SOUTH AFRICA

This fantastic new tour is arranged to see the endemic and speciality birds of eastern South Africa amongst the splendour of the Drakensburg Mountains, the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, the legendary Zululand and what is probably Africa's most famous national Park, The Kruger.

Day 1 Overnight flight from London to Johannesburg.

Day 2 After an early morning arrival in Johannesburg (watch out for Long-tailed Widowbird from the aircraft!) we'll catch an hour-long flight straight through to the coastal city of Durban. After lunch we'll leave behind the hot, tropical climate of the coast as we head inland for the endemic-rich Drakensberg mountains in the Underberg region. We'll make a couple of roadside stops to enjoy our first birds, which may include Cape Weaver. But will keep moving in order to arrive at our accommodation by the early evening, where we'll be based for two nights. This will give you a chance to relax and unwind after a long haul flight, and before the birding starts in earnest the following morning. Two nights Underberg.

Day 3 The dramatic Sani Pass will be the focus of our entire day's birding, and promises a great variety of southern African endemics. Don't forget your passports today, as we'll also be visiting the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho! At the foothills of the Drakensberg we'll pause at some well vegetated valleys to search for the smart Bush Blackcap, Drakensberg Prinia, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Weaver and bright Bokmakierie. The lower sections of the pass itself may produce our first Jackal Buzzard, plus Buff-streaked Chat, Horus Swift, Cape Rock-thrush, the popular Red-throated Wryneck (if we are lucky), Ground Woodpecker, unusual Gurney's Sugarbird and we'll try to draw out the skulking Barratt's Warbler from its overgrown hideout. Higher up the pass we'll enjoy breathtaking views from the snaking switchbacks. These steep, rocky sections are home to South African Rock Pipit, the very local Drakensberg Siskin, Lammergeier, Cape Bunting and, today's most special bird (hopefully!), the striking Drakensberg Rockjumper. Once through the Lesotho border we'll continue for some distance across the plateau to search for Mountain Pipit, Sentinel Rock-thrush, Waldrapp, Cape Griffon, Sickle-winged Chat and, in the more shrubby areas, the dainty Fairy Flycatcher and Layard's Warbler. After lunch – perhaps shared with Sloggett's Ice Rat – we'll turn back and retrace our steps down to Underberg, pausing near town for some grassland birding if time permits.

Day 4 Today our attention will switch to the region's endemic-rich Afromontane forests, and we'll spend most of the morning visiting Xumeni Forest. Birding will probably be much slower than the previous day, but the rewards just as great. We plan to arrive by the early morning, when the rare Cape Parrot is active and noisy. Other species we hope to see include Olive Woodpecker, Bar-throated Apalis, Barratt's Warbler (if missed the previous day), African Emerald Cuckoo and Forest Canary. Understorey skulkers are much more challenging, and include White-starred Robin, Chorister Robin-chat and Orange Ground-thrush. At the forest edge we'll search for Lazy Cisticola, Cape Grassbird and Swee Waxbill. Once bird activity dies down, we'll head to an area where we'll search for one of South Africa's rarest breeding birds: the Blue Swallow. Besides the swallow, these grasslands may also hold Wailing and Pale-crowned Cisticolas, Cape Longclaw and Denham's Bustard. Overnight Hela-Hela.

Day 5 After some early morning birding in the Hella-Hella area – Knysna Turaco and Olive Bushshrike occur in some of the small forest patches – we'll depart for Eshowe and some of Zululand's finest forest birding. We may make a few stops en route, but hope to arrive by the mid afternoon to make the most of the evening's spate of bird activity. We should have time spot the conspicuous Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills and Black-collared Barbet, although most of the trickier forest birds will be searched for tomorrow morning. Night in Eshowe.

Day 6 During our time in the Eshowe area we'll visit different forest patches to search for a wide range of mid- and low-altitude forest species. The main focus of our stay, however, will be the famous Dlinza Forest with its canopy tower, right on the edge of Eshowe town. From our elevated perch we may spot Delegorgue's Pigeon, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Little Sparrowhawk, White-eared Barbet, Square-tailed Drongo, Black-bellied Starling and Olive Sunbird. However, our main target is in the understorey – the rare Spotted Ground-thrush. Whilst quietly stalking along the forest paths in search of this rarity we may find Green Twinspot or Lemon Dove. After a morning in these forests we'll continue on the picturesque coastal town of St Lucia. If time permits we'll pause for some wetland birding at Richards Bay, where Southern Brown-throated and Yellow Weavers are usually present. Overnight St Lucia.

Day 7 The coastal dune forests surrounding St Lucia are home to several localised specialities. Birding can be slow, but with focus and determination we should find Woodward's Batis, Livingstone's Turaco, Dark-backed Weaver, Rudd's Apalis, the secretive Brown Scrub-robin, Blue-mantled Crested-flycatcher and perhaps even Gorgeous Bush-shrike. A short stint in the grasslands may add to our list with species such as Red-breasted Swallow, rare Banded Snake-eagle and perhaps African Cuckoo-hawk. During the heat of the day we'll continue our journey northwards to the Hluhluwe River, to look for sandforest specials in Bonamanzi Reserve. Here the highlights may include African Broadbill and Pink-throated Twinspot, and if time allows we'll search for Rosy-throated Longclaw on the Hluhluwe River floodplain. Two nights Hluhluwe.

Day 8 Based at Bonamanzi we'll visit several sites in the surrounding area, including Mkuze Game Reserve and adjacent Muzi Pan. The tricky Neergaard's Sunbird will be our main target for the day, along with Lemon-breasted Canary, Crested Guineafowl, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Eastern Nicator, Bearded Scrub-robin and Narina Trogon. Waterbirds are also a feature of the area, and we may find Yellow-billed Stork, Pink-backed Pelican, various herons and egrets, and perhaps even Lesser Jacana and African Pygmy-goose. The area hosts a wide range of more widespread savanna species, and we'll stand our first chance to see birds such as Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Black Cuckooshrike, Grey Tit-flycatcher, Broad-billed Roller, Bateleur, Lizard Buzzard, African Pygmy-kingfisher, Acacia Pied Barbet, Crested Barbet, Grey Penduline-tit, Stierling's Wren-warbler, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Kurrichane Thrush and Yellow-throated Petronia. These are all birds that we stand a chance of seeing again later in the trip.

Day 9 After some final birding in the Bonamanzi area we'll start the longish drive the famous Wakkerstroom area, for a two night's stay. Here a host of high-altitude grassland and wetland birds await us. En route we'll pause in an area of lower-lying grasslands to search for the scarce Barrow's Korhaan, Buffy Pipit, Banded Martin, Southern Anteater-chat, Cloud Cisticola and perhaps Eastern Clapper Lark. If time permits we'll also check for the areas last remaining pair of Wattled Cranes, although we'd have to be very lucky to spot them. Two nights Wakkerstroom.

Day 10 Wakkerstroom is the best area in the world to search for three very rare high-altitude grassland birds, namely Yellow-breasted Pipit, Botha's Lark and the critically endangered Rudd's Lark. These three birds will be the main targets of our day, and we will be joined by an expert local guide to aid us in our quest. While we search for these specials, however, we stand to see a wide range of other grassland birds, not least the handsome Blue Korhaan, Grey-winged Francolin, Red-winged Francolin, Waldrapp (again), Secretarybird, Denham's Bustard, Blue Crane, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Spike-heeled Lark, South African Cliff Swallow, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Mountain Wheatear and Yellow-crowned Bishop. The various wetlands should also produce their share of entertainment, with an abundance of ducks potentially including South African Shelduck, Cape Teal, Cape Shoveler, Southern Pochard and Maccoa Duck. A mammal highlight of the day may be the famous Meerkat!

Day 11 Today we continue our trend of alternating between the highlands and lowlands, and head for the tropical lowlands of South Africa's most famous national park and home for 15 years to your tour leader, the Kruger National Park. En route we may pause at Kaapschehoop for a second attempt at Blue Swallow, Gurney's Sugarbird and Red-throated Wryneck, but we hope to arrive in time to enjoy a bird and mammal-filled afternoon in the Skukuza area. The list of potential species is long and impressive, and may include Crested Francolin, Natal Spurfowl, Yellow-fronted Canary, Red-billed Firefinch, Blue Waxbill, Village Indigobird, Bronze Mannikin, Pin-tailed Whydah, Village, Spectacled Weaver, Lesser and Southern Masked-weavers, Red-billed Buffalo-weaver, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Marico, White-bellied, Collared and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Violet-backed Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Cape Glossy-starling, White Helmetshrike, Mapgie and Red-backed Shrikes, Black-backed Puffback, Brubru, Chinspot Batis, African Paradise-flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Rattling Cisticola, Long-billed Crombec, Yellow-breasted Apalis, White-browed Robin-chat, Black-headed Oriole, Southern Black-flycatcher, African Pied Wagtail, Southern Yellow-billed, Grey and Red-billed Hornbills, Green Woodhoopoe, African Hoopoe, Little, Southern Carmine, European and White-fronted Bee-eaters, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Wire-tailed Swallow, Lesser Striped-swallow and Grey Go-away-bird. Two nights Kruger.

Day 12 Today we spend the whole day driving through central Kruger, from Skukuza to Satara. Large mammals will be a great diversion today, and may include African Lion, Leopard, Savanna Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Burchell's Zebra, Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Steenbok, Warthog, Common Duiker and White Rhinoceros. However, with over 500 species recorded in the park, we once again stand the chance of seeing a wide range of birds. These include, in no particular order, Swainson's Francolin, Brown-crowned and Black-crowned Tchagras, Arrow-marked Babbler, Wattled Starling, Monotonous and Sabota Larks, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove, Saddle-billed Stork, Brown-headed Parrot, Purple, European and Lilac-breasted Rollers, Southern Ground-hornbill, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Burchell's and greater Blue-eared Glossy-starlings, Green-winged Pytilia, Bearded Woodpecker, Burnt-necked Eremomela, African Mourning Dove, African White-backed, White-headed and Lapped-faced Vultures, Martial Eagle, White-crowned Lapwing, Giant, Striped and Woodland Kingfishers, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Terrestrial Brownbul, White-throated and White-browed Robin-chats, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Petronia, Black Cuckoo, Black-bellied Bustard and Red-crested Korhaan.

Day 13 From Satara we commence our return to Johannesburg over the next three days, first driving straight to the western border of Kruger and on to the Abel Erasmus pass, where we will search for one of Africa's least-seen raptors, the smart Taita Falcon. A pair of these falcons has nested at the pass for several years now, and although they won't be breeding at the time we hope to spot the birds hunting around the steep cliffs along the pass. The surrounding rocky hillsides are also a good spot to look for Mocking Cliff-chat, Striped Pipit and Jameson's Firefinch. Once the heat becomes too much we'll head for the hills of the Magoebaskloof area, for our last stint of forest birding. Here we hope to spot Yellow-streaked Greenbul, the rare Black-fronted Bushshrike, Mountain Wagtail, Cape Batis, Grey Cuckooshrike and any other forest birds that may be missing from our lists. Two nights Magoebaskloof.

Day 14 The final day of the tour will spend driving back to Johannesburg, about five hours away, for an evening flight to London. However, we'll make an early start for the arid savannas of Polokwane Game Reserve, about an hour's drive from our accommodation. Here we'll search for the tricky Short-clawed Lark, but even if we are unsuccessful we'll certainly be rewarded some impressive species that we have had no previous chance to see on the trip. These include Crimson-breasted Shrike, Scaly-feathered Finch, Great Sparrow, Kalahari Scrub-robin, Cape Penduline-tit, Black-chested Prinia, Violet-eared Waxbill, Northern Black Korhaan, Ostrich, Coqui Francolin, Desert Cisticola, Marico Flycatcher and Chestnut-vented Warbler.

Day 15 Early morning in Polokwane Game Reserve looking for Short-clawed Lark after which we'll drive to Johannesburg to arrive in plenty of time for our return overnight flight and to do a final checklist.

Day 16 Arrival back in London.

General Information The climate is variable from cold at high altitude to very hot in the plains. Accommodation standards are good with en-suite facilities in all rooms. Food is of European standard. Transport is by minibus or four-wheel drive and the road conditions are good. There are special health requirements so you must consult with your GP in this respect. Only a moderate degree of fitness is needed. Photographic opportunities are excellent.

Group Size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 6; maximum group size: 12 with 2 leaders.