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I envy a man who has never been to Africa, for he has so much to look forward to.”

Ernest Hemingway

If South America is the Bird Continent, then Africa—home to 106 species of diurnal birds of prey—is the Raptor Continent! South Africa combines a more-than-generous sample of this raptor diversity with adequate travel infrastructure, relatively benign climate and plenty of megafauna to mesmerize even the most avid, hard-core birder. This tour has been designed to see many of the species of raptors occurring in South Africa in the austral summer, see the “Big Five”—lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and African elephant—and watch other birds as well while we are at it!

A True Raptor Wonderland!

We will target 12 species of true falcons, including Red-necked, Amur, Lanner, and Taita Falcons, 11 species of eagles, fish-eagles and hawk-eagles, including Tawny, and Martial Eagles, and African Hawk-Eagle, five species of vultures, such as Lappet-faced, and Hooded Vultures, nine species of sparrowhawks and goshawks, e.g., Ovambo and Little Sparrowhawks, four harriers, including African Marsh, and Black Harriers, three buzzards, two snake-eagles, plus Yellow-billed Kite, African Cuckoo-Hawk, African Harrier-Hawk, the amazing Bateleur, Pygmy Falcon, Osprey, and Secretarybird.

Other Birds and The Big Five

While raptor, and especially falcon occurrence and abundance determine our itinerary, we will watch other birds as well. An expert local birding guide will help us find and identify non-raptorial birds throughout the tour. Of course, we will make time to watch the charismatic African megafauna. In addition to lions, leopards, African elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes, we will encounter numerous antelopes, warthogs, monkeys, giraffe, zebras, wildebeest, and many others. Whether this is your first trip to Africa, or your 10^th this tour will not disappoint if you have an interest in raptors and wildlife.

Get up to speed before you leave home!

The hot-off-the-press African Raptors field guide covers 106 species of dirunal raptors occurring in Africa, featuring stunning 52 color plates, and more than 300 color photographs. 

Sign up for this tour and get a free copy delivered directly to your home so you can get up to speed with the bewildering variability of plumage, flight silhouettes, and behavior of African raptors even before you check your bags! Kindle and Hardcover Editions available. (Offer valid for continental US customers only.)

Make A Difference!

®, L.L.C. makes a financial contribution to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for every member that signs up for this tour. Join us on this tour and make a lasting contribution to raptor conservation!

Main Tour Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo Intl. Airport (IATA code JNB), and transfer to our local to relax and meet the other tour participants. Dinner and overnight in Johannesburg, at the Blue Mango Lodge.

Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel. Then visit a local reserve in the morning to target Amur Falcon and Red-footed Falcon. In the afternoon, depending on time, will look for Ovambo Sparrowhawk, and Verreaux’s and Ayres’s Eagle. Dinner and overnight at the Blue Mango Lodge.

Day 3

Breakfast and checkout. Drive to Swadini, and visit the Taita Falcon spot in the afternoon. Then we’ll bird the Blyde river canyon looking for resident Peregrine Falcons and other raptors, including Crowned Eagle and Cape Vulture. Dinner and overnight at the Blyde River Wilderness Lodge.

Day 4

Breakfast and checkout. Another stop at the Taita Falcon spot, then fast-forward to Magoesbaskloof, to target Long-crested and Crowned Eagle in the afternoon. Also Bat Hawk—the only truly nocturnal hawk in the world. Dinner and overnight in the Magoebaskloof Hotel.

Day 5

Breakfast at the hotel, then checkout. Another visit to the Magoebaskloof forests looking for African Goshawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Crowned Eagle, and Jackal Buzzard, among others. We may see Lizard Buzzard as well. In the afternoon, we will enter Kruger National Park in the north end, and check-in at Punda Maria rest camp. Northern Kruger is good for several raptor species, notably Dickinson’s Kestrel. Dinner and overnight at the Punda María Rest Camp.

Day 6

After breakfast, we will leave the rest camp and drive to Pafuri, looking for Dickinson’s Kestrel on the way, and back. Other raptors likely to be seen today (and tomorrow) include Martial, Tawny, Wahlberg’s, Lesser-spotted, and Steppe Eagles; African Hawk-Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Gabar Goshawk, Lizard Buzzard, and Bateleur. Dinner and overnight in Punda Maria.

Day 7

Early breakfast and checkout. Leave the rest camp as soon as the gate is open. Today we will drive south into central Kruger. Vegetation will become sparser, especially in the afternoon, in the central plains of the park, where we will spend the night. Raptors likely to be seen today include the same eagle species as yesterday plus Black-chested Snake Eagle. Our contacts with the African megafauna should become more frequent as we drive south. We should see lions, wildebeest, zebras, elephants, and giraffes, also a rhino or two, and, with a bit of luck, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs. Check-in at the Letaba Rest Camp. Night drive (5-8 pm) in the park trucks to see mammals and owls. 8:30 pm, dinner. Overnight at Letaba Rest Camp.

Day 8

Breakfast and checkout. Drive through southern Kruger looking for big game and raptors. Our chances for leopard, rhino, and wild dogs should be better today. We should see many raptors including several species of eagles and Secretarybird. Drive to Skukuza in the afternoon stoping for raptors and African megafauna. Dinner and overnight at Skukuza Rest Camp.

Day 9

After breakfast and checkout, head west and out the Kruger, to the Mpumalanga Intl. Airport, where we will eat lunch, and wait to catch our flight to Cape Town. Fly non-stop to Cape Town (1.15-3.55 pm, 1 free checked bag up to 23 kg / 50 lbs), and transfer to our hotel upon arrival. Relax and bird the hotel grounds. Dinner and overnight in Cape Town, at the Cinnamon House.

Day 10

All-day visit to the West Coast National Park to target Rock Kestrels and Peregrines, and Black Harrier, Verreaux’s Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Jackal Buzzard, and Black-winged Kite, among others. Dinner and overnight at the Cinnamon House.

Day 11

Checkout and drive to the airport where we will eat breakfast. Fly to Upington (7.10-8.30 am, 1 free checked bag up to 23 kg / 50 lbs). Get on our vans upon arriving in Upington and drive to Twee Rivieren area, our base to explore the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. This is a very scenic drive with red dunes dotted with sparse vegetation, huge weaver nests, and great visibility. We should see several species of raptors here including Pale Chanting Goshawk and Greater Kestrel. Depending on timing, we will go for an afternoon drive to look for wildlife after checking-in at the Twee Rivieren Rest Camp. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

Days 12-13

The next couple of days we will drive the dry riverbeds, and dunes in the Kgalagadi looking for Pygmy, Lanner and Red-necked Falcons. Also likely to be seen here are Pale Chanting Goshawk, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Gabar Goshawk and Secretarybird. Lions, cheetahs, and leopards are more visible here, due to the scant vegetation. Other mammals of interest include giraffe, springbok and oryx, the cute suricate or meerkat, and the not-so-quite yellow mongoose. Bat-eared fox and black-backed jackals are always welcome and fun to watch. Dinner and overnight in Twee Rivieren.

Day 14

Another morning outing in the Kalahari. Check-out and drive back to Upington to catch our flight to Johannesburg (12.50-2.25 pm, 1 free checked bag up to 23 kg / 50 lbs) where the tour ends. International evening flights depart from Johannesburg, but we suggest you book a flight for the next day. Extra nights in Johannesburg available upon request.

Target Species

common name

1. Sercretarybird (VU)
2. Osprey (LC)
3. Black-winged Kite (LC)
4. African Harrier-Hawk (LC)
5. European Honey Buzzard (LC)
6. African Cuckoo-Hawk (LC)
7. Hooded Vulture (CR)
8. White-backed Vulture (CR)
9. Cape Vulture (EN)
10. White-headed Vulture (CR)
11. Lappet-faced Vulture (EN)
12. Black-chested Snake Eagle (LC)
13. Brown Snake Eagle (LC)
14. Bateleur (NT)
15. Bat Hawk (LC)
16. Crowned Eagle (NT)
17. Martial Eagle (VU)
18. Long-crested Eagle (LC)
19. Lesser Spotted Eagle (LC)
20. Wahlberg’s Eagle (LC)
21. Booted Eagle (LC)
22. Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle (LC)
23. Tawny Eagle (LC)
24. Steppe Eagle (EN)
25. Verreaux’s Eagle (LC)
26. African Hawk-Eagle (LC)
27. Lizard Buzzard (LC)
28. Gabar Goshawk (LC)
29. Dark Chanting Goshawk (LC)
30. Pale Chanting Goshawk (LC)
31. African Goshawk (LC)
32. Shikra (LC)
33. Little Sparrowhawk (LC)
34. Ovambo Sparrowhawk (LC)
35. Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (LC)
36. Black Sparrowhawk (LC)
37. African Marsh Harrier (LC)
38. Black Harrier (VU)
39. Pallid Harrier (NT)
40. Montagu’s Harrier (LC)
41. Yellow-billed Kite (N/A)
42. African Fish Eagle (LC)
43. Forest Buzzard (LC)
44. Jackal Buzzard (LC)
45. Pygmy Falcon (LC)
46. Lesser Kestrel (LC)
47. Rock Kestrel (LC)
48. Greater Kestrel (LC)
49. Dickinson’s Kestrel (LC)
50. Red-necked Falcon (NT)
51. Red-footed Falcon (NT)
52. Amur Falcon (LC)
53. Sooty Falcon (NT)
54. Eurasian Hobby (LC)
55. Lanner Falcon (LC)
56. Peregrine Falcon (LC)
57. Taita Falcon (VU)

latin name

1. Sagittarius serpentarius
2. Pandion haliaetus
3. Elanus caeruleus
4. Polyboroides typus
5. Pernis apivorus
6. Aviceda cuculoides
7. Necrosyrtes monachus
8. Gyps africanus
9. Gyps coprotheres
10. Trigonoceps occipitalis
11. Torgos tracheliotos
12. Circaetus pectoralis
13. Circaetus cinereus
14. Terathopius ecaudatus
15. Macheiramphus alcinus
16. Stephanoaetus coronatus
17. Polemaetus bellicosus
18. Lophaetus occipitalis
19. Clanga pomarina
20. Hieraaetus wahlbergi
21. Hieraaetus pennatus
22. Hieraaetus ayresii
23. Aquila rapax
24. Aquila nipalensis
25. Aquila verreauxii
26. Aquila spilogaster
27. Kaupifalco monogrammicus
28. Micronisus gabar
29. Melierax metabates
30. Melierax canorus
31. Accipiter tachiro
32. Accipiter badius
33. Accipiter minullus
34. Accipiter ovampensis
35. Accipiter rufiventris
36. Accipiter melanoleucus
37. Circus ranivorus
38. Circus maurus
39. Circus macrourus
40. Circus pygargus
41. Milvus aegyptius
42. Haliaeetus vocifer
43. Buteo trizonatus
44. Buteo rufofuscus
45. Polihierax semitorquatus
46. Falco naumanni
47. Falco rupicolus
48. Falco rupicoloides
49. Falco dickinsoni
50. Falco chicquera 
51. Falco vespertinus
52. Falco amurensis
53. Falco concolor
54. Falco subbuteo
55. Falco biarmicus
56. Falco peregrinus
57. Falco fasciinucha

Suggested Field Guides

CHITTENDEN, H.,‎ G. DAVIES,‎ and I. WEIERSBYE. 2016. Roberts Bird Guide. Second Edition. Paperback. Jacana Media. (Get it at Amazon.com)

Ferguson-Lees, J., and D.A. Christie. 2005. Raptors of the World. Paperback Edition. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

OBERPRIELER, U. and B. CILLIE. 2009 (or 2012). The Raptor Guide to Southern Africa. Sunbird Publishers Ltd.

Sinclair, I., Hockey, P., Tarboton, W., and P. Ryan. 2011. Birds of Southern Africa: Fourth Edition. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. (Get it at Amazon.com)

Need to Know

Tour Dates & Availability

22 Jan – 3 Feb 2019 | 6 Places Left

Booking Closes On

15 November 2018

Group Size Limits

4-10 Participants

Tour Price

US$5,490

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Tour price includes hotels (double occupancy), all meals and soft drinks, entrance fees, ground transportation, domestic flights (3), and guide fees.

International flights, entrance visa (if applicable), extra nights in Johannesburg, alcoholic beverages, items of personal nature, tips, and insurance of any kind are not included.

Single Supplement

US$455

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Single rooms will be subject to availability.

Roommates will be assigned to those participants willing to share a room. If a roommate is not available, you will be required to pay the single supplement.

Raptor Species Expected

40

Country Entry Requirements

Valid passport required | No visa required for citizens of the USA, Canada, and most EU countries

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Please visit the South African Immigration Services website for more information.

Difficulty

Easy

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No strenuous walks or hikes involved. Some very early starts and picninc breakfasts, followed by a long birdwatching morning and late lunches. We will stock up on snacks as necessary.

Comfort

Good to Very Good | Guide-to-participant ratio 1:5 or better

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Accommodations throughout will be comfortable, with free wi-fi (either in rooms or public areas), AC rooms, and private bathrooms. Some have swimming pools. Laundromats (not included) are available at Punda Maria (Days 5-6), and at Twee Rivieren (Days 11-14).

We will travel in comfortable vans with AC, and wide, untinted windows. Please note that both at Kruger NP and Kgalagadi TP we will be able to exit the vehicles only at authorized sites.

Weather & Clothing

Temp range 97–62 °F (36–17 °C) | Bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses

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Temperatures will range from an average high of 97 °F (36 °C) in the Kalahari, to average lows of 62 °F (17 °C) in Cape Town. January is the peak of the wet season in Kruger, so we expect up to a 40% rain on any given day there.

Make sure to bring long-sleeved, but light clothing, and at least one warm jacket, a brim hat, and a folding umbrella just in case. Sunscreen and sunglasses are strongly recommended.

Health

Some travel vaccines and malaria prophylaxis are advisable | Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required

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Malaria is present in Kruger National Park, but the risk for travelers is low. Drug resistance to Chloroquine has been documented.

There is no risk of yellow fever in South Africa. The government of South Africa requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever.

For detailed information on health precautions, anti‑malarial medication, and vaccines recommended for South Africa, visit CDC’s website 6 weeks before departure.

Local Currency

South African rand (ZAR)

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Local currency is the South African rand (ZAR), and exchange rate is approximately 12 ZAR for U.S. dollar.

It is recommended to start the trip with local currency cash for expenses such as souvenirs, alcoholic drinks, tips or phone calls. 

Tour Leader

Andre Botha (Endangered Wildlife Trust) has worked for the conservation of African vultures in southern Africa, and all wildlife in Kruger for many years; he simply knows the Kruger, the Kalahari and most wildlife-relevant destinations in South Africa like the back of his hand. Andre is a keen spotter and dead-on on raptor ID. He knows the goeology, vegetation, megafauna, culture and history of the park, and South Africa. Andre is a natural leader and has a subtle sense of humor too!

Tour Showcase

Terms

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, L.L.C. reserves the right to alter this itinerary as necessary, or to cancel the tour prior to departure, with full refund to participants.

, L.L.C. or its agents may decline to accept or retain any person as a member of this tour at any time.

No smoking will be permitted while with the group, either when indoors or in the field.

Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.

All passengers will be required to sign a hard copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form upon meeting with the tour leader in Johannesburg.

No participants will be allowed in the group without a signed copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form.

Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Form
(including Terms)