South Africa
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The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London/Cape Town*, airport taxes, ground transportation and excursions as outlined above, accommodation on a full-board basis, admissions, local taxes, tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, optional tips to the driver/local guides, and other personal expenses. *For an ex-flight cost (Cape Town/Cape Town) please deduct £645 from the tour cost. Leader: Geoff Crane |
From the flowers, whales, birds and stunning scenery of the Cape, along the west coast, across to the Karoo, and back along the beautiful Garden Route, we visit an astoundingly beautiful and varied land, rich in wildlife. Join us at a time of year when the flowers and birds here are at their best, and when whales are displaying close inshore! |
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For a selection of Geoff Cranes' photos, Facebook users can find them here. |
We start in Cape Town, known for its dramatic mountain scenery and unique fynbos vegetation, both at sea level and up Table Mountain, where we take one of the most spectacular cable car rides in the world. Cape Point is the meeting place of two of the world's largest oceans, as well as being the home of Southern Right Whale and African Penguin.
Our travels take us up the west coast to Langebaan Lagoon, rich in birds and with a wealth of flowers, and on up to Lambert's Bay, with its accessible Cape Gannet colony. We then head inland to an area of red sandstone rocks and ancient rock art, and on to the Karoo, with its array of drought-adapted succulent plants and specialised birds. South through spectacular mountain passes, we eventually reach the famed Garden Route, with rich forests and birdlife. We finish the tour in one of the best places in the world for shore-based whale-watching, where we hope to see Southern Right Whales doing some dramatic display activities close inshore. The tour is again designed and led by Geoff Crane. August to September is usually the best time for flowers in the Cape, when the endemic birds are displaying, and when the seabirds and whales also come close inshore. Itinerary Day 1 We take an evening scheduled flight from London to Cape Town, arriving early on Day 2. Day 2 We arrive at Cape Town Airport where we meet Geoff, and transfer to our guest house. We aim to spend the rest of the day at the magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens, surely one of the finest Botanical Gardens in the world, situated on the lower slopes of Table Mountain, where Cape Sugarbirds feed on the numerous Proteas. Its 560 hectares reach up the mountain to the superb viewpoint of Maclear's Beacon. In addition to the extensive plant types on show, the birds are also excellent. The forested areas play host to Black Saw-wing, Forest Canary, African Paradise-Flycatcher, African Olive-Pigeon, while Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Francolin, Karoo Prinia and Cape Robin-Chat can be seen in the cultivated gardens, in a setting of mountain streams and rolling lawns. We may also have brief sightings of the Small Grey Mongoose as we explore the pathways. Overnight Cape Peninsula Day 3 We will spend a leisurely day experiencing the rugged beauty of the Peninsula with its spectacular coastline and diverse fauna & flora. We will follow the False Bay coastline to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which boasts 249 recorded bird species as well as a variety of mammals such as the Chacma Baboon, Cape Mountain Zebra, Bontebok, Red Hartebeest, Eland and Cape Grysbok. This windswept park has many indigenous plant species. Indeed the 7,750 hectare reserve has as many plant species as the whole of Great Britain! Some of the bird specialities we look for include Plain-backed Pipit (the only known local site for this bird), Cape Longclaw, Cape Siskin, Karoo Prinia, Bokmakierie, Red-winged Starlings, Cape Rock Thrush and Cape Bunting. At Cape Point, we can take a short walk or a funicular ride to the old lighthouse, from where the panoramic views encompass the whole of False Bay and the Boland Mountains beyond. Two great ocean currents - the warm fast flowing Agulhas from the Equator and the slower moving Benguela from the Antarctic - meet off Cape Point. This, with the prevailing winds, strong ocean currents, reefs and submerged rocks have proved too hazardous for several ships, and there are signs of wreckage from many unidentified smaller boats along this coast. After visiting Cape Point and the southern tip of the Peninsula, we will enjoy a coastal walk past shipwrecks, rock pools and brilliant white beaches, seeing a totally new dimension to the reserve. We will also visit the African Penguin colony at Simon's Town. Overnight Cape Peninsula Day 4 Our first port of call is Rondevlei Bird Reserve in the heart of Cape Town. This Reserve has always been a naturally occurring wetland and is still rich in bird diversity. Birdwatching is from five hides, two observation towers and a series of paths. Waterbirds are well represented here with a few specials being the African Purple Swamphen, Black Crake and the Little Bittern. African Marsh Harriers can be seen quartering the reedbeds, while African Fish Eagles swoop down on unsuspecting fish. After lunch (time permitting) we will visit the Strandfontein Water Purification Plant, which was originally a naturally occurring wetland and is still rich in bird diversity Ð our last visit produced more than seventy species in less than an hour! Weather permitting, we will then take the spectacular cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain and enjoy a short walk across the top, where we look out for Ground Woodpecker and Cape Rock Thrush on the rocky outcrops, as well as Verreaux's Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. The plant life is good, with King Proteas, Restios, Crassulas and a few Iridaceae. Overnight Cape Peninsula Day 5 Our first port of call is Hout Bay harbour, where we will be joining a boat cruise to Duiker Island, with its Cape Fur Seal colony. This 45 minute boat trip will not only show us hundreds of Cape Fur Seals but also Bank Cormorant, Sooty Shearwater and perhaps a few other pelagic birds. Southern Right Whales and Common Dolphins are often seen from this trip. We then head north to the West Coast National Park via the Tienie Versfeld Botanical Reserve. This small botanical reserve is particularly noted for its Lachenalias, Gladioli and Babiana species. Cape Longclaw, Bokmakierie and many Lark species can also be seen here. The spring flowers of the Western Cape have a worldwide reputation. The area receives little rain throughout the year but after the winter rains, the landscape is swathed with a vibrant carpet of flowers. We will be able to see this wild flower "show" at the Tienie Versfeld Botanical Reserve and at the Postberg Flower Reserve. We must bear in mind that the Spring Flowers are not restricted to reserves and botanical gardens, so we will be stopping here and there along the road side to see what is flowering and flying. Overnight Langebaan Day 6 Langebaan Lagoon and the West Coast National Park have a number of habitats, which include the largest salt marsh in South Africa. When we enter the Park we immediately find ourselves in coastal strandveld which hosts a profusion of bush birds. We will keep a look out for Long-billed Crombec, Bar-throathed Apalis, Grey-backed Cisticola, Layard's Titbabbler, Karoo Lark, Cape Penduline Tit, Namaqua Dove, Karoo Robin, Yellow Canary and Greywing Francolin. Raptors overhead might include Black-shouldered and Yellow-billed Kites, Steppe Buzzard, Rock Kestrel, Booted Eagle and Black Harrier. This habitat also has a few mammals although they are difficult to see. Striped Mouse, Vlei Rat, Small Grey Mongoose, Steenbok, Cape Grysbok, Scrub Hare, Bontebok and Caracal are amongst those that we might be lucky enough to see. We will try and time our visit to the main Geelbek hide to coincide with the ebbing tide. The waders seen from the hide can number in the many thousands and include Little Stint, Ringed and Kittlitz's Plovers, Marsh Sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Whimbrel and Eurasian Curlew. There are plenty of South African Shelducks around as well as both species of flamingo and White Pelican and we also keep a look out for Fish Eagles and Ospreys catching fish in front of the hide. We will have a picnic lunch at the Geelbek Manor House in the company of Cape Weavers, Cape Francolins, House Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Widow, Laughing Dove, Fiscal Shrike, Hoopoe and Hartlaub's Gull. After lunch we will visit the Postberg Flower Reserve. Overnight Langebaan Day 7 We will be taking the coastal route up to Bird Island at Lambert's Bay, visiting the wetlands of the lower Berg River, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Verlorenvlei wetland & Wadrif salt pan en route. The drive will take us past beautiful bays and little fishing villages. Lambert's Bay is a small town with an attractive harbour that plays a large role in South Africa's fishing industry. Here we can view the Cape Gannet Colony, as well as terns, cormorants and African Penguins from very close quarters. We then travel inland to the town of Clanwilliam. Overnight Clanwilliam Day 8 The Cedarberg Mountains were once the hunting ground of the San people (Bushmen). Though the San no longer live in the area, they recorded their exploits in the form of remarkable rock paintings. We can visit these paintings whilst on a walk through the dramatic red sandstone rock formations that characterise the Cedarberg Mountains. After a picnic lunch we will drive further into the Cedarberg Mountains to the Stadsaal Caves. The vegetation in the Cedarberg area is almost unique. Birdlife can seem to be quite scarce at first glance but by being patient and watchful we will find a multitude of bird species that are well adapted to this environment. A few of the birds to be looking out for are the Cape Rockjumper, Ground Woodpecker and Fairy Flycatcher. Fauna in the area has in the past been extensively hunted. Today there is a small range of mammals that include Klipspringer, Grey Rhebok, Steenbok, Baboons and an assortment of smaller mammals such as Cape Mongoose, Genet, African Wild Cat and Smith's Red Rock Rabbit. Overnight Clanwilliam Day 9 After a leisurely breakfast we will be heading for the Karoo town of Worcester, where we will have an opportunity to visit the Karoo National Botanical Gardens. These gardens specialize in the succulents and hardy plants of the Karoo. 'Karoo' is a San word that means dry. The 'dry' Karoo covers nearly one third of South Africa and during earlier times used to be a huge inland lake. The Karoo lies at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, and has a low rainfall and hot summers. It is the flora that sets the Karoo apart from the rest of the country, for faced with such extreme conditions the vegetation has adopted various devices to ensure survival: succulents store water in their leaves or roots, and seeds of ephemeral plants lie dormant for years until good rains. Over half the plant species in the Karoo are endemic to the area. We will have a leisurely walk around the Karoo National Botanical Gardens. These gardens specialize in the succulents and hardy plants of the Karoo, for example the botterboom, with its papery bark, the thorny Karoo acacia and the many eye catching Aloes. Karoo birding is also especially rewarding in the gardens. Overnight Worcester Day 10 After an early breakfast we will head through the Great Karoo to the Swartberg Mountains. The awe-inspiring Swartberg Pass, one of the renowned Thomas Bain passes, will take us through some craggy mountain scenery. This range with its beautiful vistas and twisted strata, separates the Great Karoo from the Little Karoo. En route to Wilderness we will be driving through the Little Karoo and over the Outeniqua Mountain Pass, which opens up a totally different world, namely the forests of the Garden Route. Overnight Knysna Day 11 A walk through the lush evergreen forests could reward us with the sight and sounds of the Knysna Turaco, Cape Batis and Chorister Robin and if luck is on our side, the shy Bushbuck. A tranquil drive up through the Garden Route will take us past inland lakes, beautiful sweeping beaches and large estuarine mud flats. Overnight Knysna Day 12 The dawn chorus at our guest house sets the tune for a good day! After breakfast we will go for a walk through the lush evergreen forests of Nature's Valley. There are many mammals and birds in the forests, like the Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, African Emerald Cuckoo, and Green Woodhoopoe. We then move on to our lunch stop and the Tsitsikamma National Park, where the indigenous forest and the Indian Ocean meet. Coastal trees include cherrywood, wild saffron and milkwood, and regular sightings of dolphins and whales are made from the shore. A walk through the forest to the "big tree", an 800 year old Yellowwood, should reward us with many tree identifications like the yellowwood, ironwood and wild plum, as well as ten foot tree ferns, orchids, and numerous other plant species. We will also be looking out for Bushbuck, Vervet Monkey and some of the smaller creatures of the forest like the Knysna Dwarf Chameleon and forest butterflies. Overnight Knysna Day 13 We leave the Garden Route and head south towards the notorious southern tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas. Good farmland birding is possible and highlights could include seeing flocks of Blue Cranes (the national bird of South Africa) as well as a few Stanley's Bustards and possibly even Secretary Birds. We will then drive through small farming communities to Hermanus. Overnight Hermanus Day 14 Hermanus has gained worldwide recognition for its excellent land-based whale watching. During the southern spring months, Southern Right Whales use this coastline as a safe haven in which to calve. We can watch these gentle giants from the cliff top walk. There are a number of Botanical Gardens and Nature Reserves in the Hermanus area, which play host to the most diverse and densest concentrations of endemic flora in the Western Cape. We will be visiting one of these, the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, where we can go for a short walk in the afternoon. Overnight Hermanus Day 15 After a morning at leisure in Hermanus with its many arts & craft shops, and perhaps more cliff-top whale watching, we will drive to the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens at Betty's Bay. A walk around these gardens with their rich fynbos flora and range of bird species, is a wonderful and relaxed way to finish the tour, before heading for Cape Town for our return flight back to London, arriving on Day 16. Accommodation will be in quality guest-houses and lodges with all rooms en suite. Leader: Geoff Crane Numbers: Max. 8 clients |
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