Get ready for a deeply intimate experience in wild Africa. We’ll spend the first portion of our two-week adventure deep in the backcountry, staying at a comfortable bush camp along the Klaserie River. This unique location will allow us the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a safari on foot—without need of a vehicle. We’ll walk among the amazing primeval wildlife and birds of the region, moving to the natural rhythms of the bush. We’ll be on the lookout for Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, and other big mammals as well as hundreds of bird species. In the evenings we’ll share stories of the day around our big campfire.

The next leg of our journey will take us to the world-famous Kruger National Park. The park is home to an unparalleled number of species, including 507 birds and 147 mammals. The park consists of grass and bush-covered plains broken by mountains and rocky outcrops. We'll be staying in comfortable cottages while in Kruger. Morning game drives will offer us excellent birding and wildlife watching while optional night drives will allow us to see another dimension of Africa’s ecology. Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, and Elephant are all common denizens of the park, and we should have many quality sightings of these.

To complete our experience, we’ll spend several days exploring the thriving city of Cape Town and its surroundings. We’ll search for Orange-breasted Sunbirds, Southern Red Bishops, and other birds in the city’s famous botanical gardens and we’ll ride cable cars to the top of the iconic Table Mountain. There will be time to shop the local craft markets and sample delicious food in the city. We even plan to visit a local colony of African Penguins.

This tour is a fantastic opportunity to get an up-close, personal experience of Africa’s wild spirit and to experience the culture of Cape Town. Few places on Earth are as rich with large animals and exotic birds. You’ll have a wonderful time seeing and getting to know these fascinating creatures.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1

Group arrives in Johannesburg, then takes a short flight to the small northern town of Hoedspruit. From here the group shuttles to our bush camp in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. In the evening, we’ll head out on a game drive, returning in time for dinner and a little time around the campfire before we head to bed. 1 night at a Private Bush Camp in the Klaserie Reserve

Days 2-5

Safari walks and game drives around our bush camp in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Our daily schedule will be dictated by the natural rhythms of the African bush and the activity patterns of its wildlife. 4 nights at private bush camp

Day 6

Today we will break camp and head into Kruger National Park. We will spend five nights and the better part of 6 days in Kruger, exploring the central and northern sections. We will be staying in four different camps. 1 night at Letaba Camp

Days 7-10

Each day in Kruger National Park, we will arise and head out early to look for birds and wildlife, making the most of the cool mornings. We'll enjoy some down-time during the heat of the day, then head back into the park by mid-afternoon. 1 night at Shingwedzi Camp, 2 nights at Punda Maria Camp, and 1 night at Mopani Camp

Day 11

This is a big travel day. After breakfast we head to Hoedspruit, where we catch a flight to Johannesburg, and then another flight to Cape Town, arriving by late afternoon. 1 night at Chapman's Peak Hotel

Days 12-14

Three days exploring and enjoying Cape Town. We'll be on the lookout for birds wherever we go. Places we'll visit include Table Mountain, the famous Botanical Gardens, and local artisan markets. You'll be free to choose your own activities on our final day in South Africa. We'll share our last dinner together as a group before catching an evening flight home. 2 nights at Chapman's Peak Hotel

CUSTOM TOUR

Although we don't have a scheduled tour to this destination at the moment, we may be able to offer you a custom tour.

Contact us if you're interested!

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: TBD

START DATE: NA

DURATION: 14 days

GROUP SIZE: Up to 10

TRIP FOCUS: Wildlife and Birding

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Guiding services
• Double-occupancy lodging
• Ground and water transportation
• Breakfasts, lunches, and some dinners
• Excursions and park fees

YOUR GUIDE

A true lover of the natural world, Steve Robertson has been a student of nature his entire life. First, as a little boy, who caught every creature he could for the mini zoo he kept in the garage, then later as an adult, leading scientific research expeditions into some of the most remote regions of the world, searching for rare species in such places as Tasmania, Madagascar and the upper Amazon Basin. With degrees in Wildlife Biology, advanced biology & education, Steve has worked in the field of Environmental Education for over 30 years. From 1998 to 2017, he served as the Education Director for the Audubon Society of Portland, creating a number of innovative programs including International Ecotours, a program that has won hundreds of accolades from around the country. During his time with Audubon, Steve personally designed and led Ecotours to over 20 countries, spanning six continents.