensberg Siskin, Cape Bunting & Cape Sparrow are regularly seen. The area is also home to the Eland, the largest antelope species in Africa. An endearing special mammal found at the top of the pass is the abundant but very localised endemic Sloggett’s Ice Rat. After leaving the Drakensberg we travel to back to Johannesburg via an overnight stop at a good birding venue where we spend our last night, and we have a morning for birding (time permitting) before departing for Johannesburg Airport. Information for Travelers to South Africa
Costs given on this website are a guideline only. Precise costs will be calculated on booking. Guideline costs are approximately £1700 per person sharing for the above 16 day tour. Single supplement is an additional £300. This price is fully inclusive i.e. all accommodation, meals, transport, entrances, guiding fees, Kruger Park night drive, Sani Pass 4X4 excursion, etc. but excludes airfares – both local and international. Please email us for bookings and more information on tours to this region. Copyright © 2008 Pelican Safaris. All rights reserved |
