South Africa’s Rare Mammals & Birds

Typical Itinerary

1. Day 1: Depart UK

2. Day 2: Arrive Bloemfontein & transfer to Khoisan Karoo Conservancy

   Arriving in Bloemfontein, we collect our bags and begin our journey to the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy. 

   After a long flight, we have the chance to settle in to our new surroundings before gathering for dinner and heading out on our first night drive. Over the course of the drive, with the aid of a spotlight, we hope to encounter a range of nocturnal mammals. Spring, cape and scrub hare will almost certainly be a regular feature of our night drives, alongside bat-eared fox and Cape porcupine, but we also have an excellent chance of aardvark, aardwolf and cape fox. Both black-footed cat and striped polecat (zorilla) are also possible.

   Accommodation: New Holme Nature Lodge, 3-nights

3. Days 3-4 : Explore Khoisan Karoo Conservancy

   Over the course of the next two days, we explore the reserve, enjoying a variety of mammals and birds, and learn about the history of the land.

   Whilst we will hopefully have encountered some of the reserve's nocturnal residents the previous evening, the breaking of dawn brings with it a completely new faunal cast. On the mammal front, ground squirrel and yellow mongoose are commonplace, but there are also several families of meerkats that we hope to encounter.

   The rocky outcrops hold populations of rock hyrax, and in the first and last light of the day, it’s also possible to see the diminutive eastern rock sengi (elephant shrew).

   The semi-arid habitat of the Karroo, may, on first impressions, look a little quiet on the bird front, but the reality is that it harbours a huge variety of species. A wide of range of larks, pipits, prinia’s and warblers are possible, and the area is particularly productive for bustards, with Ludwig’s bustard, Karoo, blue and the striking Northern black korhaan amongst the likely species.

   Another speciality of the area is the National Bird of South Africa, the blue crane. These elegant birds stand nearly 1.2 metres tall and have a wing span of almost two metres. Considered as Vulnerable by the IUCN that are fortunately a common site in this area and can often be seen on the plains or heard flying overhead.

   On stands of water around the dam or on the river, a range of waders can be seen including little stint, African snipe, three-banded plover, greenshank and black-winged stilt, with wildfowl including ruddy shelduck, red-billed teal, Egyptian and spur winged goose also in attendance.

   For those that are interested, it will also be possible to take a guided walk from the lodge to an ancient rock art site, while learning about the area’s fascinating history, including the legacy of the Anglo-Boer War.

   Once again, after dinner, we head out on a night drive, hoping to enjoy encounters with some of South Africa’s most elusive mammals.

4. Day 5: Transfer to Marrick Private Game Reserve

   This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we travel north for approximately four hours, stopping en route to view the huge number of lesser flamingos that breed at Kamfers Dam. Our destination is Marrick Game Reserve, where we spend three nights.

   Depending on the time of our arrival, we may head out on a short walk, before enjoying a delicious dinner and heading out on another night drive.

   Marrick is likely to hold a similar range of species to our previous location, and if we’ve seen our target species well, one may question why need both in the itinerary. However, the reality is that we’re trying to see some of the continent’s most elusive species, and rarely is it that easy! Marrick also has the added advantage that there's a higher chance of seeing caracal and African wild cat.

   Accommodation: Marrick Guesthouse, 3-nights

5. Day 6: Visit Mokala National Park

   Today we spend a full day visiting Mokala National Park. Located approximately 80 kilometre south-south-west of Kimberley, this 26,485-hectare reserve boasts a variety of koppieveld (hills) and large open plains.

   Mokala is a Setswana name for a Camelthorn tree (Kameeldoring) (Acacia erioloba), and this park is dominated by magnificent specimens of these picturesque gnarled and twisted trees. They vary from small spiny shrubs barely two metres high, to 16-metre-high trees with wide, spreading crowns.

   South Africa’s newest park, Mokala is an important area for the regeneration of a variety of mammal species, including both black and white rhino, tsessebe, roan, sable, mountain reedbuck, South African giraffe and gemsbok.

   Positioned in the transition zone between the Karoo and Kalahari biome, Mokala’s thornveld savanna, dolerite outcrops and riverine vegetation attract a prolific number of bird species, with black-chested prinia, melodious lark, cinnamon-breasted bunting, short-toed rock thrush and pygmy falcon amongst some of the more commonly seen species.

   We return to Marrick in time for dinner, before venturing out on another night drive.

6. Day 7: Explore Marrick Private Reserve

   Today, we have the full day to explore the reserve. Depending on the success of our time at the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy, we may choose to try for the meerkats or the sengi that also reside here, or possibly focus our attention on the reserves' birdlife. With night drives from the previous evenings, you may wish to simply relax and enjoy the grounds of the lodge, where garden birds include African pied, wattled and Burchell’s starling, Karoo thrush, white-backed mousebird and cape white-eye.

   This evening we enjoy our final night drive in Marrick, hoping to encounter any species we may have missed over the previous five nights, or even to obtain better views of previously seen species. If you're satisfied with what you've already seen, you can enjoy a nightcap around the fire and an early night!

7. Day 8: Transfer to Vryburg

   Today is something of a travel day, and as such we enjoy a leisurely breakfast before beginning the drive to Madikwe Game Reserve. This drive of approximately 600 kilometres is split over two days, with a night at a comfortable hotel/guest house around Vryburg. 

   This ensures that direct journey times are limited to approximately four hours each day, allowing plenty of scope to stop for any birds or mammals of interest, and some downtime on arrival.

   Accommodation: Game View Lodge, 1-night

8. Days 9-11 : Explore Madikwe Game Reserve

   Concluding our journey to Madikwe Game Reserve, we arrive in time for lunch and afternoon drive.

   We have two full days of morning and afternoon drives to explore the vast expanse of Madikwe Game Reserve. The diverse habitats in the reserve, from acacia and savannah to riverine, ensures a unique combination of mammal species. Elephant, black and white rhino, Cape buffalo, hippo and South African giraffe are amongst the possible large herbivores, alongside antelope species ranging from springbok to tsessebe, sable, greater kudu and eland.

   The reserve holds healthy populations of predators including lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog, with spotted hyena, brown hyena and aardwolf also present. As darkness falls, African civet, rusty-spotted genet and white-tailed mongoose are amongst the species we may encounter.

   The birdlife is both varied and plentiful. Amongst the many raptors possible, we can hope to see tawny, bateleur, martial and African-hawk eagle, in addition to white-backed, lappet-faced and hooded vultures. Lilac-breasted rollers, secretary birds and kori bustards are possible on the plains, with regional specialities such as yellow-throated sandgrouse, swallow-tailed bee-eater and shaft-tailed whydah amongst the species of note.

   Accommodation: Tau Game Lodge, 3-nights

9. Day 12: Transfer to Johannesburg, fly UK

   Today, after a final morning drive, we begin the drive back to Johannesburg, arriving in the mid-afternoon, prior to our early evening flight to the UK.

   Should you wish to extend your time in South Africa, subject to numbers, there's the option to join a 3-night extension to Hermanus, where we hope to enjoy some incredible whale watching, both from a vessel and onshore. It’s a very relaxed programme and can be enjoyed alongside some excellent food and wine. For more details, please contact your travel consultant.

10. Day 13: Arrive UK