South Africa Birding Special - Private Guided

Arrive independently to Cape Town International Airport and receive your VIP meet & greet and transfer to the beautiful Abbey Manor Guest House high on the slopes of Table Mountain. The rest of the day will be at your leisure, and you may wish to explore some of this vibrant city on foot, or simply relax in the comforts of your guest house.

4 nights’ accommodation at Abbey Manor Guest House with breakfast included.

Today you can enjoy an included full day, private tour of the Cape Peninsula. Accompanied by an expert guide and driver, you will visit fascinating and scenically beautiful places such as the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, and Boulders Beach Penguin Colony. Your trip includes all entry fees and the Chapmans Peak toll fees.

Over the next 2 days you will enjoy your first in-depth birding experiences of your trip as you join your Signature guide in a private vehicle to explore around some of Cape Town’s best birding hotspots. Places you will visit include Westcoast National Park, Langebaan, Rondevlei Nature Reserve, Cape Flats-Westlands, World of Birds in Hout Bay, Strandfontein Sewage works and Intaka Island, Century City.

This morning you will take a private transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your included flight to Durban King Shaka International Airport.

Upon arrival in Durban, you will take your private transfer to the excellent Makakatana Bay Lodge which is perched along the banks of Lake St Lucia within the UNESCO World Heritage listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Settle into your very comfortable accommodation and soak up the enchanting views on offer. Depending on your arrival time, there may be time for an activity before enjoying your first meal at the lodge.

3 nights’ accommodation in a luxury suite at Makakatana Bay Lodge on a fully inclusive basis. Your stay here includes all meals, local beverages, teas, coffees & scheduled lodge activities.

For the next two days you can immerse yourself in your outstanding natural surroundings as you enjoy some of the activities that the lodge has to offer. This includes early morning game drives and afternoon wetland safari drives. Full day boat safaris, beach safaris and Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Park Game Drives, as well as specialised birding tours can also be arranged. Throughout your time here, wildlife and birdlife sightings could include: giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, hyena, waterbuck, serval, porcupine, genet, leopard, elephant, hippo, crocodile and over 530 species of birds!

Today you will take a private transfer by road to the game-rich Western Lebombo Mountains area where you will check into the wonderful Sungulwane Private Game Lodge within the Zuka Private Game Reserve.

3 nights’ accommodation in a luxury chalet at the Sungulwane Private Game Lodge. Your stay includes breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, local brand drinks and 2 game activities per day.

Activities at Sungulwane are understandably centred around the remarkable wildlife that resides here. During game drives you can expect to encounter Africa’s Big 5 along with various other species including giraffe, zebra and hippo. On guided bush walks you will get closer to the more subtle aspects of nature here and this immersive experience will allow you to learn all about tracks, flowers, insects and the smaller things you miss being on a vehicle. A trip to the lodge’s photographic hide is also a must, and will give you the opportunity to see the wildlife at eye level as they come to cool off at the pan. Zebra, warthog, buffalo, elephant and a wide variety of bird species regularly visit the pan.

As your itinerary comes to an end, you will take a private transfer to Richards Bay Airport for homewards or onwards flights. Please note: international airfare is not included in your package.