South Africa: Kruger & Drakensberg
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Overview
Highlights
- Abundant birds and mammals on this ‘must-do’ South Africa tour
- Springtime in South Africa - peak season for watching birds and mammals
- The spectacular Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa's highest
- Birding on the pristine upland grasslands of Wakkerstroom
- 4 nights in world famous Kruger National Park
- Expect 300+ bird species, including many endemics and regional specialities
- Blue Crane, Purple-crested Turaco, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Orange Ground Thrush
- Southern Bald Ibis, Blue Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Rudd’s and Botha’s Larks
- Superb for mammals: Meerkat, Giraffe, African Elephant, Lion, Leopard, White Rhinoceros
- Night drives for wildlife in Kruger National Park
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Trip includes
- Scheduled flights London-Johannesburg
- All accommodation
- Main meals
- Minibus transport (switching to 4x4 vehicle on night drives in Kruger National Park, where appropriate)
- All permits
- Entrance fees and wildlife drives
- Tips to local drivers/guides
- Airport taxes
- Map
- Bird & mammal checklist
- Services of the leaders.
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Itinerary
Our spring birdwatching tour to South Africa begins with a flight from London to Johannesburg, where we arrive on the morning of day two. We’ll be welcomed by Alastair and travel south on an excellent highway through the highveld grasslands, stopping to enjoy Long-tai...
This morning we take one of the highest roads in Southern Africa, up into the Drakensberg peaks and visit a particularly scenic area known as the Sentinel. Here, at 3000m above sea level and surrounded by the most sweeping views, we’ll search for an enigmatic bird bel...
Leaving the Harrismith area we wind our way through the scenic foothills towards Wakkerstroom, with a chance to look for specialities such as the little-known Bush Blackcap en route. Once a sleepy hamlet in a forgotten part of the country, the presence of a range of r...
We spend much of day six driving from Wakkersroom to our next destination: world famous Kruger National Park. As we head north and east, we’ll descend from the rolling upland grasslands into the warmer lowlands, where the whole landscape takes on a distinctly more tro...
Leaving the Kruger, we head west and back into the hills to visit a very different habitat. Our first stop will be on the Drakensberg escarpment itself, where we’ll pause at a dramatically beautiful mountain pass to scan for one of the world’s rarest raptors: Taita Fa...
After enjoying some final birding at Mount Sheba this morning, reluctantly we must return to Johannesburg today. We will make some stops for birds along the way, as travel time allows. Saying farewell to Alastair at Johannesburg airport, we board our evening flight to London.
Morning arrival at London Heathrow, where our birdwatching tour to South Africa: Kruger & Drakensburg concludes.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Limosa Holidays.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
Founded in 1985, Limosa is proud to be recognised as one of the world’s leading specialist operators of birding and wildlife tours.
Our varied annual programme is selected from a repertoire of more than 200 of the very best in birding and wildlife trips. Meticulously planned, professionally led and with prices that are genuinely all-inclusive, Limosa offers something for everyone: from short breaks in Britain and Europe through to a comprehensive selection of longer holidays to some of the world’s most beautiful wild places.
From our behind the scenes paperwork and planning to our website, brochures, newsletters and Tour Info Packs - all reflect the same high standards and quality of service. We look upon all of our guests as friends and take great pride in our high level of repeat business and the fact that so many new customers come to us by personal recommendation. On almost any Limosa tour there is likely to be someone for whom this is their first trip, whilst others in the party may have taken twenty or more holidays with us - and the current record is now more than fifty!
Whether you are a beginner new to birding or an ‘old hand’ with bags of experience, our tours are all about having fun whilst seeing lots of great birds. Travel with us in Limosa’s 30th Anniversary Year - and share our passion for birds and birdwatching the world over.
10 Top Reasons to Travel with Limosa ...
- The best guides ~ experienced, professional, enthusiastic, friendly and fun
- Small group camaraderie ~ limits of between 5-12 participants on most tours
- Ideal for everyone ~ with as much help and individual attention as you need
- Carefully planned itineraries ~ good food, comfortable lodgings and great birding!
- 30 years experience ~ specialising in birdwatching and wildlife tours
- High level of repeat custom ~ hundreds of personal recommendations
- All-inclusive holidays ~ absolutely NO hidden extras
- Discounts for Early Booking, Frequent Travel and airport parking and hotels
- Fully licensed and bonded with ATOL and ABTOT for your financial protection
- Supporting conservation through sponsorship, donation and action
Is Limosa For Me
Whether you're a beginner new to birdwatching or someone with years of experience, if you're passionate about birds and wildlife, you will find that Limosa's birdwatching tours have been designed with you in mind. Within our latest programme, you will find holidays that focus solely on birds through to those which also feature mammals, butterflies and more general wildlife.
Our varied annual schedule is selected from a repertoire of more than 200 of the very best in birdwatching and wildlife tours. Meticulously planned, professionally led and with prices that are genuinely all-inclusive, we offer something for everyone: from guided BirdWalks and birdwatching tours in Britain and Europe through to a comprehensive selection of longer birding and wildlife holidays to some of the world’s most beautiful wild places.
All that you need to enjoy them is a love of birds and the natural world, a desire to travel - and of course your binoculars!
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Insurance
- Drinks & other items of a personal nature
Accommodation
You may cancel your booking at any stage. Cancellation must be advised in writing by the 'lead name' (where possible) and takes effect on the day such notice is received by us. Deposits are non-refundable and all tour and interim flight deposits you have made will be retained by us. In the event of cancellation after the full balance is due, the cancellation charges payable to Limosa are calculated as follows:
85 or more days before departure - Loss of deposit only *1
84-43 days before departure - 50% of total invoice cost
42-29 days before departure - 75% of total invoice cost
28 days or less before departure - 100% of total invoice cost
*1 Plus any additional tour or interim flight deposit payments made.
To protect yourself against cancellation please ensure that you purchase insurance (see 28 below) as early as possible. If the reason for cancellation falls within the terms of your insurance, the above charges will normally be refunded to you by the insurance company less premium cost and any excess applicable.
With Limosa, all main meals are included in the tour price. Food is good-excellent in South Africa, with most main meals taken at our lodgings and lunches either as picnics or at the lodges.
WHAT TO EXPECT
There's a dazzling array of birds and mammals to look forward to on this fabulous 13-day birdwatching tour to northern South Africa in spring. Focusing on two of the country’s top wildlife spots: world famous Kruger National Park (where guide Alastair once worked), and the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains - at the very best time of year for watching birds and wildlife-viewing there. Blue Crane, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Gurney's Sugarbird and Meerkat among a long list of endemics and regional specialities.
Temperate to subtropical climate, according to altitude. It’s springtime in South Africa. Often warm, sunny days but with a chilly start (typically 10-28C/50-82F). Some showers are possible in spring. It’s likely to be cold at 3000m, but not below freezing. Expect quite a temperature range as we drop down from Johannesburg (around 5000ft) to the warmer lowlands of the Kruger.
Good-excellent photographic opportunities on this tour - including birds, mammals and stunning scenery.
BIRDS
310-360 species
MAMMALS
30-40 species
WALKING
Easy. Short walks. In the Kruger, away from our lodgings, please note that the presence of wild animals usually preclude excursions on foot. Maximum elevation on this tour: 3000m (9800ft).
TRAVEL
Scheduled flights from London to Johannesburg with British Airways or South African Airways.
Travel will be by minibus so as to allow access to all key areas. Night drives within the Kruger are by open safari vehicle/s, organised and operated by the park staff. Roads are generally good but some travel will necessarily be on well-graded gravel roads. Some dirt tracks in the Kruger but these are generally well maintained.
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