South Africa Bird watching Tours & Trip Packages

South Africa Bird watching Tours & Trips

567 South Africa trips. Tours from 260 tour companies. 957 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

84 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Bird watching
South Africa & Eswatini
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They explore a place beyond the typical tourist traps and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” intrepid travelers want.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Johannesburg, Kruger National Park

Highlights

  • Search for the Big Five in South Africa's spectacular Kruger National Park
  • Get up close and personal with a thrilling foot safari in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Visit the battlefield of Rorke's Drift -home of the famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu War

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"This tour was virtually perfect, due largely to the curating skill, personality, regional knowledge & appreciation, dining choices, guiding & FUN capability of our marvelous guide Rocio! And of course, the eye-popping scenery of the western Algarve, Portugal!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Health Safety +

More
9-Day South Africa Luxventure: Wildlife + Winelands
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
81 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Johannesburg, Kruger National Park

Highlights

  • Explore Cape Town
  • Experience Africa's incredible wildlife as you explore Singita's private concession
  • Visit Kruger has an amazing memories and photographs
  • Explore wine lands of Stellenbosch and embark on a full day Devon Valley bicycle tour

Themes

50 plus, Culinary & Wine, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Safari

What travelers are saying

"This we hoped would be the holiday of a lifetime for myself and my family and we chose Ker & Downey Africa to organize it for us, we were not disappointed. They listened to what we wanted and came up with an itinerary which proved to be perfect, something for everyone young and not so young. Communications were excellent, when a problem arose they dealt with it quickly leaving us very happy with the proposed solution. This was not a budget holiday but we were happy that it was good value for money, we got what we paid for. From the time we landed on African soil we felt that Ker & Downey were looking after us, they were there for us all the way not for one moment did we have to worry, stress free we asked for and that is exactly what we got. The lodges they chose for us were perfect, we could not have asked for more, the memories we brought home are priceless. Thank you Ker & Downey Africa for organizing our dream trip."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
South Africa – Wildlife Conservation Experience
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
87 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Johannesburg, Kruger National Park

Highlights

  • Going behind the scenes of the conservation efforts to protect endangered species
  • Visiting an elephant sanctuary to learn about South Africa's gentle giants
  • Tracking the “Big 5” throughout Kruger National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • Learning firsthand about wildlife conservation from experts at the country’s largest reserve
  • Reading and playing with disadvantaged children who want to learn English
Show more

Themes

50 plus, Birding, Cultural, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Education / Learning, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Safari, Transformative, Volunteering & Community Service

What travelers are saying

"I recently returned from the Costa Rican wildlife safari. I was a bit concerned with Covid however every place was extremely clean and had places for you to wash your hands before you even walked in. This was a trip I was actually supposed to go on in 2020 however it was postponed, waiting so long the expectations were high. I was definitely not disappointed! Patricia our guide was absolutely wonderful, extremely knowledgeable and cater to our every need. I would highly recommend this vacation. Also everyone that I met in the community was extremely gracious and kind. The majority of these people work on tourism and unfortunately in the last year have not had any. Booking this trip would not only be an amazing adventure for you but it would also be amazing for the people in the community"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
South Africa Safari & Wildlife - 10 Days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
16 reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
Their accessibility specialists have traveled with their own disabilities so they have a deep understanding of how to accommodate different needs.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • Kwazulu Natal
  • Ushaka Marine World
  • Isimangaliso Wetland Park
  • Hluhluwe Game Reserve
  • Elephant Interaction
Show more

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, Safari

What travelers are saying

"I recently booked a trip to Mexico with Tarita for my family. I use a wheelchair and have two small children, and Tarita was a wealth of knowledge about which resorts would be both accessible AND kid friendly, which was awesome. Access was at the top of her list and she handled all the details. Really happy that I found her!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Cape Town & Safari with Johannesburg
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.1/5 Great
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Table Mountain

Highlights

  • Cape Peninsula Tour (full-day)
  • Winelands Tour (Full-Day)
  • Cape Town City & Table Mountain Tour (Half-Day)
  • Journey to Freedom Tour (Full-Day)

Themes

Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Safari

What travelers are saying

"Great Value did an amazing job with the basic outline for the itinerary and the hotel choices were excellent."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
South African Family Adventure
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.1/5 Great
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Johannesburg

Highlights

  • Cape Town Kids City Tour
  • Cape Peninsula Tour with picnic lunch
  • Cape Winelands for Kids Tour (Full-Day)

Themes

Family Friendly, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Relaxing Retreats, Safari

What travelers are saying

"Great Value did an amazing job with the basic outline for the itinerary and the hotel choices were excellent."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More

Unlock Community Benefits

Travel better together

  • Save favorite trips and itineraries
  • Get insider insights
  • Receive personalized recommendations
  • ... and much more
Join community
Cape Town, Kruger & Victoria Falls
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Kruger National Park, Livingstone, Table Mountain, Victoria Falls, Zambezi River

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"It's hard to describe how lucky we are to have been able to work with Stephanie in planning our honeymoon to Japan. From the very beginning, Stephanie was friendly, flexible, and an absolute wealth of knowledge. We had several meetings with her leading up to our trip to come up with the perfect itinerary. Throughout this, Stephanie was mindful of our budget, without sacrificing anything. During our trip, Audley was available at all hours to help with anything and everything which was such a relief to know we had that resource available to us. I truly cannot imagine having planned this trip without all of Stephanie's guidance and knowledge- and cannot imagine taking another big trip like this without the help of Audley. Thank you again!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Cape Town & Safari
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.1/5 Great
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Table Mountain

Highlights

  • Cape Peninsula Tour (full-day)
  • Winelands Tour (Full-Day)
  • Cape Town City & Table Mountain Tour (Half-Day)

Themes

Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Safari

What travelers are saying

"Great Value did an amazing job with the basic outline for the itinerary and the hotel choices were excellent."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip
84 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Bird watching
...

1

2

3

4

5

...

South Africa Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
957  Reviews
See all South Africa tour reviews
Excellent
428
Great
130
Average
9
Disappointing
2
Terrible
2
W

William

Sep 2015

Written on

Excellent trip

Excellent trip

R

Roger T.

Feb 2023

Written on

I felt confident booking through CharlieTheTraveler as they were organized and had great reviews on all of their tours.

I felt confident booking through CharlieTheTraveler as they were organized and had great reviews on all of their tours. I wanted to go to South Africa and found thei...

N

Nicole J.

Feb 2023

Written on

Each of the tours by CharlieTheTraveler included so many exciting activities, so it was an easy decision to book my trip to South Africa through them.

Each of the tours by CharlieTheTraveler included so many exciting activities, so it was an easy decision to book my trip to South Africa through them. I was pleased ...

J

Jerry Stich

Feb 2023

Written on

We are extremely happy with Paul and the places we have seen.

We are extremely happy with Paul and the places we have seen. He is very flexib...

M

Marco K.

Feb 2023

Written on

I felt blessed to find CharlieTheTraveler did all of this for their customers.

I personally struggle when I travel abroad, as there is so much research that goes into finding activities, planning the transportation to and from places, and picki...

Write a Review

South Africa Tour Selection Trips

  • South Africa is a big country, rich in attractions and activities. Allow at least a week and preferably two for your first tour – which will only whet your appetite for more.
  • South Africa train tours can be a highlight in itself. Tour companies can organize excursions on a restored steam train, Rovos Rail, travelling between Pretoria and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, as well as between Pretoria and Cape Town. Or ride the luxurious Blue Train, which rides the rails between Pretoria and Cape Town, and Pretoria and Durban.
  • Consider tours that include the world-famous annual run (from May-July) of millions of sardines along the east coast of the country in the KwaZulu-Natal region. The sardines cause a feeding frenzy that attracts thousands of sharks, dolphins, whales, birds and other ocean predators.
  • While most of South Africa is malaria-free, it is present year-round in Kruger National Park and the low-lying areas of northern KwaZulu-Natal. Travel operators can arrange safaris in many malaria-free game reserves, such as Madikwe or Pilanesberg in North West province, the Waterberg in Limpopo, or private reserves in the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape.
  • Looking for an unusual “lodging” adventure? If you’re customizing your trip, ask your travel provider to arrange an overnight stay in a cave in the Drakensberg mountains. Marble Baths Cave, Sherman’s Cave, Spare Rib Cave, Nutcracker Cave and Sleeping Beauty Cave are just some of the caves that allow such stays.
  • South Africa is known for its flora as well as its fauna – the country’s Cape Floral Region contains a fifth of the flora on the African continent. If you like viewing plant life, look for tours that include visits to gardens, forests and nature preserves.

Additional details

Getting to South Africa

Most flights into South Africa arrive in either Johannesburg or Cape Town. From there, there are connecting flights to smaller airports in the country. Alternatively, you can drive across the border if you’re visiting a neighboring country.

How to get around South Africa

South Africa is a huge country! Unless you are spending a lot of time in South Africa, or staying in a particular region, you’re better off flying between cities, if you’re trying to visit Johannesburg and Cape Town.

City driving can get busy, and drivers can be aggressive, especially in Johannesburg. If you’re visiting Joburg, using uber or public transportation is your best bet. It can be unsafe driving through the city, because of the high crime rate.

Parking is difficult to come by, but Uber is extremely affordable in South Africa. The bonus there is you don’t have to worry about navigating the busy traffic, trying to park your car, and worrying about potential crime. In Cape Town you’re safer driving (but the traffic is very bad), though there is also great public transportation.

Driving is an option for those wanting to take the garden route. For the most part, roads are well developed, and it gives you a chance to see the countryside. South Africa has such diverse landscape, it’s worth it to visit parts of the countryside.

It’s absolutely stunning. For those who are questioning if they can adjust to driving on the opposite side of the road, it’s fairly manageable. Once you get in the car, it’s easy to navigate and catch on, especially if you’re on the road with other cars.

How Much Time Should I Spend in South Africa?

There is so much to see in South Africa. One could spend several months in South Africa and only touch the surface.

Somewhere between two and three weeks is a good time frame to get familiar with the land. Especially for travelers who decide to drive parts of the country (such as the Garden Route), the trip should not be rushed.

Because of the diversity of the country, one should see at least two cities (Cape Town, Durban, and/or Pretoria). A safari is a must for trips to South Africa. Having several day tours (between 3-5) allows for more opportunity to spot all of the “Big 5”.

Again, there is no guarantee you’ll get to see all 5. Some may be questioning spending five days in the bush on a safari, but it truly is a once in a lifetime experience. Every animal sighting is magical, even if it’s the fifth or sixth time seeing a zebra on one game drive. The calmness and quiet beauty is unlike any other experience.

Other Tips for South Africa Travel

  • Use caution in South Africa. Don’t flash your money/high end items, know where you’re heading, and be mindful. Highly consider grabbing an uber or driving, especially at night, even if the distance seems walkable. You can never be too careful, and this is the place to err on the side of caution.
  • On the flipside, South Africa is an amazing place to visit, and so diverse. If you have an opportunity to hop around the country to different cities, do it! The Western Cape and Eastern Cape have diverse landscapes and you should try to see different parts of the country.
  • South African currency is the rand. Traveling, shopping, accommodation and food is all extremely affordable in South Africa.
  • South Africa is big on tipping. If you go out to eat, expect to tip. A surprise to many visitors is the tipping of parking lot security guards who watch over your car while you’re out shopping, at the beach, etc. Most tips range from 2-10 rand.
  • South Africa has three capitals: Bloemfontein (judicial capital), Cape Town (legislative capital) and Pretoria (the administrative capital).
  • There are no vaccines required to travel to South Africa, except for visitors from a country with a yellow fever endemic. Proof of the yellow fever vaccination is required upon arrival in South Africa.
  • A fun idea for getting around is joining a hop-on-hop-off tour bus. Both Johannesburg and Cape Town offers this tour option. Get dropped off right at the attractions, spend as much time as you went at said attraction, and jump back on the bus to head towards your next destination. Since many of these tour buses have an upper deck, it’s also a great way to see the city from a different point of view.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 567 trips to South Africa and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!