Cape Town | KwaZulu-Natal
Beyond Average Birding in South Africa
Curated for a keen birder and their not-so-keen birding partner
Brought to you in partnership with
JOIN JUST 12 GUESTS ON THIS LIMITED EDITION SET-DEPARTURE
EXCEPTIONAL BIRDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF HABITATS
DAILY SAFARIS WITH EXPERT GUIDES IN SEARCH OF BIG FIVE AND OTHER RARE ICONIC WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
TRIAL YOUR FAVOURITE SWAROVSKI OPTIK PRODUCT FOR USE THROUGHOUT
HOSTED BY A SPECIALIST &BEYOND BIRDING GUIDES FROM BEGINNING TO END
Daryl Dell
Private Guide and Travel Specialist
Growing up on a horse, cattle and sheep farm in South Africa’s Great Karoo, Daryl was always fated to become a naturalist. From a young age, he would spend entire days walking in the bush, fascinated by animal tracks, skulls, feathers and dung, he was destined to become a ranger.
See the unseen
Trial your favourite SWAROVSKI OPTIK product
What better way to enjoy a prized birding expedition than with the opportunity to use one of the world’s most sought-after pairs of binoculars? Enjoy the use of a pair of SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars, which will allow you to view the most intricate of details.
You will have the opportunity to choose your favourite SWAROVSKI OPTIK product, which will be sent to your home prior to departure, so that you can familiarise yourself with the equipment beforehand, trial it for the duration of your journey and have the option to purchase it on your return if you would like to keep it.
NL 10×32 BURNT ORANGE
Groundbreaking optical performance – packed into the smallest possible package: the NL Pure 32 accompanies you wherever you may go for unprecedented viewing experiences.
NL 8×32 GREEN
Keep the overview. The 8x magnification in combination with the enormous field of view lets you completely immerse yourself in nature – even during the late hours of the night.
CL 8×30 ANTHRACITE
You’ll never miss out with the new CL Companion. These elegant binoculars with impressive optics fit perfectly in your hand. They are always with you to ensure you make the most of every sighting.
Your journey at a glance
Set off on a South African birding adventure unlike any other; explore vibrant cities, discover iconic wildlife and lose yourself amidst dramatic landscapes.
This privately guided, 8-day birding journey through South Africa is the epitome of a luxury birding experience. Perfect for amateur and serious birders alike, as well as their non-birding partners; the range of adventures and sightings in the award-winning &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, and iconic Cape Town, promise to delight!
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Your journey begins in Cape Town, steeped in history, iconic landmarks and contemporary euro centricity, it is simply spectacular. Known as the Mother City, Cape Town boasts more than its fair share of magnificent natural beauty, cultural marvels, historical sites and over 610 bird species-fantastic! Quintessentially modern and cosmopolitan, it is home to gourmet restaurants, trendy nightlife and a thriving café culture, combined with pristine wonders ranging from miles and miles of beautiful beaches to the renowned Cape Winelands and iconic Table Mountain. The city effortlessly merges unique architecture, rich history and a fascinating allure of cultures to create the completely distinctive appeal that sees it appear again and again on lists of the world’s most favourite cities.
Continue to the world–renowned &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve where you will stay at two of our much loved lodges. Showcasing one of the continent’s finest game viewing experiences, this reserve is home to Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), as well as 436 bird species-brilliant! The reserve is particularly well known for close-up sightings of the elegant yet elusive cheetah, as well as the rare black rhino. With its seven distinct habitats, Phinda is often described as ‘Seven Worlds of Wonder’, a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, rivers, marshes and pans. Home to 1 000 hectares (2471 acres) of Africa’s remaining rare dry sand forest, the reserve is situated in close proximity to the unspoiled beaches and spectacular coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, offering an unmatched combination of bush and beach adventures.
From the complimentary use of SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars to Safari Guides Journals enriching your wildlife experience, to the absolute delight of our Safari Theatre, offering frothy cappuccinos and colourful cocktails on game drives, interpretive Nature Walks, Big Game Viewing Walks and a specialist birding guide and vehicle, your unforgettable adventure is sure to inspire and delight.
Keep your eyes peeled, cameras charged, and binoculars at the ready. Let’s go birding!
4 nights Cape Town | 5 nights Phinda Private Game Reserve
*There is the option to extend this itinerary with either three nights at Victoria Falls Hotel Zimbabwe, &BEYOND Benguerra Island in Mozambique, &BEYOND Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia or &BEYOND Ngala Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
TAILORMAKE YOUR STAY
Talk to one of our travel specialists to tailormake your stay to any of our destinations
A taste of what to expect
Arrival in Cape Town
Day 1
- Upon arrival in Cape Town, you will be welcomed by a member from our &Beyond team who will drive you to The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa flanked by the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and Table Mountain on one side, and the crashing waves of the Atlantic on the other.
- Watch the antics of wild penguins at Boulders Beach, one of the only places in the world where you can get up close and personal with these delightful water birds.
- Head to the Cape Point Lighthouse, an important icon of the Cape Peninsula and gaze at the rocky coastline and the ocean tumbling below, and Cape of Good Hope, the most south-western point of Africa.
For the Birders
- As you explore Cape Point National Park be on the look-out for cape bulbul, cape spurfowl, cape grassbird, cape canary, cape robin-chat, cape sugarbird, orange breasted sunbird and ostrich.
For the Non-Birders
- Mammals to spot include cape mountain zebra, cape grysbok, cape fur seal, bontebok and eland.
Cape Town
Day 2
- Ascend the iconic Table Mountain in a cable car that promises unparalleled views of the city below, where the sparkling ocean and rugged mountain backdrop truly astonishes.
- Stroll through the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with an aerial walk through the treetops. This exquisite, lush colourful space boasts over 7 000 plant species, including many rare and threatened species. These magnificent gardens are admired as one of the greatest botanical gardens in the world.
For the Birders
- As you explore Kirstenbosch be on the look-out for cape canary, cape robin-chat, swee waxbill, and southern double collared sunbird in the gardens.
For the Non-birders
- Mammals to spot include springbok, bat eared foxes, cape mountain zebra, bontebok and even caracal.
Cape Town
Day 3
- A morning when the birders and non-birders will be heading different ways.
For the Birders
- Begin the day with a spot of pelagic birding and view albatrosses and possibly of a variety of petrels and shearwaters. Look out for whales and dolphins as you head out to sea.
For the Non-Birders
- Choose your aqua adventure this morning, go whale watching far out to sea, or be brave and go on a blue and Mako shark dive.
Both
- Spend the afternoon at leisure after the morning at sea or enjoy a wonderful afternoon in picturesque Simons Town offering gemstone picking – a treasure trove of sparklies, visits to Simon’s Town Museum, SA Naval Museum and Warrior Toy Museum, Jubilee Square and stroll down the historic mile.
Cape Town
Day 4
- Today the Birders and Non-Birders will be heading in different directions.
For the Birders
- Explore a trio of excellent birding spots: Rooi Els, Betties Bay and Harold Porter. At Rooi Els you are sure to see black harrier, greater and lesser flamingos, cape teal, grey-winged francolin, karoo lark, bokmakierie, southern black korhaan and a variety of waders. There are also opportunities to see cape rockjumper, cape siskin, Victorin’s warbler, peregrine falcon, Verreaux’s eagle and ground Woodpecker. Betties Bay is home to bank cormorant and the African penguin and Harold Porter is a good for cape canary, cape robin-chat, swee waxbill, southern double collared sunbird and the cape sugar bird. You may also spot whales and dolphins.
- Strandfontein Sewage Works is a premier spot for birdwatchers and serious twitchers. Be patient and hopefully you will see African marsh harrier, black necked grebe, African purple swamphen, cape cormorants, endangered African black oystercatchers, white-fronted plovers and kelp gulls. At the sewage works there are reed beds that surround filtration ponds and these lure large populations of waterfowl.
For the Non-Birders
- Brimming with attractions and fun-filled opportunities, the V&A Waterfront is a massive neighbourhood, a working harbour, and shopping and dining attraction. Enjoy a variety of restaurants, hotels, landmarks, a market selling artisanal goods and five shopping districts.
- Be captivated at Robben Island, a World Heritage Site that was once prison to its most formidable political heroes, which include Nelson Mandela. The island is home to a wide variety of fauna and expertly guided by ex-political prisoners that give chilling experienced tours across the island and the in-house museum.
- Visit the gorgeous Bloubergstrand divided into two beaches – Big Bay and Little Bay. Big Bay is ideal for long walks and kitesurfing and Little Bay is great for pottering in rock pools and picnics.
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Day 5
- This morning after breakfast you will be driven to Cape Town International Airport for your charter flight to &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.
- Set deep in the heart of a rare and beautiful dry sand forest, the spectacular &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge fuses architectural design and conservation and will be your home for three nights.
- Take an unforgettable sunset drive and enjoy private traversing across seven distinct habitats allowing for a great diversity of landscapes and exclusive game viewing. Limited number of vehicles at sightings and sensitive off-roading practices affords close-up sightings of Big Five and other rare and iconic wildlife.
- &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, but is best known for its large population of cheetah and black rhino. The sand forest is home to the shy suni and the rare red duiker, two tiny antelope that are seldom encountered elsewhere.
- We have taken your overall experience on game drives to the next level, with a morning al fresco bush coffee stop, evening sundowner drinks and delicious homemade food offerings. You can expect a perfectly made cappuccino or cocktail, frothed and shaken (or stirred!) on your game drives.
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Day 6
- Head off in different directions today immersed in your unforgettable adventure.
For the Birders
- Set out in search of nearly 415 bird species that inhabit the reserve’s seven diverse habitats. Leaving the lodge in the pre-dawn dusk, you will have the best chance of seeing as many of the reserves most well-known species, from the Rudd’s apalis to Neergard’s sunbird or the stunning narina trogon.
- Enjoy a wonderful afternoon of birding and a thrilling night drive searching for nocturnal animals.
For the Non-Birders
- A wonderful option for this morning is diving the reefs off South Africa’s east coast at Sodwana Bay allowing you to experience a portrait of marine diversity, with over 1 200 species of fish and spectacular coral formations set in warm and clear tropical waters. Ideal for divers of all abilities, dives can be tailored for all guests who hold an Open Water 1 NAUI or PADI dive qualification have dived in the last six months. The tropical waters of Sodwana Bay are home to an abundance of marine life, boasting more than 80% of all the world’s marine classes (additional cost).
- Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the lodge, go on a walking safari, a game drive or a wonderful turtle walk. Each year, during the southern hemisphere summer, between November and January, enormous leatherback and loggerhead turtles emerge from the Indian Ocean at Sodwana Bay to lay their precious eggs in the sun-warmed sand, as they have done for hundreds of millions of years (additional cost).
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Day 7
- This morning the birders and non-birders separate but meet up at lunch.
For the Birders
- Explore the impressive 28 555 hectares (70 560 acres) of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and search for pink-throated twinspot, lemon breasted canary, southern banded snake eagle, crowned eagle, swamp nightjar and African wood owl.
For the Non-Birders
- Looking at the often-overlooked aspects of the natural world, unravelling its marvellous intricacies and simple truths, a nature walk allows one to experience Africa on foot, free from the constraints of roads and vehicles. Watch birds, explore a dry river bed, walk in the footsteps of zebra or giraffe, sit in stillness in the shade of an ancient tree, unravel the stories behind animal tracks, or simply stretch the legs. As part of a game drive, or a few hours over the middle of the day, a nature walk is an opportunity to connect with the African bush and experience it on the same level as its animal inhabitants.
Both
- Hop in a safari vehicle for another exciting sunset game drive and cocktails in the wild. In addition to the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo), each safari features an iconic set of wildlife and some of KwaZulu-Natal’s endemic species, which you won’t encounter anywhere else in South Africa. You will also be spoilt for choice at the range of awe-inspiring landscapes. Venture through the seven distinct ecosystems of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, often referred to as Seven Worlds of Wonder. This fascinating variety of landscape and vegetation shelters an abundance of wildlife, including rarer and less easily spotted species such as the elusive cheetah or the scarce black rhino.
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Day 8
- Today you will be driven to the little town of St Lucia for some activities and then back to &Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge which is perched on a hilltop, with wraparound views of the lush Lebombo foothills.
- Enjoy sundowners back on the reserve as you watch the sky transform into a rainbow of colours – glorious.
For the Birders
- Walk on the iGwalagwala Hiking Trail in the town of St Lucia, look out for the purple-crested turaco, white-eared barbet, red-capped robin-chat, crested guinea fowl, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, southern boubou and green malkoha. Along the estuary see a variety of terns, herons and water birds as well as hippos, red duiker and crocodiles.
For the Non-Birders
- Relax on the beach and stroll around the charming town of St Lucia, you may even see a hippo walking down the road towards you.
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Day 9
- Enjoy your morning and afternoon safari game drives tracking iconic wildlife.
For the Birders
- For the birders spend time searching for a plethora of bird types as they forage, hunt, care for their young, preen, sit in trees and fly.
For the Non-Birders
- For the non-birders treat yourself to an oh so heavenly massage, explore the African bush and it’s fauna and flora on foot with an experienced guide, visit a nearby Zulu community and gain insight into their daily lives or assist our conservation team with a scheduled rhino, elephant or pangolin research experience.
Departure
Day 10
- You will be driven to the airstrip for your charter flight to Johannesburg.
- Flutter a last farewell as your sensational birding adventure comes to an end.
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS TO CONSIDER WHILE IN THE AREA
- &BEYOND Ngala Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park, South Africa (3 nights)
- Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe (3 nights)
- &BEYOND Benguerra Island in Mozambique (3 nights)
- &BEYOND Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia (3 nights)
What's included
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Meals, drinks and laundry as specified
- Scheduled flights/Private charters as specified in the itinerary
- Private/Scheduled transfers as specified in the itinerary
- Private/Scheduled sightseeing and excursions as specified in the itinerary
- Private/Scheduled game viewing activities as specified in the itinerary
- National parks, concession and landing fees where applicable
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Domestic/international departure tax, fuel and safety levies from airports and airstrips unless otherwise stipulated
What's not included
- Meals, drinks and laundry not specified in the itinerary or as outlined in the Includes
- Premium brand drinks, champagne, cognacs, cellar wines, cigars and cigarettes
- Gratuities and any items of a personal nature
- Sightseeing and excursions not specified in the itinerary
- Flights and transfers not specified in the itinerary
- South Africa Game Reserve entrance fees:
- National parks and concession fees not specified in the itinerary
- Travel Insurance
- Visa fees (please be sure to check if visas are required)
Conditions
- &Beyond Terms and conditions apply
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Beyond Average Birding WITH SWAROVSKI OPTIK
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