park and reserve info

Addo Elephant National Park covers 164 000 ha and lies within the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape. The original Elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area.

Today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, 400 Cape buffalo, 50 black rhino, lions, spotted hyenas, leopard, a variety of antelope species including eland, kudu, red hartebeest, bushbuck as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. Due to a variety of habitats Addo offers excellent birding opportunities. Addo National Elephant Park is in the process of expanding into a 360 000 ha mega-park, including a 120 000 ha marine reserve. ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 35, 36, 38, 39, 40 & 41

Cape Agulhas, the southern-most tip of Africa where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, falls within Agulhas National Park. Amongst the mysteries associated with this region, is the legendary ‘Cape of Storms’ which wrecked many ships en route to the East. The second oldest working lighthouse in Southern Africa guards over the coastline and houses a unique lighthouse museum.

This park hosts a variety of habitat types and great biodiversity as far as birds are concerned. The Southern Right Whales come to the bays to breed from August to November. AGULHAS NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 36, 39, 40, 41 & 42

Bird Island lies about 100 m off-shore of Lambert’s Bay on the Cape West Coast. The island, almost three hectares in size, is connected to the mainland via a breakwater. It is an important breeding and roosting site for seabirds, particularly Cape gannets and cormorants. African penguins used to be common on the island, and Cape fur seals still frequent the rocks on the sea side of the island.

Bird Island is one of only six sites world-wide where Cape gannets breed, and it is also the only breeding site easily accessible to the public. In the modern gannet lookout, visitors can get close to the birds and witness the unique mating dances and vocalizing of the thousands of gannets on their nests. BIRD ISLAND is included in Tour 34

Formed hundreds of millions of years ago, the Karoo of South Africa is one of the great natural wonders of the world. Camdeboo National Park covers 19 405 ha and surrounds the town of Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape and provides the visitor with insights into the unique landscape and ecosystem of the Karoo, not to mention awesome scenic beauty in the Valley of Desolation where dolerite pillars rise to heights of 90 – 120 metres.

Camdeboo National Park supports a diverse spectrum of wildlife including Cape buffalo, Cape Mountain Zebra, kudu, red hartebeest, gemsbok, steenbok, springbok, blesbok, black wildebeest grey duiker, klipspringer and 13 smaller carnivore species. At least 225 bird species have been recorded in the park, with species typical of both the Great Karoo and Eastern region. CAMDEBOO NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 35, 36, 38, 39 & 40

De Hoop Nature Reserve falls in the Cape Floral Kingdom and is approximately 34 000 ha in size and situated in the Overberg region, near the southern tip of Africa. The adjacent De Hoop Marine Protected Area, which extends three nautical miles (5 km) out to sea, is one of the largest marine protected areas in Africa and provides a sanctuary for a vast and fascinating array of marine life and it is a favorite destination for whale watchers during the winter and early summer months, Marine mammals such as dolphins and seals occur in the waters off the coast and southern right whales calve and mate in the sheltered bays of De Hoop each year between May and December.

Land mammals include the rare bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, as well as eland, grey rhebok, baboon, yellow mongoose, caracal and the occasional leopard. De Hoop is famous for its variety of resident and migratory bird species and more than 260 species have been recorded on the reserve. The De Hoop Vlei attracts large numbers of water birds. The only remaining breeding colony of the rare Cape vulture in the Western Cape occurs at Potberg. DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE is included in Tours 36, 39, 40, 41 & 42

Goegap Nature Reserve is situated near Springbok and features most of Namaqualand’s natural riches in 15 000 ha of typically granite, rocky hills and sandy flats. It supports close to 600 indigenous flower species, which can change this barren area into a carpet of colour during spring after adequate winter rains, The Hester Malan Wild Flower Garden is a spectacular additional feature, showcasing many Namaqualand succulents and a rock garden.

Goegap is home to Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, gemsbok and springbok. 94 Species of birds have been identified, with the Jackal Buzzard the most common raptor. Various lizard species are common sightings. GOEGAP NATURE RESERVE is included in Tour 20

Set in the heart of Zululand in Kwazulu-Natal Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is the oldest game reserve in Africa and one of South Africa’s most popular game parks. The Park covers some 96 000 ha and contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora. Hluhluwe is characterized by hilly topography, and the northern section of the park is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal life. As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 60s, the Park became world renowned for its white rhino conservation.
The wide range of plant life in the park gives rise to a diversity of mammals, birdlife, reptiles and amphibians. The Big Five – lion, rhino (black & white) elephant, buffalo and leopard are all to be seen in the park, as well as a variety of other species, including cheetah, wild dog and giraffe. It is also one of the best places in the world to see nyala. HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI GAME RESERVE is included in Tour 45

Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park covers an area of 37 000 square km park, which is one of the largest conservation areas in the world and one of the last truly unspoilt ecosystems.
Endemic game such as gemsbok, springbok, eland, giraffe, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest roam the sparsely vegetated red sand dunes and the dry river valleys of the Nossob and Auob where a variety of acacia species thrive.

The Park is well known for good sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah and spotted – and brown hyena are common residents. Because of an abundance of prey in the form of mice, whistling rats, birds and insects, smaller predators thrive in the park.

The park is home to caracal, honey badger, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, cape fox, African wildcat, mongoose and the ever-popular suricate (meerkat). Kgalagadi is a bird watcher’s paradise with more than 300 species recorded including at least 20 larger raptor species. The world’s heaviest flying bird, the Kori bustard and the stately secretary bird patrol the riverbeds while the noisy northern black korhaan rule in the dunes. KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK is included in Tours 01-14, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32-36, 38-40, 48, 49, 53, 54 & 59-63

The world-renowned Kruger National Park covers 2 million ha and offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares is the flagship of the South African National Parks. Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.
Kruger is one of the premier game-watching destinations in the world. The estimated numbers of “Big Five” in the park are 1,500 lion, 12,000 elephant, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 5,000 rhino (black and white). Except the Big Five there are plenty of other fascinating animals and birds in Kruger Park.

Except the Big Five it is possible to see all the classical African big game, including, hippo, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog and many antelope species. Other large carnivores include cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena. There are also many smaller mammal species. Kruger is an excellent birding destination and has a list of over 500 species, some of which are not to be found elsewhere in South Africa. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 43-46

Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site is rich in biodiversity, great scenic beauty and the cultural importance of the archaeological treasures of Mapungubwe. The Park is situated in the most northern corner of South Africa, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers, overlooking Botswana and Zimbabwe. At Mapungubwe Hill, a far developed African civilization prospered between 1200 and 1270 AD. The area was already inhabited by a growing Iron Age community from 900 AD and became rich through trade with faraway places like Egypt, India and China. This is the place where archaeologists excavated the famous golden rhino and other evidence of a wealthy African kingdom.
Elephant, giraffe, white rhino, eland, gemsbok and numerous other antelope species, lion, leopard & hyena roam free between the three countries and the park is home to 400 bird species. The Limpopo Tree-top Boardwalk and hide is a magnificent facility allowing the visitor into the trees alongside the birds. MAPUNGUBWE NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 46, 52 & 56

Situated in northern Zululand, Mkuze Game Reserve was proclaimed a protected area in 1912. Mkuze covers 40 000 ha and has an astonishing diversity of natural habitats, from the eastern slopes of the Lebombo mountains along its eastern boundary, to broad stretches of acacia savannah, swamps and a variety of woodlands and riverine forest. Animals to be found in the reserve include black and white rhinos, elephant, giraffe, leopard, buffalo, nyala, blue wildebeest, warthog, impala, kudu, the rare suni and other smaller antelope. Larger predators include leopard, cheetah and hyena.
Mkhuze is renowned as a mecca for bird lovers, with more than 420 bird species on record. Two beautiful pans, Nhlonhlela and Nsumo, lie in the north and east respectively, home to communities of hippo, crocodile, pinkbacked and white pelicans, as well as a diversity of ducks and geese which gather in spring. Fish eagles swoop over the pans, snatching prey spotted from their perches in the fever trees. MKHUZE GAME RESERVE is included in Tour 43 & 45

Namaqua National Park is situated in the world’s only arid biodiversity hotspot. Namaqualand is home to more than 6000 plant species, 250 species of birds, 78 species of mammals 132 species of reptiles and amphibians and an unknown number of insects, making it the world’s most diverse arid environment. More than 40% of these species are found nowhere else on earth. During early August and September, seemingly overnight, the dusty valleys of Namaqualand are transformed into a wonderland, carpeted with wildflowers. Being a winter rainfall area, Namaqualand is home to the richest bulb flora of any arid region in the world. During the rest of the year the Namaqualand is still worth a visit to enjoy the star-studded night skies, rough coastline and the barren landscape with enormous granite outcrops.
Namaqua National Park is in the process of expanding including a marine reserve between the Groen – and Spoeg Rivers, with a very scenic, but barren coastline. NAMAQUA NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 20, 24, 25, 30-33

Pilanesberg Game Reserve is 2 hours drive from Johannesburg. The crater of a long extinct volcano is the setting of Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world. Its rare rock types and structure make it a unique geological feature.
The vegetation ranges from open grasslands to densely wooded valleys. More than 35 large mammals, including Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra and 19 antelope species occur in the park. It is sanctuary to the world’s third largest white rhino population. Predators include lion, leopard, cheetah, brown-hyena and smaller species such as large-and small spotted-genets, bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and caracal. More than 350 bird species have been recorded. PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE is included in Tours 40, 51 & 52

Rocherpan Nature Reserve lies 25 km north of Velddrif on the Cape West Coast, and comprises 914 ha. The reserve consists largely of a seasonal vlei which is usually dry between March and June. The adjacent section of the Atlantic Ocean was declared a marine reserve in 1988.
The combination of land, vlei and marine environments provides ample breeding and feeding habitats for various birds. A total of 183 species has been recorded, of which about 70 are waterbirds. White pelicans, greater and lesser flamingoes as well as many thousands of waders and ducks rely on the vlei as their major source of food, particularly when the water levels drop. Rocherpan is one of the Cape shoveller’s most important breeding sites and provides a sanctuary for Southern Africa’s second rarest coastal bird, the African black oystercatcher. Southern right whales may be sighted in the marine reserve and along the coast from June to September. ROCHERPAN NATURE RESERVE is included in Tours 34

Tankwa Karoo National Park is situated on the southern boundary of the Northern Cape with the Roggeveld Escarpment in the East, Cederberg in the West, and Klein Roggeveld Mountains in the South. Just a four hour drive from Cape Town brings you to this unique national park situated within the Succulent Karoo Biome where you’ll find rare and endangered plant species, rich endemic birdlife, and landscapes that will take your breath away – from the sheer cliffs of the Roggeveld Escarpment to the moonscapes of the Tankwa Desert. While Tankwa Karoo National Park is still in a developmental and land consolidation phase, expanding from the original 26,000 hectares in 1986 to nearly 111,000 ha in 2009, it is the ideal destination for those seeking the brightest stars in Africa, a once in a lifetime glimpse of a rare endemic bird or perhaps nothing more than a silence that reaches deep into the soul. Gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, steenbok, black backed jackal and bat-eared fox are the most common mammal species in this harsh environment. TANKWA KAROO NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 23, 25 & 37

Tsitsikamma National Park “the place of much water,” is situated near Plettenberg Bay in the Eastern Cape. The heartland of the park stretches some 5 km to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish and the gentle giant of the ocean, the southern right whale visits here, coming inshore to breed.
Although Tsitsikamma boasts a magical world of intertidal life and reefs in its marine part, there is also the famous terrestrial part of the park with its lush forest, delicate fynbos and sheer cliffs. One of the most known trees is the Outeniqua yellow-wood, Podocarpus falcata.
Birding in Tsitsikamma offers a variety in choice of habitat. There is the open shoreline as typified by the environment at Storms River Rest Camp. There is the more sheltered water ways of the Nature’s Valley Lagoon and the Groot River. There is the forest experience of the Tsitsikamma Forest. Then there is the mountain fynbos one can explore in the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the Soetkraal section. TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 36, 39-42

In the heart of South Africa’s famous Garden Route, a captivating world of lakes, rivers, estuaries and beaches gently unfolds against a backdrop of lush forest and lofty mountains – all elements that characterise the Wilderness National Park. Nature trails wind through densely wooded forest and along tranquil rivers, affording you the opportunity to encounter the brilliantly coloured Knysna lourie, or one of the five kingfisher species that occur here. During spring, a carpet of flowers, further enhance the verdant beauty of this national park. Whales & dolphins are seen often from Dolphin Point. The series of lakes connected by the Touw River (Eilandvlei, Langvlei and Rondevlei) host a variety of aquatic species and is an internationally proclaimed Ramsar site. The forested hillsides that surround the area are home to several raptors, including Cuckoo Hawk, Crowned Eagle, Forest Buzzard, Black and Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk and African Goshawk. The park has several walking trails, several of which are named after kingfisher species and not without reason, as Brown-hooded, Malachite, Giant, Pied and Half-collared can all easily been seen. WILDERNESS NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 36, 39-42

Hlane Royal National Park is Swaziland’s largest protected area and lies in the vast bushveld expanse of eastern Swaziland where the hot, still sun of Africa beats on the dry but life-giving soils as it has for thousands of years, and the rumbling roars of the lions are heard in the cool dusky evenings,. Hlane Royal National Park is home to the largest herds of game in the Kingdom. Hlane covers 30 000 hectares of Swazi bushveld, dominated by ancient hardwood vegetation. Hlane is home to lion, elephant , white rhino and various antelope species with an abundant and diverse bird life, including the highest density of nesting white backed vultures in Africa. HLANE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK is included in Tour 43 & 45