The Very Best of

South Africa

Cape Grassbird by Ventures Birding Tours

Endemic Birds, Wildlife

& Spectacular Scenery

October 26 – November 15, 2020

Bennett's Woodpecker by Simon Thompson

Optional Cape Town Pre-Trip October 20-26, 2020
South Africa is one of the most unique and fascinating countries in Africa, being home to a marvelous diversity of birds (including quite a few endemics), wildlife, wildflowers, and landscapes. Add to that an excellent infrastructure, comfortable accommodation, and delicious food and wine, and it is no surprise that South Africa is one of the premier birding destinations in the world.

Cost of South Africa Main Tour: $8,350 per person from Johannesburg, based on double occupancy. Single supplement: $1,350 Price includes: All transportation throughout, all accommodation, all breakfasts and dinners, a few lunches (most not included), entrance fees, trip information, packet & bird checklist, and guide/leader service throughout. Not included: Round-trip airfare from the US to South Africa, departure tax, alcoholic beverages, and gratuities, most lunches, laundry, and other items of a personal nature.

South Africa is one of the most unique and fascinating countries in Africa, being home to a marvelous diversity of birds (including quite a few endemics), wildlife, wildflowers, and landscapes. Add to that an excellent infrastructure, comfortable accommodation, and delicious food and wine, and it is no surprise that South Africa is one of the premier birding destinations in the world.

On the optional extension to the Cape, we will explore and enjoy all that Cape Town and environs has to offer, including West Coast National Park with the endemic Black Bustard and thousands of shorebirds, Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, and the spectacular coastal drive down to Betty’s Bay to look for seabirds such as Cape Gannet, Cape Cormorant, and African Penguin. The Cape is a biodiversity hotspot that supports some 9,000 species of plants plus a unique suite of reptiles, amphibians, insects, and mammals, and 70% of South Africa’s endemic birds, including such trip targets as Knysna Warbler & Cape Siskin. This is certainly a trip you won’t want to miss!

Some of the Birds We Hope to See

(endemic, seen only on extension) Common Ostrich, Cape Shoveler, Cape Teal, Southern Pochard, South African Shelduck, Maccoa Duck, Gray-winged Francolin, Greater & Lesser Flamingos; African Penguin; Wooly-necked, Saddle-billed, and Yellow-billed Storks; Pink-backed Pelican, Great White Pelican; Goliath Heron; Southern Bald Ibis, African Spoonbill; Bateleur, Black-breasted and Brown Snake-Eagles, Bat Hawk, Martial, Tawny, Wahlberg's, Steppe and Lesser Spotted Eagles, African Hawk-Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk; Stanley’s (Denham’s) & Black Bustards; Buff-spotted & Striped Flufftails; African Finfoot; Blue Crane; Black-rumped Buttonquail; Livingstone’s & Knysna Turacos; African Wood-Owl & Pel’s Fishing Owl; Narina Trogon; Giant, Malachite, and Half-collared Kingfishers; Olive & Ground Woodpeckers; Brown-necked (Cape) Parrot; African Broadbill; Black-Throated Wattle-eye, Cape & Woodward's Batis; Olive & Black-fronted Bushshrikes; Cape Rockjumper; Eastern Long-billed, Cape, Rudd’s, Karoo Lark; Cape Bulbul; Cape Grassbird, Victorin’s Warbler; Knysna Warbler; Drakensberg Prinia; Gurney’s & Cape Sugarbirds; Cape Rock-Thrush; Brown Scrub-Robin, Chorister Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Orange Ground Thrush; Black-bellied Starling; Neergaard’s, Malachite, Southern Double-banded, and Orange-breasted Sunbirds; Cape & Forest Canaries, Cape Siskin, Cape Weaver and many more!


Mammals & Other Wildlife:

Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, White Rhino, African Elephant, Burchell’s & Cape Mountain Zebras; African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Warthog, Giraffe, Bushbuck, Nyala, Greater Kudu, Common & Red Duiker, Steinbok, Springbok, Impala, Tsessebe, Bontebok, Spotted Hyena, Side-striped & Black-backed Jackals; African Wild Dog, Vervet Monkey, Chacma Baboon and many more.