DAY 1: LONDON
Depart Heathrow on an overnight flight to
Johannesburg.
DAY 2: JOHANNESBURG
/ TZANEEN
Arrive in Johannesburg in the early morning.
Transfer to Tzaneen where one night is spent (approximately 5 hours from the
airport) at the very comfortable and perfectly positioned Tzaneen Country
Lodge. En route we should see the first Fork-tailed Drongos and
Black-shouldered Kites. The rest of the day, for those with remaining energy,
we will explore the grounds and trails around the excellent lodge or
alternatively you may wish to simply relax. This is the ideal break in our
journey into Kruger National Park. The lodge is set within 170 hectares of
farmland and indigenous forest so with time permitting we will be able to
explore the grounds and trails.
DAYS 3 – 5:
KRUGER: LETABA RESTCAMP (3 nights)
For those who wish, an early morning walk
around the gardens should produce even more birds, many of which are common but
new to us. Our journey will then take us east to the Phalaborwa gate of Kruger
National Park where we will be met by our driver guides and transferred to open
safari vehicles which are perfect for enjoying wildlife viewing. During our time in Kruger there will be the
opportunity to do a dusk drive which enables us to return to the rest camp
after the gates officially close – a fabulous time for seeing both diurnal and
nocturnal wildlife.We will not have to wait long for our first mammals, not
only the ever-present Common Impala and Greater Kudu but also the rather
striking Nyala, a speciality of the north. Herds of Elephants can be
encountered anywhere, and we may be lucky enough to see our first predators,
from mighty Lions to the diminutive Dwarf Mongoose. The restcamps where we will
be staying provide some of the best birdwatching thanks to substantial trees
attracting Golden-tailed, Bennett’s and Cardinal Woodpeckers, Black-collared
and Crested Barbets plus exotic Purple-crested Turacos while flowering plants
are frequented by dazzling, iridescent Collared, White-bellied, Scarlet-chested
and Marico Sunbirds.
DAYS 6 – 10:
KRUGER: SATARA & SKUKUZA RESTCAMPS (2 nights & 3 nights)
Our tour now takes us into the heart of Kruger
where, from apparently endless Mopane forest the habitat opens out to the
rather more classic open plains with Acacia trees. This area is one of the best
for mammalian predators including Leopard, Cheetah and the ever-elusive Wild
Dog. Several packs operate within Kruger; never easy to see but the area around
Satara offers some of the best chances. Not surprisingly, where there are
predators there are also the attendant scavengers such as Black-backed and
Side-striped Jackals, Spotted Hyena plus of course vultures including Cape,
White-backed, White-headed and Lappet-faced, The open grasslands are extremely
good for some of the more terrestrial birds such as Kori Bustard, Red-crested
Korhaan and the totally bizarre Southern Ground Hornbill which has the most
extraordinary eyelashes! The restcamp at Satara is one of the best places for
owls with up to 5 species including one of the most confiding – African Scops
Owls. Moving south from Satara we enter more vegetated habitat with large
rivers which are always worth scanning for Open-billed and Saddle-billed Storks
and with luck, the rather strange African Finfoot. Our next rest camp Skukuza is the largest and
has great facilities and good restaurants. The extensive grounds at are also
fantastic for birds and this camp is ideally placed for exploring the Sabie
River. Our chances of encountering carnivores such as Leopard and Lion are as
high there as anywhere and we will be taking our time, following the complex
network of routes which border the river.
DAYS 11 – 12: KRUGER:
BERG-EN DAAL RESTCAMP (2 nights)
Our final days in Kruger will take us right
down to the south where we find ourselves in hillier, rocky country. Here, the
concentration of White Rhino must be as great as anywhere in Africa and despite
continued poaching we stand very good chances of seeing these fabulous animals.
Our journey takes us through prime Wild Dog country which may give us more
chances of sightings. Berg-en Daal is also regularly frequented by Leopard.
Typically, the woods within the grounds are well worth time in with chances of
Africa Paradise, African Dusky and Pale Flycatchers, Chinspot Batis, Acacia
Pied Barbet, Terrestrial Brownbul and Southern Black Tit.
DAYS 13 – 14: MOUNT
SHEBA RESORT
By way of contrast, having given Kruger
National Park a really generous time we now depart and head into the northern
Drakensberg for two nights at the beautiful Mount Sheba Hotel, two nights of
relative luxury after the more basic restcamp accommodation. Situated high up
in the foothills near Pilgrim’s Rest, this is a delightful spot with excellent
cuisine, log fires and extensive grounds which include a large area of
rainforest. Mount Sheba also boasts an extensive list of species, many of which
we would not have encountered on the trip so far. Within the grounds there
remains substantial afromontane forest which is home to a range of birds such
as Yellow-streaked Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Yellow-throated Woodland
Warbler, Knysna Turaco, Chorister Robin-chat and Narina Trogon. From here, with
no need for vehicles we will be exploring the grounds and trails on foot.
DAY 15: JOHANNESBURG
We should have a relaxed final morning before
our journey back to Johannesburg with plenty of time to spare for the flight
connection back to Heathrow, arriving the following day.
DAY 16: LONDON
Arrive at London
Heathrow.