This is a pre-tour extension for our Madagascar trip. Famed Kruger boasts the highest diversity of mammal species of any national park and our aim is to find the Big 5! With over 500 bird species recorded we will encounter a tremendous variety including all kinds of birds of prey, storks, owls, rollers, hornbills, barbets, Poicephalus parrots, korhaans, sandgrouses, bush-shrikes, weavers and cuckoos. The incredible atmosphere of this vast tract of true Africa simply has to be personally experienced. What an incredible place!

Day 1 (Nov 3): Overnight flight from US to Johannesburg.

Day 2 (Nov 4): Arrive Johannesburg late afternoon. O/N Birchwood Executive Hotel

Day 3 (Nov 5): Depart Johannesburg early morning and head for the Kruger National Park, stopping along the way at the Strijdom Tunnels to look for the very rare and localized Taita Falcon. This is definitely the most reliable spot in Africa to find this elusive falcon. Cape Vulture and Verreaux’s Eagle is also regularly seen overhead. Once in Kruger, Satara offers some good bushveld birds and we should come away with birds such as Violet-eared Waxbill, Shaft-tailed Whydah and Mocking Cliff-Chat. The Satara camp is also very good for owls and nightjars at night. O/N Satara

Day 4 (Nov 6): We will spend the day birding some of the loops in the vicinity which have in the past delivered Southern Ground Hornbill, Temmink’s Courser and Senegal Lapwing. During the evening we will look for African Scops Owl which is a regular in the camp. O/N Satara

Day 5 (Nov 7): We will visit the Nwanedzi picnic site as well as the Sweni Bird Hide in the morning, the hide is very productive in the drier months and should be well worth exploring. On the way to Lower Sabie we will drive through some good grassveld with possibilities such as Kori Bustard, Red-crested Korhaan and Black-bellied Bustard. Lower Sabie camp is set on the banks of the Sabie River and offers the possibility of seeing African Finfoot, African Fish-Eagle and White-crowned Lapwing. Sunset dam, close to the camp is good for Marabou Stork. O/N Lower Sabie

Day 6 (Nov 8): From Lower Sabie we head to the oldest camp in the Kruger Park, Skukuza. Skukuza is a very large camp which is also set on the banks of the Sabie River. Birding at the camp is exceptionally good with African Green Pigeon, Terrestrial Brownbul and Kurichane Trush in attendance. Bat Hawks are frequently recorded here and we might be lucky enough to see one of these spectacular crepuscular hawks. We will join another organised night drive from Skukuza to look for some of the nocturnal birds and mammals. O/N Skukuza

Day 7 (Nov 9): Drive back to Johannesburg with some opportunities for birding on the way. O/N Birchwood Executive Hotel or similar

Day 8 (Nov 10): For those on the Madagascar tour, we depart for Antananarivo (Tana), Madagascar
For those just doing the Kruger tour this is the end of this trip. If you are looking to stay on in South Africa we can make arrangements to extend your South African birding and wildlife experience.

Cost: approx. $2500 per person based upon double occupancy and a minimum of 4. Max 10.
Single Supplement : $ 275.

Cost includes all accommodation (2 nights in Johannesburg and 4 nights in Kruger NP), meals, park fees, activities, guide fees and road transport in South Africa.
Cost excludes all international flights, items of a personal nature, medical and travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, tips and gifts