KwaZulu-Natal Mountains 4-Day Birding Tour

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Midlands & Drakensberg

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Scheduled Dates: 

• 24 − 27 July 2023

• 22 − 25 August 2023

Or alternate date on request. 

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Introduction:

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This KwaZulu-Natal birding focused adventure within South Africa explores the hilly midlands and the mountain regions of this species rich province abundant in endemic and special birds, wildlife species and splendid scenic beauty. Our primary destinations is the glorious winding Sani Pass regions of the Drakensberg mountain range, part of the spectacular Maloti-uKhahlamba Park, a World Heritage Site.

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This birding and wildlife tour explores a tremendous altitudinal range that starts near sea level and extends to 2,900masl, thus offering the opportunity to explore varied habitats supporting a broad array of species. Habitats we venture into include grassland, wetlands and riverine areas, mountains and cliffs, rocky slopes, indigenous scarp and mist belt forests, and man-made forest and gardens.

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We set a sightings goal of 200+ bird species in the summer months and 180+ bird species in winter. On the mammal front, we hope to see upwards of 20 species, with an array of reptiles, amphibians and butterflies also to be found, as well as many delightful orchid and protea species across the varied habitats.

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This safari both commences and ends at King Shaka International Airport in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

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Tour Highlights:

• A birding day trip by 4x4 up to the Lesotho border via the extraordinarily scenic Sani Pass, which forms part of the majestic Maloti-Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage Site where we are based for 2 nights.

• Birding the lush grasslands, misty wetlands, leafy forests and bubbling streams of the KwaZulu-Natal midlands for 1 night.

• Hunt for numerous endemic and special and red-listed bird species.

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Itinerary and species

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This safari both commences and ends at King Shaka International Airport or Umhlanga Rocks in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

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Day 1: Durban to Creighton, Coleford and Sani Pass

On Day 1 we visit a multitude of areas, beginning with the Creighton area and the magnificent vlei at Cloleford Nature Reserve, where we target numerous endemic and red-list species including Yellow-breasted Pipit, Wattled Crane, Striped Flufftail, African Grass Owl, Secretarybird, Mountain Pipit, Short-tailed Pipit, Denham’s Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Red-winged Francolin, Shelley’s Francolin, Coqui Francolin and many others. On the mammal front, some of what we can expect includes Black Wildebeest, Oribi, Red Hartebeest, Grey Rhebok, Southern Reedbuck and Blesbok. We then head through Underberg to the Himeville area where we spend our first night.

Accommodation: Mkomazana Mountain Cottages (or similar), Sani Pass

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Day 2: Sani Pass

On Day 2 we undertake a guided 4x4 mountain expedition up and down the breath-taking Sani Pass and explore the greater region, before spending our second night at the same mountain setting accommodation. Here we focus on the multitude of bird endemics and specials, with the main targets being Drakensberg Rockjumper and Gurney's Sugarbird. Other treats include Ground Woodpecker, Cape Eagle-Owl, Cape and Bearded Vultures, Southern Bald Ibis, Bush Blackcap, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Red-chested Flufftail, Barratt's Warbler, African Rock Pipit, Grey-winged Francolin, Buff-streaked Chat, Drakensberg Siskin, Layard's Warbler, Fairy Flycatcher, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Fan-tailed Grassbird, Sickle-winged Chat, Mountain Wheatear and many other delights. Some mammals to search for include Eland, Spotted-necked Otter, Chacma Baboon, Water Mongoose, Grey Rhebok and Southern Reedbuck.

Accommodation: Mkomazana Mountain Cottages (or similar), Sani Pass

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          Birding up Sani Pass                       Snow birding Sani Pass              Secretarybird in the landscape

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Day 3: Himeville, Marutswa Forest, Midmar and Karkloof

On Day 3 we rise early and bird the Himeville region en route to Marutswa Forest in search of the critically endangered Cape Parrot, and others like Knysna Turaco, Olive Bush-Shrike, Yellow Woodland Warbler, White Starred Robin, and Chorister Robin-Chat before continuing to Midmar Dam Nature Reserve in search of Black-rumped Buttonquail, Short-tailed Pipit, Marsh Owl, African Marsh Harrier, and the more diminutive African Quailfinch, Wing-snapping Cisticola and Pale-crowned Cisticola. In winter, we may also enjoy Buffy Pipit, Black-winged Lapwing and Eastern Long-billed Lark. We then proceed the short distance to the mist belt grasslands, wetlands and mist belt forests of Karkloof, where we search for 3 crane species, namely Wattled, Grey-crowned and Blue Cranes, Red-chested Flufftail and African Rail amongst others. We spend our last night in a cozy mistbelt country cottage. Some mammals to search for include Common Duiker, Spotted-necked Otter, Samango (Blue) Monkey and Vervet Monkey.

Accommodation: Thistledown Country House (or similar), Karkloof

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Day 4: Karkloof to Durban

Our Day 4 we embark for Benvie Gardens to search for Orange Ground Thrush, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Forest Buzzard, African Emerald Cuckoo, Chorister Robin-Chat, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Mountain Wagtail and others before returning back to the large coastal city of Durban, where we end our great adventure. 

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Habitats: Each destination we visit en-route offers unique habitats, extraordinary scenery, and breath-taking beauty, providing you with fantastic photographic opportunities. Habitats we explore include numerous forest types, wetlands, grassland, mountains and cliffs, which host numerous regional endemics, threatened and endangered bird and mammal species, as well as great floral diversity that include orchids and proteas.

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Accommodation: On the accommodation front we typically use very comfortable private lodges and country cottages, but should you prefer, at an added cost, luxury lodging options can also be arranged.

 

Tour tempo: The tempo of our Birding and Wildlife Tours are typically medium-paced, with optional mid-day breaks (advisable on hot days). If you are a keen photographer, well so are we, and we can offer many opportunities to capture the moments that will make you the envy of your wildlife-watching friends.

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Expected weather conditions: Subtropical and mostly hot during the day in the summer, and cooler in the evenings, with a chance of mist. Rain is possible, usually in the form of powerful summer convection thunderstorms, and cool wet weather is possible in the event of a cold front moving up from the south in the winter months, with frost and even snow possible at high altitudes. On a climate level, the region falls in the summer rainfall region, with an average rainfall of between 700mm and 1,100mm per year. Temperatures range from -5˚C in winter to 32˚C in summer, with an average maximum of 28˚C and an average minimum of 10˚C. The driest month is July, the most rainfall falls in January, and the warmest is in February. 

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Optional extension: An optional tour extension is available to also include:

• Wakkerstroom – add 2 days by heading into the renowned and abundant Mpumalanga highland and wetland region of Wakkerstroom.

• Zululand and Maputaland – add another 4 days exploring the savanna, woodland, coastal forest, seashore and estuaries of this incredibly species rich region, that also host amazing large mammals, including the Big 5.

 

Please note: this set-departure tour is also available as a private or custom tour on request. Please submit an enquiry with your preferred dates and group size.

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