South Eastern II 14th to 27th February 2015 (14 days) & Cape Extension II th th 27 February to 4 March 2015 (6 days)

Southern Double-collared Sunbird by Wayne Jones

Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader: Wayne Jones Trip Report - RBT South Africa Eastern SA & Cape Extension Feb 2015 2

It was the morning of Day One and anticipation filled the air. While some guests had visited Africa and even South Africa before, for others it was their first time on the continent – and what a memorable experience it would be! Without wasting any time we loaded our picnic meals, our gear and ourselves into the minibus and set out early for Zaagkuildrift Road, north of Pretoria. Our first stop at a grassland near the entrance to the road gave us distant scoped views of a male as well as Amur Falcon, Desert Cisticola, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrikes, Grey-rumped and Red-breasted Swallows, Quailfinch, Rufous-naped Lark, African Wattled Lapwing and Scaly-feathered Weaver. Thankfully we improved on our korhaan sighting a bit further down the road when we saw a female on a mound, and then witnessed a male parachuting down to earth in his black and white display flight. Marvelous!

Further along, the (thornveld) yielded a number of dry western which, along with the korhaan, reach their eastern distribution limit here: Crimson-breasted Shrike, Black-throated Canary, Scaly-feathered Weaver, Black-chested Prinia, Southern Pied Green-winged Pytilia by Adam Riley Babbler, Greater Kestrel, Marico Flycatcher, Great Sparrow, Pale Chanting Goshawk and White-browed Sparrow-Weaver. Other great in the thornveld included White-browed , Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Wattled, Burchell's and Cape Starlings, Helmeted Guineafowl, Spotted Flycatcher, Neddicky, Burnt- necked Eremomela, White-bellied Sunbird, Green-winged Pytilia, a pair of Jameson's Firefinch, Blue Waxbill, Booted Eagle, Cardinal Woodpecker, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, White-winged Widowbird, Lesser Honeyguide, Red-billed Quelea, Lesser Masked and Southern Masked Weavers, Arrow-marked Babbler, Sabota Lark, Southern Boubou, Magpie Shrike, three Hornbills – Southern Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed and African Grey, European Bee- eater, Crested Barbet, Levaillant's, Jacobin and Diederik Cuckoos, Grey Go-away- and Crested Francolin.

The wetland and floodplain areas along the route were highly productive, despite the searing sun – luckily waterbirds activity is less affected by heat than woodland birds! At a small wetland earlier in the day we had wonderful views of Black Egrets in flight, their chrome yellow feet showing up against their charcoal plumage. Close to midday at the main Yellow-crowned Bishop by Adam Riley floodplain we saw White-faced Whistling and Yellow-billed Ducks, Red-billed Teal, Southern Pochard, African Sacred and Glossy Ibises, African Spoonbill, Black-crowned Night Heron, Grey, Black-headed and Squacco Herons, Hamerkop, African Marsh Harrier, Black Crake, African , Allen's Gallinule, Lesser and Common Moorhens, Three-banded Plover, Ruff, Yellow-crowned and Southern

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Red Bishops, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, White-throated Swallow and an unexpected 150 Black-winged Pratincoles!

The South African rare bird scene had recently been abuzz with news of a Slaty Egret – normally found in the Okavango Swamps of – that had turned up west of Johannesburg. Since the birding activity along Zaagkuildrift had taken a knock due to the heat we made an unusual detour to Muldersdrift to indulge in a bit of twitching! We reached the spot just in time, as within minutes the bird flew over the private nature reserve's fence and landed, out of sight, at another wetland. We checked out the other species around: Long-tailed Widowbird, Pied Starling, Buffy Pipit, African Stonechat and Red-knobbed Coot and made a failed attempt Sekhukune Flat Lizard by Wayne Jones at visiting the nearby Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens (although a Thrush did show beautifully outside the entrance gate!). We decided to call it a (very successful!) day and head home.

After eating breakfast and marking off the Red-headed Finches at the guest house's bird feeder, we hit the road, Kruger-bound. Our route took us via the forestry town of Sabie (where we saw a pair of Mountain Wagtails), along the edge of the spectacular Blyde River Canyon (which produced sightings of Lazy Cisticola, Red-collared Widowbird, Red-winged Starling, White-necked Raven, Peregrine Falcon, African Black Swift and some rather special lizards: Warren's Girdled Lizard and Sekukhune Flat Lizard) and into through Orpen Gate (with a very cooperative Lizard Buzzard and Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird on the way in). We just cleared the cut-off time to enter Satara Camp as we were delayed by sightings of African Elephant, a Leopard's crown, 17+ (a very rare and much-desired mammal and one of the first things we saw in the park!), Kurrichane Thrush and a splendid strutting its stuff in the middle of the road.

The next two days were spent traversing this acclaimed game reserve, first from Satara and then from Skukuza, the park's headquarters located a little further south. Highlights included hundreds of Lesser Southern Ground Hornbill by Wayne Jones Spotted Eagles gathered around a nesting colony occupied by thousands of Red-billed Queleas, seeing six out a possible eight Stork species one day: Yellow-billed, Abdim's, White, Black, Saddle-billed and Marabou, the huge Goliath Heron and tiny Striated Heron along the Olifants River, Kori , Red-crested Korhaan, Black-bellied Bustard

Trip Report - RBT South Africa Eastern SA & Cape Extension Feb 2015 4 calling and displaying, a multitude of raptors: Hooded, White-backed, White-headed and Lappet-faced Vultures, Brown Eagle, Bateleur, Wahlberg's, Tawny and Steppe Eagles, African Hawk-Eagle, a melanistic Gabar Goshawk and African Fish Eagle, Common Buttonquail, and White-crowned Lapwings, Woodland Kingfisher, White-fronted Plover, Mourning Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, African Scops Owl at eye-level in camp, European and Fiery-necked Nightjars, Purple, Lilac-breasted and European Rollers, Giant Kingfisher, White-fronted and Southern Carmine Bee-eaters, Common Scimitarbill, Lesser Kestrel, Brown-headed Parrot, Black- crowned Tchagra, Brubru, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, Flappet and Monotonous Larks, Wire-tailed Swallow, Red-faced Cisticola, Greater Blue-eared, Violet-backed and Wattled Starlings, Yellow-billed and Red- Monotonous Lark by Wayne Jones billed Oxpeckers, Groundscraper Thrush, Grey Tit-Flycatcher, White-throated and White-browed Robin-Chats, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver and Red-billed Firefinch.

And that was just the birds! Kruger is known the world over for its ease of game viewing and it certainly delivered during our short time there. The elegant but ubiquitous Impala were the most abundant game , but we also saw Blue Wildebeest, Common Waterbuck, the tiny Steenbok, Common Duiker, Bushbuck, the beautiful Greater Kudu, Giraffe, large herds of the temperamental African Buffalo, Common Warthog, Common Zebra, Black-backed Jackal, Slender and Banded , Common Hippopotamus, White Rhinoceros, Chacma and many more African Elephants. Satara camp after dark revealed Spotted Hyena and African Buffalo along the fence-line and a cute Thick-tailed in the fever tree near the restaurant. A guided night drive was relatively quiet but did afford us a close encounter with an African Wildcat, the descendant of all modern-day housecats. We also saw another party of African Wild Dog, almost a dozen this time, and a lot closer than our first sighting. Thanks to the kindness of other park visitors we found a trio of Cheetah, which lay down almost out of sight within minutes of our timely arrival. And we were most fortunate to see a South African Rock Python crossing the road ahead of us – it's not a creature one African Wild Dogs by Wayne Jones encounters often.

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On our last morning we left Skukuza to start wending our way down to Wakkerstroom. We still hadn't seen any Lions and we were starting to lose hope. While searching we were once again given info by fellow park users, which eventually led us to a pride of around seven Lions. They weren't far off the road and we stayed with the cats for a while, happy to be among the lucky few at this great sighting. We continued south in the park to Afsaal Picnic site where renovations scuppered our breakfast plans. The park still held a few other goodies in store for us: , three Black Storks, African Harrier-Hawk, Black and African Cuckoos, Eurasian Golden and Black-headed Orioles, Lioness by Wayne Jones Black Cuckooshrike, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Yellow-throated Petronia, Golden-breasted Bunting, Dwarf and a magical sighting of two White Rhinos almost right up against us! We stopped twice more outside the park to ogle White-crowned Shrike and African Green Pigeon and then started our journey in earnest. Much closer to Wakkerstroom we found two Red-footed Falcons dotted among the abundant Amur Falcons, all of them glowing in the afternoon sun.

For our full-day in Wakkerstroom we travelled the back roads and country lanes with our local guide who had the latest information on our various targets' whereabouts. Birding is a major economic driver in this tiny town thanks to its suite of South African endemics and globally rare and localized species. We had a very rewarding time here, obtaining incredible views of the beautiful Yellow-breasted Pipit, seven Larks: Rudd's, Botha's, Eastern Clapper, Pink-billed, Red-capped, Eastern Long-billed and Spike-heeled, Bokmakierie, Red-throated Wryneck, Horus Swift, Ground Woodpecker, Buff-streaked and -eating Chats, Southern Bald Ibis, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Spotted Thick-knee, African Marsh Harrier, a glimpsed Black Harrier, three Denham's , two White-bellied Bustards and six of the stunning endemic Blue Korhaans, South African Cliff Swallow, Jackal Buzzard, Banded Martin, Wailing, Levaillant's, Zitting, Pale- crowned and Wing-snapping Cisticolas, Blue Crane, Pied Starling, Mountain Wheatear, Amethyst and Malachite Sunbirds, Cape Weaver, delightful Red-footed Falcon by Wayne Jones Quailfinches drinking in a small gully, Cape Canary and the ever-present Long-tailed Widowbird males flapping around the fields. Fox-like Yellow Mongooses scurried through open pastures and Meerkats peered at us inquisitively, seemingly caught between wanting to flee and needing to figure out why this big white

Trip Report - RBT South Africa Eastern SA & Cape Extension Feb 2015 6 vehicle had stopped to look at them. A very productive farm dam held hundreds of Red-knobbed Coots, Southern Pochard, Maccoa Duck, White-backed Duck and all three locally occurring Grebes – Little, Great Crested and Black-necked.

That night on an informal night drive around town we spotted Fiery-necked Nightjar and, literally as we were about to head back to the guest house, a Spotted Eagle-Owl perched on top of a telephone pole.

Before leaving Wakkerstroom the next morning we popped around to the large wetland adjacent to the town. One of the main targets, African , refused to allow us more than just hear it call, but our pain was soothed with views of Little Bittern, Purple Heron, South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveler, Hottentot Teal, Grey Crowned Crane, Black Crake, African Lemon-breasted Canary by Adam Riley Swamphen, African , Malachite Kingfisher and Lesser Swamp, African Reed, Little Rush and African Yellow Warblers.

In the Hluhluwe area, before arriving at our lodge, we found African Firefinch, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Lesser Masked and Village Weavers, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-collared Barbet, Bronze Mannikin and one of the major targets of the area, the range- restricted Lemon-breasted Canary along with its more common, similar-looking cousin, Yellow- fronted Canary. We then moved on to our comfy lodge nestled in a patch of sand forest. Bird activity had quietened dramatically and we could only rustle up a Purple-banded Sunbird and peeks at Crested Guineafowl.

The following morning we left before sunrise to reach Mkhuze Game Reserve an hour away. We didn't do too badly considering the heat and dry condition of the reserve: Rudd's and Yellow-breasted Apalises, Violet-backed and Black-bellied Starlings, Southern Black, Sotted and Ashy Flycatchers, Long- billed Crombec, Icterine Warbler, Sombre and Yellow-bellied , Pink-throated Twinspot, Marico and Collared Sunbirds, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Chinspot Batis, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-faced Mousebird, Broad-billed Roller, Brown- Lunar by Wayne Jones hooded Kingfisher, Golden-tailed Woodpecker,

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African Hoopoe, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Common and Wood , African Goshawk, White-backed Vulture, African Openbill, Goliath Heron, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans and Crested Francolin. Other animal sightings included Leopard Tortoise, Plains Zebra, Vervet Monkey, Nyala, Blue Wildebeest, Red Duiker and Impala. Back at our lodge that afternoon we got good views of Eastern Nicator, Terrestrial Brownbul and an exquisite Lunar Moth.

False Bay Park, near our lodge, was our pre-breakfast excursion the next day. Here we found African Yellow White- eye, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Tambourine Dove and improved on our views of Pink-throated Twinspot. After a delicious breakfast we headed south a short distance to the town of St Lucia. Over our two days there we visited Western Shores Nyala by Wayne Jones Game Reserve, Eastern Shores Game Reserve (Cape Vidal), the Gwalagwala trail through forest at the edge of town, the St Lucia Estuary and the Umfolozi River Mouth. Some of the highlights included Crested Guineafowl, Woolly-necked Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Pink-backed Pelican, Black-chested, Brown and Southern Banded Snake Eagles and African Cuckoo-Hawk on the same day, an immature Crowned Eagle on the nest, Black-bellied Bustard, Water Thick-knee, a slightly out of range African Oystercatcher, Kittlitz's, Common Ringed, White-fronted and Three-banded Plovers, African Jacana, Terek , Sanderling, Sandpiper, Collared Pratincole. Caspian, Little and Lesser Crested Terns, Grey-headed Gull, Lemon and Tambourine Doves, the sublime Livingstone's Turaco, Purple-crested Turaco, incredible views of the secretive Green Malkoha, a wonderful African Wood Owl at our guest house, Narina Trogon, Giant Kingfisher, Little and Blue-cheeked Bee- eaters, Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbills, White-eared Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Woodward's Batis, the gorgeous Four-coloured Bushshrike, Southern Boubou, Square-tailed Drongo, Black Saw-wing, Lesser Striped Swallow, Rufous-winged and Croaking Cisticolas, Bearded and Brown Scrub Robins (we certainly worked for the latter!), Red-capped Robin-Chat, Olive and Grey Sunbirds, Thick-billed, Spectacled, Eastern Golden, Village and Dark-backed Weavers, and Brimstone Canary. It's not hard to see why this area is a favorite among birders!

Part of St Lucia's charm is that the area’s wildlife and the town meld together. We never saw a Hippo walking down the main road at night, but we did see quite a few on the estuary, along with some pretty hefty Nile Crocodiles – Narina Trogon by Wayne Jones

Trip Report - RBT South Africa Eastern SA & Cape Extension Feb 2015 8 and people walking about not far beyond them! Red Duiker and Bushbuck nibbled on the grassy verges and in the nearby game reserves we saw Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Common Waterbuck, Southern Reedbuck, African Buffalo, Greater Kudu, Common Warthog, the scarce Samango (Syke's) Monkey and even a Flap-necked Chameleon crossing the road.

Bidding farewell to this lovely part of the world we moved on to Dhlinza Forest, with sensational views of a perched and flying Palm-nut Vulture en route. Dhlinza Forest, contained entirely within the small town of Eshowe, was fairly quiet, however we did see the adorable Blue Duiker, South Africa's smallest antelope, a pair of rare Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeons nest-building and the sought-after Spotted Thrush, which poked about in leaf litter a few metres from us. A quick stop at Fort Nongqayi yielded some waterbirds including Red- billed and Hottentot Teal, African Jacana Spotted Ground Thrush by Markus Lilje and Black Crake. With time on our side we made a targeted run at Ngoye Forest, a very unique forest near Eshowe that holds the only South African population of Green Barbet, of which we had absolutely terrific views. Next up was the nearby Umlalazi Nature Reserve. We didn't find African Finfoot but we did happen upon a pair of dinky Black-throated Wattle-eyes, a catch-up bird for the majority of the group. From here we popped in at the Mbozambo (Sappi Stanger) Wetland where we had close views of some waterbirds – but added nothing new to our list – before continuing to our overnight stop in Hilton.

We were up early the next day to do some birding at Cedara, not far from our guest house. Top birds included Red-necked Spurfowl, Black Sparrowhawk, African Marsh Harrier, African Snipe, Cape Grassbird and, best of all, a fantastic male Cuckoo-finch that hung around the roadside for a few minutes. What a super sighting!

After breakfast we headed into the Karkloof area, including Benvie Garden. We found Southern Boubou, a pair of Wattled Cranes strutting their stuff in some grassland, Long-crested Eagle, Burchell's Coucal, lovely Knysna Turaco,

Natal Cascade Frog by Wayne Jones African Olive Pigeon, Cape Crow, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Bar-throated Apalis, Olive Thrush, Buff-streaked Chat, Yellow Bishop, Red- collared, Fan-tailed and Long-tailed Widowbird, Cape Longclaw and Forest Canary. Sadly, and despite

Trip Report - RBT South Africa Eastern SA & Cape Extension Feb 2015 9 much trying, we could not locate Orange Ground Thrush anywhere. On an amphibious note, one of the sharp-eyed guests found a rather rare frog, the Natal Cascade Frog at Benvie. We ogled this beauty, whose slate-grey skin was flecked with pale lime green, before leaving it in peace and continuing on towards to Himeville.

We stopped in at Marutswa Forest along the way, but the overcast and drizzly weather played havoc with our intentions so we headed on to the sumptuously outfitted guest farm that would serve as our base for the next two nights.

The following day was devoted entirely to the famous Sani Pass. We split up into two 4x4 vehicles, necessary to ascend this rough mountain road, each piloted by a knowledgeable local guide. The weather was perfect all the way to the top of the 2,876m high pass which straddles the Drakensberg mountain range between South Africa and Lesotho. Along the lower reaches we spotted Cape Rock Drakensberg Rockjumper by Wayne Jones Thrush, Bokmakierie, Streaky-headed Seedeater, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, many Malachite Sunbirds, Gurney's Sugarbird – representing one of two families endemic to South Africa, Drakensberg Prinia, Bush Blackcap, Fan- tailed Grassbird, 16 Ground Woodpeckers in total, Alpine, African Black and Horus Swifts, exquisite Half-collared Kingfisher, Martial Eagle – a real scarcity in the area, and a pair of African Black Duck. Mammals included the huge Common Eland and three well-camouflaged Mountain Reedbuck.

Just below the edge of the Great Escarpment, where one passes up and over into Lesotho, we got the all-important Drakensberg Rockjumper along with Drakensberg Siskin, Common Rock , Jackal Buzzard, a dozen Cape Vultures and a total of four magnificent Bearded Vultures. Up on the top of the plateau the habitat changed to low, dry and scrubby Karooid vegetation which hosted Fairy Flycatcher (up to 5 in one little bush!), Layard's Warbler, Southern Bald Ibis, Large-billed Lark, Karoo Prinia, Yellow Canary, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Sickle-winged Chat, Cape Sparrow, Mountain Pipit, Lanner Falcon, the cute Sloggett's Ice Rat and the colorful

Drakensberg Crag Lizard. Southern Bald Ibis by Markus Lilje

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The day after our Sani Pass adventure we stopped off at Marutswa Forest (where we had brief views of the endemic and critically endangered Cape Parrot) before embarking on a somewhat nerve-wracking drive to Durban's airport. We bid farewell to one of our guests at the airport and, after touching down in Cape Town, we welcomed a new one into the fold at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. This beautiful botanical garden – one of the best in the world – provided an excellent introduction to the 's common birdlife. The flowering pincushions, a type of protea, were abuzz with Orange-breasted, Malachite and Southern Double- collared Sunbirds. Elsewhere we saw Cape , Cape Spurfowl, Klaas's Cuckoo, a sleepy Spotted Eagle- Owl, delightful Cape Batis, Sombre , Karoo Prinia, Cape White-eye, Olive Thrush and African Dusky Flycatcher. We also had extraordinary views of a pair of lovely Swee Waxbills. The only way we could have seen them better was to have had them in the hand!

We then drove to our coastal hotel in Simon's Town where some guests saw African Penguin, African Oystercatcher and Cape Cormorant along the shoreline. Swee Waxbills by Wayne Jones Dinner at a beachfront seafood restaurant provided an unexpected surprise of three Cape Sugarbirds. We didn't have our binoculars, but the birds were so close we didn't need them! The offshore conditions were predicted to be so poor during the coming weekend that our pelagic was unfortunately called off the Thursday before. It's highly unusual for a pelagic to be cancelled so many days before it’s scheduled to take place – an indication of just how rough the ocean was expected to be. This was due to extremely high winds, which influenced our time in the Cape in some unexpected ways.

On our way to Rooi Els the next day we found a sheltered gully where a calling Victorin's Warbler responded to playback and gave us incredible looks. Unbelievably, given the roaring winds, we found Cape Rockjumper at Rooi Els on our first attempt – albeit halfway up the mountain! This species has become increasingly unpredictable in recent Victorin’s Warbler by Hugh Chittenden times and the wind had done little to raise our expectations, so we were very pleased to scope three birds. At the same place we also saw a pair of Klipspringer, a rock-loving antelope whose name translated from Afrikaans literally means

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“rockjumper”! We passed a troop of Chacma traipsing through Rooi Els's streets as we headed down to the nearby rocky shoreline to get a closer look at basking Cape Fur Seals.

The town of Betty's Bay was next, in particular the Stony Point Penguin Colony, one of only two mainland breeding sites in the world for the African Penguin. We walked the boardwalk amidst hundreds of these little guys, a few demonstrating why they used to be 'Jackass' Penguins. All four of South Africa's marine cormorants were found perched on the boulders at the end of the walkway, while Hartlaub's and Kelp Gulls, African Oystercatcher, Cape Fur Seal, grumpy-looking Common and Cape Girdled Lizard rounded off our wildlife list for the colony.

After a delicious, if lengthy, lunch and beer-tasting at a local micro-brewery, we admired the view from Sir Lowry's Pass out over False Bay while ensuring the gale-force winds didn't whip us off the mountain! We continued to Strandfontein Sewage Works where the wind necessitated birding from the vehicle. Still, despite the conditions, we recorded South African Shelduck, Cape and Red-billed Teal, Maccoa Duck, Cape Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Glossy Ibis, Black-crowned Night African Penguins by Wayne Jones Heron, Great White Pelican, Reed Cormorant (making it all five of the region's cormorants seen in one day!), African Marsh Harrier, African Fish Eagle, African Swamphen, Pied Avocet, Brown-throated Martin and Cape Longclaw.

Since we had an extra day to spare while on the Cape Peninsula, we indulged in spots of sight-seeing dotted between birding activities. Our route over a mountain pass near Noordhoek early on Sunday morning was blocked by a fire that had caused the police to cordon off the road. We changed our plans and spent the morning at Cape Point where Cape Siskin, Grey-backed Cisticola, Common Ostrich and Bontebok showed nicely, while the rough seas had enticed Sooty Shearwater and Cape Gannet closer in to shore. We then travelled the splendid Chapman's Peak Drive and along the coast to Signal Hill, a.k.a. Table Mountain-Lite. Here we had impressive views out over Cape Town city, Table Bay and Robben Island, and a Rock Kestrel hovering at eye-level. From there we visited Paarl Mountain Reserve and Taal Cape Siskin by Glen Valentine

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Monument in search of Protea Canary, a tricky endemic which resisted our attempts to locate it – on this occasion.

At dawn the next morning the mountain above Noordhoek was streaked with jagged orange lines; the fierce winds had evidently been of no assistance in containing the fire from the day before! The electronic sign-board indicated that Chapman's Peak Drive was still open and so we proceeded, the pristine vistas afforded us the day before now cloaked in smoke. At the end of the route firefighters waved us straight through the toll booth as flames licked the edge of the road. We were one of the last vehicles through before the road was closed off! Away from the flames and smoke the clear sky was filled with hundreds of African Black and Alpine Swifts, which were clearing the air of fleeing the bushfire. By this stage we learned that the fire had spread quickly and over a wide area, thanks to the wind, and was making headlines across the world!

We were just happy to be safe and, leaving the action behind, we popped in for a peek at the colorful historical houses of Bo Kaap, checked out White- backed Ducks near Rietvlei, took photos of the iconic view of Table Mountain from Blaauwbergstrand and by Wayne Jones watched Southern Black Korhaan, Black Sparrowhawk, Blue Crane, Capped Wheatear, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Cloud Cisticola and White-backed Mousebird near Grotto Bay before arriving at . The low, densely packed strandveld vegetation and the expansive mudflats of the huge lagoon yielded Common Ostrich, Cape Spurfowl, Purple Heron, Grey, Common Ringer, Kittlitz's, White-fronted and Chestnut-banded Plovers, Bar-tailed , Marsh Sandpiper, Ruddy , Red Knot, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Cape Penduline Tit, Karoo Scrub Robin, Fiscal Flycatcher, Cape Weaver, Cape Bunting, Yellow Canary and, eventually, the sublime Black Harrier. We'd somehow missed Secretarybird on the eastern part of the trip and many of us were starting to lose hope of seeing this unique and striking species. That afternoon, while driving through wheat lands to Ceres, we spotted two distant white and black shapes in a field. The scope quickly revealed them to be a pair of Secretarybirds. It was a great way to cap a day filled with excellent birds, quality sightings, lovely scenery and even a Acacia Pied Barbet by Clayton Burne little bit of headline drama.

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On our penultimate day we dipped our toes into the Karoo, a semi-desert habitat that covers the majority of the country. Endemics and near-endemics abounded: plenty of Pale Chanting Goshawks (we counted at least 18!), Karoo, Ant-eating and Tractrac Chats, Mountain Wheatear, White-backed Mousebird, Acacia Pied Barbet, Pririt Batis, Grey Tit, Fairy Flycatcher, Spike-heeled, Large-billed and Karoo Larks, Grey-backed Cisticola, Namaqua and Rufous-eared Warblers, Karoo Eremomela, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Pied Starling, Karoo Scrub Robin, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Sparrow, Cape Weaver, Yellow and White-throated Canaries and Cape Bunting. On the mammal front we saw around 15 endemic Grey Rhebok, a few Steenbok, a Springbok and enjoyed an extraordinary day-time sighting of an African Wildcat making its way through the veld while being mobbed by birds.

With our time on tour nearly up we returned to Cape Town via the Du Toitskloof Pass, where we finally connected with Protea Canary – two birds showed very well. Our main target acquired, we once again found ourselves with time to spare. We passed a film crew near the summit of the pass that had fabricated a little bit of western Americana (it was apparently mimicking Las Vegas or thereabouts) in the Cape Winelands and Green-winged Pytilia by Adam Riley then headed for Paarl Sewage Works. Here we birded two safe, fenced-off ponds which yielded a satisfying array of waterbirds including 10 African Snipe, Water Thick-knee, Black Crake and White-winged Terns in Pale Chanting Goshawk by Glen Valentine various stages of plumage.

Our last activity before the final guests were dropped off at the airport was an ultimately futile whirlwind search through various Cape Town suburbs for the introduced House Crow. A bizarre way to end a tour, no doubt, but it was the only attainable target for our time frame. We were hopeful that our lack of success was an indication that eradication programmes are working – always look on the bright side! Thank you to all of you who took part – your attitudes and spirit made this a tour to remember!

Annotated List of Birds recorded

Nomenclature and follows Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird List (v 5.1). Names in square brackets refer to the name given by the IOC, while names in round brackets refer to the alternative name for the species.

Total species recorded: 493 (484 seen and 9 heard only)

E = South African Endemic, RE = Regional Endemic to Southern Africa, RNE = Regional Near- Endemic, BE = Breeding Endemic

NP = National Park, GR = Game Reserve, BG = Botanical Garden, SW = Sewage Works, NR = Nature Reserve

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Common Ostrich Struthionidae [Common] Ostrich Struthio camelus These huge birds were seen in Kruger NP, Cape Point and West Coast NP.

Swans, Geese & Ducks Anatidae White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata Seen almost daily during the eastern portion of the tour and later at Paarl SW. White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus This cute, low-sitting duck was seen at wetlands near Wakkerstroom and at Dolphin Beach ponds. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis Recorded on most days of the tour. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca The most common anatid in South Africa – seen all but one day of tour. South African Shelduck (RE) Tadorna cana Good numbers were seen around Wakkerstroom, Stradnfontein SW and West Coast NP. Cape Teal Anas capensis We saw many of these pale ducks at Strandfontein SW. African Black Duck Anas sparsa Following a brief flight view along the Zaagkuildrift Rd we had a wonderful, lengthy sighting of a pair swimming down a fast-flowing stream at the base of Sani Pass. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata Commonly recorded at various wetlands during the tour. Cape Shoveler (RE) Anas smithii Wakkerstroom, Strandfontein SW and Dolphin Beach ponds produced sightings of this species. Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha Seen along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and at Strandfontein SW. Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota One was seen at Wakkerstroom with a further sighting at Eshowe. Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma We saw these at Kgomo-Kgomo and Wakkerstroom. Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa We had looks at this great little duck at Wakkerstroom and Strandfontein SW.

Guineafowl Numididae Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris Recorded on many occasions during the tour. Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani Small numbers were seen daily in the Hluhluwe and St Lucia areas.

Pheasants & Partridges Phasianidae Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena Singletons were seen along Zaagkuildrift Rd, in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Cape Spurfowl (RE) Pternistis capensis Common in fynbos and strandveld habitat in the Western Cape. Natal Spurfowl (RNE) Pternistis natalensis Seen daily in Kruger NP and along the Zaagkuildrift Rd.

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Swainson’s Spurfowl (RNE) Pternistis swainsonii Also seen daily in Kruger NP and along the Zaagkuildrift Rd.

Penguins Spheniscidae [African] (Jackass) Penguin (RE) Spheniscus demersus Seen well at Stony Point and also along the shoreline in front of our guesthouse near Simon's Town.

Petrels & Shearwaters Procellariidae Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus We managed to scope a few from Cape Point NR.

Grebes Podicipedidae [Little Grebe] (Dabchick) Tachybaptus ruficollis Seen at several wetlands throughout the tour. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus We saw four at Fickland Pan near Wakkerstroom and another at Strandfontein SW. [Black-necked] (Eared) Grebe Podiceps nigricollis We saw this species at Fickland Pan near Wakkerstroom.

Flamingos Phoenicopteridae Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Seen daily during our time in the Western Cape with large numbers at Strandfontein SW. Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor We saw this smaller flamingo at Strandfontein SW.

Storks Ciconidae Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis We saw a number of these attractive storks in Kruger NP and St Lucia. African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus One individual was found at Nsumo Pan in Mkhuze GR. Black Stork Ciconia nigra We had two great sightings totalling seven of these uncommon storks in Kruger NP. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus We had great looks at this species in Kruger NP and in Zululand. White Stork Ciconia ciconia We saw large numbers of these Palaearctic migrants throughout Kruger NP, around Wakkerstroom, Karkloof, Sani Pass and Himeville. Saddle-billed Stork Epippiorhynchus senegalensis We had great looks at this colourful stork in Kruger NP and at St Lucia. Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer Seen in Kruger NP.

Ibises & Spoonbills Threskiornithidae [African] Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus A commonly encountered wetland bird during the tour, seen most days of the tour. Southern Bald Ibis (E) Geronticus calvus

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This unique endemic was seen well around Wakkerstroom and in Lesotho. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash We recorded this popular and noisy bird on every day of the tour. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Seen at Kgomo-Kgomo, en route to Kruger, around Wakkerstroom and around Cape Town. African Spoonbill Platalea alba This quirky species was seen daily in Kruger NP and in the St Lucia area.

Bitterns & Herons Ardeidae Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus We had good views of two of these secretive herons at Wakkerstroom. Black-crowned Night Heron Nyctocorax nyctocorax Seen at Kgomo-Kgomo, Wakkerstroom and Strandfontein SW. Striated Heron Butorides striata We saw a total of five at quiet rivers in Kruger NP. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Seen at Kgomo-Kgomo, en route to Kruger NP and at Western Shores GR. [Western] Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Recorded almost daily on tour. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Recorded at wetlands on almost every day of tour. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala As with the previous species, seen often during the tour, though typically in drier habitats. Goliath Heron Ardea goliath We saw the world's largest heron in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and at Mbozambo Wetland. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Seen nicely at Wakkerstroom, Western Shores GR and St Lucia. Great Egret Ardea alba Seen at various wetlands. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia Scattered sightings of single birds at Wakkerstroom, Karkloof, Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP. Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca We had superb views of four birds along Zaagkuildrift Rd. Slaty Egret Egretta vinaciegula A little detour back to our Johannesburg guest house resulted in this national rarity at Muldersdrift. This species is normally confined to Botswana's Okavango Delta in this region. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Singletons were found at scattered localities.

Hamerkop Scopidae Hamerkop Scopus umbretta This distinctive species was a regular sight in Kruger NP, around Wakkerstroom, Mkhuze GR, St Lucia and near Ceres.

Pelicans Pelecanidae Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus This huge bird was seen at Mkhuze GR, Mbozambo Wetland, Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP.

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Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens Seen distantly at Mkhuze GR, with better views at St Lucia.

Gannets Sulidae Cape Gannet (BE) Morus capensis We saw many birds off-shore from Betty's Bay and Cape Point.

Cormorants & Shags Phalacrocoracidae [Reed] (Long-tailed) Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus A common wetland bird, seen on most days of the tour. Crowned Cormorant (RE) Phalacrocorax coronatus We saw three of these small saltwater cormorants at Stony Point. Bank Cormorant (RE) Phalacrocorax neglectus We had great looks at around 25 birds at Stony Point. [White-breasted] (Great) Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus Widespread, and seen in both freshwater and marine situations. Cape Cormorant (BE) Leucocarbo capensis This marine species was abundant off the Western Cape coastline .

Anhingas & Darters Anhingidae African Darter Anhinga rufa Seen along Zaagkuildrift Rd and at wetlands around Cape Town.

Secretarybird Sagittariidae Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius After searching relentlessly in the eastern part of the country we finally found a pair of these unique birds near Malmesbury.

Kites, Hawks & Eagles Accipitridae Black-[winged] (shouldered) Kite Elanus caeruleus This striking raptor was seen on many occasions from the roadside. African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus Seen in Kruger NP and around St Lucia. Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis We saw a bird very well alongside the freeway outside Mtunzini. [Bearded Vulture] (Lammergeier) Gypaetus barbatus We saw a fantastic four of these huge raptors over Sani Pass. Necrosyrtes monachus One of our first birds in Kruger – seen in the company of some African Wild Dogs and on two more days thereafter. White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus This species was common in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Cape Vulture (E) Gyps coprotheres We had super looks at 13 birds on our Sani Pass drive. White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis We had two sightings of two birds each in Kruger NP. Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos

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We also enjoyed two sightings of this large vulture in Kruger NP including a bird on the ground. Black-chested Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis One of these smart-looking eagles was seen in Eastern Shores GR. Circaetus cinereus Seen in Kruger NP and Eastern and Western Shores GRs. Southern Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus fasciolatus We were lucky to find this scarce eagle, our third snake eagle for the day, in Eastern Shores GR. Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus This beautiful eagle was seen often in Kruger NP. Crowned (Hawk-) Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus We spotted an immature bird near its nest in Eastern Shores GR. Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus This, Africa’s largest eagle, was seen in Kruger NP and, unusually, along Sani Pass. Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis Initially seen in plantations outside Kruger NP, we had daily sightings in the KZN Midlands. Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina Seen almost daily in Kruger NP including a mass congregation around a quelea colony. Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi Seen daily in Kruger NP and near Hluhluwe. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus We had sightings along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and in the Tanqua Karoo. Aquila rapax A common species in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis This species was observed in among the crowd of Lesser Spotted Eagles at the quelea colony. Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii We had very distant views of this distinctive eagle in the Tanqua Karoo. African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster One bird showed briefly in Kruger NP. Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus We had fantastic looks at this little species on our way into and out of Kruger NP. Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar We were lucky to see a melanistic form hunting in Kruger NP. Pale Chanting Goshawk (RNE) Melierax canorus We saw one of these lovely raptors at Kgomo-Kgomo, then 18 more in the Tanqua Karoo. African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro We saw birds near Hluhluwe. Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucas A brief sighting of an adult at Cedara was followed by better views of a soaring immature bird along the Cape West Coast. African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus We had scattered sightings including at Kgomo-Kgomo, Wakkerstroom and Strandfontein SW. Black Harrier (RE) Circus maurus Our very poor and brief views of a bird near Wakkerstroom were improved upon by a wonderfully cooperative bird in West Coast NP. [Yellow-billed] (Black) Kite Milvus aegyptius Seen almost every day.

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African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer This handsome eagle was seen often, including at Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR, St Lucia and Strandfontein SW. [Common] (Steppe) Buzzard Buteo buteo Recorded almost every single day. Jackal Buzzard (RE) Buteo rufofuscus We found this great endemic around Wakkerstroom, Karkloof and almost daily in the Western Cape.

Bustards Otididae Kori Bustard kori We saw five of these huge birds in Kruger NP. [Denham’s] (Stanley’s) Bustard denhami We saw three around Wakkerstroom. White-bellied Bustard (Barrow’s Korhaan) (E if split) barrowii Two birds showed well near Dirkiesdorp. Blue Korhaan (E) Eupodotis caerulescens We saw six of these lovely endemics near Wakkerstroom. Red-crested Korhaan ruficrista We saw two birds in Kruger NP. [Southern Black Korhaan] (Black Bustard) (E) afra This handsome endemic bustard was seen wonderfully well en route to West Coast NP. [Northern Black Korhaan] (White-quilled Bustard) (NE)Afrotis afraoides We saw three birds at the start of the Zaagkuildrift Rd. Black-bellied [Bustard] (Korhaan) melanogaster We saw birds well in Kruger NP and Eastern Shores GR.

Flufftails Sarothruridae Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa An ultra-secretive species that was only heard from dense reedbeds at Cedara.

Rails, Crakes & Coots Rallidae African Rail Rallus caerulescens Try as we might we couldn't coax this species into the open at Wakkerstroom so it remains a heard- only. Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra Seen at scattered wetlands throughout the tour. [African] (Purple) Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis This colourful reed denizen was seen at Wakkerstroom, Kgomo-Kgomo, Mbozambo Wetland and Strandfontein SW. Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni One of these was glimpsed at Kgomo-Kgomo. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Seen at most waterbodies. Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata We were lucky to get good scoped views of this uncommon species at Kgomo-Kgomo. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata Common at wetlands throughout the country.

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Cranes Gruidae Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum Good numbers were seen around Wakkerstroom, Himeville and Karkloof. Blue Crane (RE) Grus paradisea A few of these elegant birds were encountered around Wakkerstroom with higher numbers found near Ceres in the Cape. Wattled Crane Grus carunculata We had wonderful scoped looks at a pair of these tall birds in the Karkloof area.

Buttonquails Turnicidae Common Buttonquail Turnix sylvaticus Two were seen in Kruger NP.

Thick-knees Burhinidae Water [Thick-knee] (Dikkop) Burhinus vermiculatus We had a handful of encounters with this species with our first being in Kruger. Spotted [Thick-knee] (Dikkop) Burhinus capensis Four of these well-camouflaged birds were seen near Wakkerstroom.

Oystercatchers Haematopididae [African] (Black) Oystercatcher (E) Haematopus moquini We saw an out-of-range individual at St Lucia estuary and many more of these endemic shorebirds within their typical range along the Western Cape coast.

Stilts & Avocets Recurvirostridae Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Seen at Mkhuze GR, Kruger NP and at wetlands in the Western Cape. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta This elegant showed well at Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP.

Plovers & Lapwings Charadriidae Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus Found alongside wetlands throughout the tour. White-crowned Lapwing Vanellus albiceps We saw three of these attractive lapwings along the Sabie River in Kruger NP. Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris We had an incredible three sightings of this species – two in Kruger NP and another near Hluhluwe. Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus Recorded daily at scattered open-country sites throughout the first week of the tour. African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus Good views were had along the Zaagkuildrift Rd, near Wakkerstroom and in Western Shores GR. [Grey] (Black-bellied) Plover Pluvialis squatarola We saw at least 100 in West Coast NP. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Seen around St. Lucia and again at West Coast NP.

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Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius Seen at St Lucia and West Coast NP. Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris Seen at Kgomo-Kgomo, Kruger NP, St Lucia and Paarl SW. White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus An inland individual was seen at Kruger NP, with later sightings at St Lucia and West Coast NP. Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus Three of these uncommon plovers were seen nicely at West Coast NP.

Jacanas Jacanidae African Jacana Actophilornis africanus Seen at Kgomo-Kgomo, Kruger NP and Mkhuze, Eastern and Western Shores GRs.

Sandpipers & Allies Scolopacidae [African] (Ethiopian) Snipe nigripennis Birds were seen at Wakkerstroom, Cedara and Paarl SW. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica We had excellent sightings of this long-billed wader at West Coast NP. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Seen at St. Lucia and again at West Coast NP. Common Greenshank nebularia Seen in Kruger, at St. Lucia and again at Strandfontein SW. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Seen at Kgomo-Kgomo, Kruger NP, St Lucia and Paarl SW. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus One of these uncommon shorebirds was well-spotted by a guest at St Lucia estuary. Common Sandpiper hypoleucos Seen at scattered wetlands including Paarl SW. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres We recorded this in West Coast NP. Red Knot Caladris canutus Around 40 were seen in West Coast NP. Sanderling alba Seen at St Lucia and West Coast NP. Little Stint Calidris minuta Seen at Kruger NP, St Lucia, Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Seen at St Lucia, Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP. Ruff Philomachus pugnax Seen at Kgomo-Kgomo, St Lucia and West Coast NP.

Coursers & Pratincoles Glareolidae [Collared] (Red-winged) Pratincole Glareola pratincola We saw these lovely birds in the Western and Eastern Shores GRs. Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni We had a flock of about 150 birds over Kgomo-Kgomo!

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Gulls, Terns & Skimmers Laridae Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus Seen en route to Kruger NP and Wakkerstroom and later at St Lucia and Paarl SW. Hartlaub’s Gull (RE) Chroicocephalus hartlaubii Plentiful along the Western Cape coastline. Kelp Gull (NE) Larus dominicanus Large numbers were seen around the Cape Peninsula. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia We saw this large tern at St Lucia and West Coast NP. Greater Crested Tern Sterna bergii Seen at St Lucia and very common along the Western Cape coast. Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis We were thrilled to find three birds at the Umfolozi River Mouth. Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Seen at St Lucia and along the Western Cape coast. Little Tern Sterna hirundo Seen briefly at St Lucia with better views at West Coast NP. Common Tern Sterna hirundo Seen in huge numbers at West Coast NP. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Seen at various wetlands during the first week. White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus We enjoyed great looks at numerous birds in varied states of plumage at Paarl SW.

Pigeons & Doves Columbidae Rock [Dove] (Pigeon) Columba livia A common bird seen in the vicinity of human settlements throughout South Africa. [Speckled] (Rock) Pigeon Columba guinea This handsome pigeon was seen on a number of occasions throughout. [African Olive] (Rameron) Pigeon Columba arquatrix Seen at our lodge in Jo'burg, the Karkloof area and Paarl Mountain Reserve. [Eastern Bronze-naped] (Delegorgue’s) Pigeon Columba delegorguei We saw a pair of these scarce pigeons nest-building in Dhlinza Forest. [Lemon] (Cinnamon) Dove Columba larvata We had terrific views at St Lucia and Dhlinza Forest. (African) Mourning [Collared] Dove Streptopelia decipiens Seen in the Satara area of Kruger. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata Commonly recorded in tall woodland and forest during the tour. [Ring-necked] (Cape Turtle) Dove Streptopelia capicola Seen on most days during the first half of the tour and around Cape Town. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Another commonly encountered dove seen on numerous days of tour across the country. Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos This lovely dove showed well in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria We had views of this species at False Bay Park and St Lucia.

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Namaqua Dove Oena capensis This long-tailed dove was seen in Kruger NP. African Green Pigeon Treron calvus We saw this species particularly well between Kruger NP and Mbombela.

Turacos Musophagidae Livingstone’s Turaco Tauraco livingstonii This exquisite species was seen very well at St Lucia. Knysna Turaco (E) Tauraco corythaix We had equally fantastic looks at this gorgeous bird in Benvie Garden and Marutswa Forest. Purple-crested Turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus This colourful species showed well at Mkhuze GR, St Lucia and Eshowe. Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor Common in Kruger NP and also seen along the Zaagkuildrift road.

Cuckoos Cuculidae [Burchell’s] (White-browed) Coucal Centropus superciliosus We had multiple sightings at Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR, to name a few. [Green Malkoha] (Yellowbill) Ceuthmochares australis We enjoyed an extraordinary sighting of this usually shy species at St Lucia. [Levaillant's] (Striped) Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii A total of three birds were seen along Zaagkuildrift Rd and in Kruger NP. [Jacobin] (Pied) Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus Also seen in Kruger NP and along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. [Diederik] (Dideric) Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius Seen in Kruger NP, near Wakkerstroom, along Zaagkuildrift Rd and at False Bay Park. Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas This lovely green cuckoo was seen in Kirstenbosch BG and near Betty's Bay. Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus A bird was seen well in Kruger NP. African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis One was seen on our way out of Kruger NP. Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Seen a few times in Kruger NP.

Typical Owls Strigidae African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis We had almost eye-level looks at a roosting bird in Satara Camp. Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus Seen well in Wakkerstroom and also in Kirstenbosch BG. [Verreaux's] (Giant) Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus We had two good sightings of this huge owl in Kruger NP. African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii We had lovely views of this endearing owl in St Lucia. Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum A single bird was seen well along the Zaagkuildrift Rd.

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Nightjars Caprimulgidae European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus One was seen on our night drive in Kruger NP. Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis We saw a few on our Kruger night drive with singletons in Wakkerstroom and in sand forest at False Bay Park.

Swifts Apodidae African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus Fairly commonly sighted throughout the east of the country. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Seen in Kruger NP, along Sani Pass and at various places in the Western Cape. Common Swift Apus apus Seen well on our first day along the Zaagkuildrift road. African [Black] Swift Apus barbatus Seen in Kruger NP, near Wakkerstroom, Sani Pass and the Western Cape. Little Swift Apus affinis Seen almost daily in the east. Horus Swift Apus horus One was seen at Wakkerstroom. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer Seen at scattered locations across the country.

Mousebirds Coliidae Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus Commonly seen throughout. White-backed Mousebird (RNE) Colius colius Seen well at West Coast NP and in the Tanqua Karoo. Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus Seen almost daily in the east.

Trogons Trogonidae lNarina Trogon Apaloderma narina We had terrific sightings in False Bay Park and St Lucia.

Rollers Coraciidae Purple Roller Coracias naevius Seen in central Kruger NP. Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus This colourful species was common in Kruger NP and also seen at Mkhuze GR. European Roller Coracias garrulus Amazingly abundant in Kruger NP, also seen around St Lucia and Mkhuze GR. Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus A few were spotted in Mkhuze GR and one was seen in Eastern Shores GR.

Kingfishers Alcedinidae

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Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris Seen in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and Eastern Shores GR. Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis We saw this stunner along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and in Kruger NP. Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus This tiny kingfisher was seen in Kruger NP, Wakkerstroom and Paarl SW. Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata We had a super sighting of this rare kingfisher near Sani Pass. Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima This massive kingfisher was seen in Kruger NP and at St Lucia. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Seen on almost every day in the east.

Bee-eaters Meropidae Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus Seen in Mkhuze and Eastern Shores Grs. White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides Four were seen in central Kruger NP. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus A singleton at Kgomo-Kgomo was followed by many birds at Mkhuze GR and St Lucia. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster We saw these in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and along Zaagkuildrift Rd. Southern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides We enjoyed some close sightings of these beauties in Kruger NP.

Hoopoes Upupidae [African] (Eurasian) Hoopoe Upupa africana Seen only once, at Mkhuze GR.

Wood Hoopoes Phoeniculidae [Green] (Red-billed) Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus All our sightings of this noisy species came from Kruger NP. Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas One bird was seen in Kruger NP.

Ground Hornbills Bucorvidae Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvis leadbeateri We had two separate sightings in Kruger NP, including a memorable single bird in the road as we were rushing to reach camp before dark.

Hornbills Bucerotidae [Southern] Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris Seen regularly along the Zaagkuildrift road and in Kruger NP. Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (RNE) Tockus leucomelas Seen along the Zaagkuildrift road and in Kruger NP. Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus A few birds kept us entertained in forest at St Lucia.

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African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus Seen daily in Kruger NP and along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator Great views around St Lucia, Mtunzini and Eshowe.

Barbets Ramphastidae White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis Commonly encountered in the St. Lucia area. Green Barbet Stactolaema olivacea With time to spare we made a short detour and had excellent views of a pair of these highly range restricted birds at Ngoye Forest, their only location in Southern Africa. First time with 8 barbet species on this tour! Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus Seen nicely in St Lucia. Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus We saw this cute little species at our lunch stop near Hluhluwe, Mkhuze GR and Eastern Shores GR. Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus One was seen well on way to Kruger NP. [Acacia] Pied Barbet (RNE) Tricholaema leucomelas Seen perfectly in the Tanqua Karoo. Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus Seen at scattered woodland areas on the first half of the tour. Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii We had great views at Zaagkuildrift Rd, Kruger NP and Wakkerstroom.

Honeyguides Indicatoridae Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor Two were seen along Zaagkuildrift Rd.

Woodpeckers & Allies Picidae Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis We had good sightings of birds at Wakkerstroom and Sani Pass. Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni Good views were had at Mkhuze GR and St Lucia. Ground Woodpecker (E) Geocolaptes olivaceus We had numerous good looks at this great endemic at Wakkerstroom and along Sani Pass. Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens This small woodpecker was seen along Zaagkuildrift Rd, at Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus We only heard this species in Kruger NP.

Falcons & Caracaras Falconidae Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni We saw several birds well in Kruger NP. [Rock] (Eurasian/Common) Kestrel Falco rupicolus Seen almost daily in the Western Cape. [Red-footed Falcon] (Western Red-footed KestrelFalco vespertinus

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We had sightings of this scarce falcon on two consecutive days in the Wakkerstroom area. [Amur Falcon] (Eastern Red-footed Kestrel) Falco amurensis Huge numbers of this gregarious Palearctic migrant were encountered throughout most of the east of the country. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus Seen well near Wakkerstroom and in Lesotho. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus We had two sightings in Kruger NP.

Parrots Psittacidae [Cape] (Brown-necked) Parrot Poicephalus robustus We caught very quick fly-bys of two birds at Marutswa Forest – sadly not a very satisfying look given the effort (before and after the sighting!) that we put in. Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus crytpoxanthus Two showed well in Kruger NP.

Wattle-eyes and Batises Platysteiridae Cape Batis (RE) Batis capensis We had superb views of this gorgeous little bird at Kirstenbosch BG and Paarl SW. Woodward’s Batis (RNE) Batis fratrum This near-endemic gave us excellent looks at St Lucia. Chinspot Batis Batis molitor This bushveld inhabitant was seen in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Pririt Batis (RNE) Batis pririt We saw three of this dry-country endemic in the Tanqua Karoo. Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata Everyone had wonderful views of a pair at Mtunzini after a bird had been seen by only a single guest in St Lucia.

Bushshrikes & Allies Malaconotidae Grey-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti This thuggish-looking species was seen well on our way out of Kruger NP. [Orange] (Sulphur)-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus Seen well on our day along Zaagkuildrift Rd. [Four-colored] (Gorgeous) Bushshrike Chlorophoneus quadricolor Seen poorly at Mkhuze GR with improved views at St Lucia. Bokmakierie (RNE) Telophorus zeylonus This pretty species was seen at Wakkerstroom, Sani Pass and around the Western Cape. Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis We found this species in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus Seen wonderfully well on two occasions in Kruger NP. Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla We saw this small bushshrike in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR, St Lucia and Dhlinza Forest. Southern Boubou (RE) Laniarius ferrugineus We had scattered sightings from, among others, Zaagkuildrift Rd and Kirstenbosch BG. Crimson-breasted [Shrike] (Gonolek) (RNE) Laniarius atrococcineus

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This incredible bird was seen along Zaagkuildrift Rd. Brubru Nilaus afer We saw two in Kruger NP.

Cuckooshrikes Campephagidae Black Cuckooshirke Campephaga flava We saw four birds on our way out of Kruger NP.

lShrikes Laniidae [Magpie] (Long-tailed) Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus Seen daily during the first five days of tour. Southern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens We had our best views next to a golf course just south of Kruger NP. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Commonly encountered during the first week of the eastern leg of the tour. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor We bumped into this species along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and in Kruger NP. [Southern] (Common) Fiscal Lanius collaris Recorded on most days of the tour.

Figbirds, Orioles Oriolidae Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus We saw this relatively uncommon species in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. (African) Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus Seen at Kruger NP, near Hluhluwe, Mkhuze GR and Marutswa Forest.

Drongos Dicruridae Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii This forest species was seen well in St. Lucia, Hluhluwe, Eshowe and Mkhuze GR. Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis A widespread woodland and species, seen at scattered sites throughout the eastern part of country.

Monarch Flycatchers Monarchidae [Blue-mantled] (African) Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas We only managed to hear this species at St Lucia. African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis We had good views of this species at Kruger NP, Wakkerstroom and Paarl SW.

Crows & Jays Corvidae [Cape] (Black) Crow Corvus capensis Fairly common at higher elevation grassland sites, including Wakkerstroom and Lesotho. Corvus albus A common and frequently encountered species during the tour, particularly in the west where it was seen daily. White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis First seen along the Blyde River Canyon, then on Sani Pass and daily in the Western Cape.

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Rockjumpers Chaetopidae Cape Rockjumper (E) Chaetops frenatus We were rewarded for our mountaineering efforts with a trio of birds at Rooi Els. [Drakensberg] (Orange-breasted) Rockjumper (E)Chaetops aurantius We had wonderfully close views of these species moving about the mountainside and generally living up to their name near the top of Sani Pass.

Fairy Flycatchers Stenostiridae Fairy Flycatcher (RE) Stenostira scita We an incredible 8 birds, most of them in the same little bush up in Lesotho. Another bird was seen in the Tanqua Karoo.

Tits Paridae Southern Black Tit Melani parus niger Seen in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Grey Tit Melaniparus afer Boy, did we work for this one! We finally found it in the Tanqua Karoo.

Penduline Tits Remizidae Cape Penduline Tit (RNE) Anthoscopus minutus Birds were seen well in West Coast NP and the Tanqua Karoo.

Nicators Nicatoridae [Eastern] (Yellow-spotted) Nicator Nicator gularis We managed to track down the highly vocal individual that hung around our cabins at our lodge near Hluhluwe.

Larks Alaudidae Spike-heeled Lark (RNE) Chersomanes albofasciata We had good looks at this quirky lark near Wakkerstroom and again in the Tanqua Karoo. Eastern Long-billed Lark (E) Certhilauda semitorquata We had lengthy looks at this species near Wakkerstroom. Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucotis Three of these handsome larks were seen in Kruger NP. Sabota Lark (RNE) Mirafra sabota Common in Kruger NP, also seen along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. Karoo Lark (E) Certhilauda albescens We worked for this bird but eventually had good views in the Tanqua Karoo. Rudd's Lark (E) Heteromirafra ruddi We saw two of these critically endangered larks near Wakkerstroom. Eastern Clapper Lark (RNE) Mirafra fasciolata We had phenomenal views of a surprise bird near Wakkerstroom. Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana Seen and heard along the Zaagkuildrift Rd, Ngoye Forest and in the Karkloof. Monotonous Lark Mirafra passerina

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We found this species giving its characteristic 'purple jeep' call in Kruger NP. Botha’s Lark (E) Spizocorys fringillaris Two of these range-restricted larks were seen near Wakkerstroom. Pink-billed Lark (RNE) Spizocorys conirostris We saw three birds well near Wakkerstroom. Large-billed Lark (E) Galerida magnirostris Our first views were in Lesotho with more in the Tanqua Karoo. Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea Common around Wakkerstroom.

Bulbuls Pycnonotidae Cape Bulbul (E) capensis Seen daily in the Western Cape. [Dark-capped] (Common) Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor Seen daily during the eastern portion of the tour. Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus We had views of 'willy' at Mkhuze GR, St Lucia, Eshowe and Kirstenbosch BG. Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris This species gave us some great views in St Lucia. Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris This drab bulbul popped up in forest in St Lucia and Eshowe.

Swallows & Martins Hirundinidae Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera These swallows, which have a preference for forest clearings, were seen at St Lucia, Marutswa Forest and along Sani Pass. Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga Seen along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and in Kruger NP. [Brown-throated] (Plain) Martin Riparia paludicola Seen near wetlands such as at Kgomo-Kgomo, Wakkerstroom and Strandfontein SW. Banded Martin Riparia cincta This large, lazy-flighted swallow was seen around Wakkerstroom and Eastern Shores GR. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Seen on every single day of the tour! White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis This pretty swallow was found at Kgomo-Kgomo, Wakkerstroom and Eshowe. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Seen in Kruger NP. Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata Four were seen en route from Cape Town to West Coast NP. Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula Seen at the Blyde River Canyon. Greater Striped Swallow (BE) Cecropis cucullata Seen on many occasions through the tour, mostly over higher altitude grasslands. Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica This lowland savannah species showed well in Kruger NP, St Lucia and Mkhuze GR. Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa

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This large, beautiful swallow was seen in Kruger NP, Eastern and Western Shores Grs and along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. South African Cliff Swallow (BE) Petrochelidon spilodera Seen well en route to Kruger NP and around Wakkerstroom.

Crombecs & African Warblers Macrosphenidae Cape Grassbird (RE) Sphenoeacus afer Seen at Cedara, Sani Pass and Signal Hill. [Long-billed] (Cape) Crombec Sylvietta rufescens Kruger NP provided most sightings of this near-tailless bird. Victorin’s Warbler (E) Cryptillas victorini We enjoyed simply superb views of this very skulking species en route to Rooi Els.

Leaf Warblers & Allies Phylloscopidae Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla This pretty little forest warbler was seen in the Karkloof area and Marutswa Forest. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Seen in Kruger NP.

Reed Warblers & Allies Acrocephalidae [Lesser Swamp] (Cape Reed) Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris Seen well at Wakkerstroom wetland. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Heard only on two occasions – along Zaagkuildrift Rd and at Wakkerstroom. African [Reed] (Marsh) Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus This small warbler was seen at Wakkerstroom and in the Tanqua Karoo. [African] (Dark-capped) Yellow Warbler Chloropeta natalensis We saw this attractive warbler at Wakkerstroom. Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina Seen in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR.

Grassbirds & Allies Megaluridae [Little Rush] (African Sedge) Warbler Bradypterus baboecala This skulking inhabitant of dense reeds was seen in Wakkerstroom. Barratt’s Warbler (RNE) Bradypterus barratti We only managed 'heards' of this notoriously skulky species along Sani Pass and at Marutswa Forest. [Fan-tailed Grassbird] (Broad-tailed Warbler) Schoenicola brevirostris One bird was seen very well along Sani Pass.

Cisticolas & Allies Cisticolidae Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops Two birds showed nicely in Kruger NP. Lazy Cisticola Cisticola aberrans We had marvellous looks at a pair at the Blyde River Canyon. Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana

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A common species in bushveld and scrubby vegetation in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and along Zaagkuildrift Rd. Grey-backed Cisticola (RNE) Cisticola subruficapilla Seen daily during our time in the Western Cape. Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais The eastern counterpart of the previous species, we found this near Wakkerstroom and along Sani Pass. Rufous-winged Cisticola Cisticola galactotes A pair showed nicely in Eastern Shores GR. Levaillant’s Cisticola Cisticola tinniens Seen at Wakkerstroom, Kgomo-Kgomo, Sani Pass and Paarl SW. Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis Also seen at Eastern Shores GR. [Neddicky] (Piping Cisticola) Cisticola fulvicapilla Seen at Zaagkuildrift Rd and the Blyde River Canyon. [Zitting] (Fan-tailed) Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Seen and heard in various grasslands, including at Zaagkuildrift Rd, Kruger NP and Strandfontein SW. Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus Another tiny cisticola, seen at the start of the Zaagkuildrift road. Cloud Cisticola Cisticola textrix Heard at Wakkerstroom and then the distinctively streaky southern form was seen en route to West Coast NP. Pale-crowned Cisticola Cisticola cinnamomeus Good views were had of this species on a fence near Wakkerstroom. [Wing-snapping] (Ayre’s) Cisticola (RE) Cisticola ayresii Seen at Wakkerstroom and the Karkloof area. Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava Found in Kruger NP, near Hluhluwe and Eastern Shores GR. Black-chested Prinia (RNE) Prinia flavicans Two of these attractive prinias were seen along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. Karoo Prinia (RE) Prinia maculosa First seen in Lesotho and thereafter abundant in the Cape. Drakensberg Prinia (E) Prinia hypoxantha Four were seen on our way up Sani Pass. Namaqua [Warbler] (Prinia) (RE) Phragmacia substriata We had flitting views of a moderately cooperative individual near the Tanqua Karoo. Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica Seen well in the Karkloof area and along Sani Pass. Rudd’s Apalis (RE) Apalis ruddi We found this subtropical endemic at our lodge near Hluhluwe and at St Lucia. Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida Seen in Kruger NP, St Lucia and Mkhuze GR. Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis We had many great views of this neat little bird. Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura Commonly seen and heard in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and St Lucia. [Karoo] (Yellow-rumped) Eremomela (RE) Eremomela gregalis We saw a total of 8 of these sometimes tricky endemics in the Tanqua Karoo.

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Burnt-neck[ed] Eremomela Eremomela usticollis Seen well along Zaagkuildrift Rd.

Babblers & Parrotbills Timaliidae Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii Common in Kruger NP and along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. Southern Pied Babbler Turdoides bicolor We were lucky to find one of these handsome birds along Zaagkuildrift Rd at the very eastern edge of their range.

Sylviid Babblers Sylviidae Bush Blackcap (E) Lioptilus nigricapillus We had fantastic views of two birds along the lower reaches of Sani Pass. Chestnut-vented [Warbler] (Tit-Babbler) (RNE) Sylvia subcaerulea Seen along Zaagkuildrift Rd and in the Tanqua Karoo. Layard’s [Warbler] (Tit-Babbler) (RE) Sylvia layardi We managed to track down one of these endemics in Lesotho.

White-eyes Zosteropidae Cape White-eye (RE) Zosterops capensis Recorded at scattered locales throughout the tour. African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis We saw this species at St Lucia.

Sugarbirds & Allies Promeropidae Cape Sugarbird (E) Promerops cafer This great fynbos endemic was recorded on all but one of our days in the Western Cape. Gurney's Sugarbird (RE) Promerops gurneyi No less than six birds showed well along Sani Pass.

Starlings Sturnidae Common Myna Acridotheres tristis This invasive exotic was unfortunately seen on a number of occasions in urban and semi-urban settings during the eastern portion of our tour. [Common] (European) Starling Sturnus vulgaris This, also an alien, was seen in large numbers in the Western Cape. Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea This nomadic species was common to abundant along Zaagkuildrift Rd and in Kruger NP. Black-bellied (Glossy-) Starling Lamprotornis corruscus Found in coastal forest and moist woodland at Mkhuze GR, St Lucia, Hluhluwe and Eshowe. Cape (Glossy-) Starling (RNE) Lamprotornis nitens Seen daily during the first week of the tour. Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus We had marvellously close views of this spectacular species at a picnic site in Kruger NP. Burchell’s Starling Lamprotornis australis Seen daily over the first five days. Pied Starling (E) Spreo bicolor

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We had sightings of this endemic around Johannesburg, Wakkerstroom, Himeville and the Western Cape. Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster What an exquisite bird! We saw them in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and St Lucia. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio Encountered in Kruger NP, the KZN Midlands and daily in the Western Cape.

Oxpeckers Buphagidae Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus Distant views were had of a single bird in Kruger NP. Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus Seen in association with large game in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and Eastern Shores.

Thrushes Turdidae Spotted Ground Thrush Geokichla guttata We had super views of a bird in Dhlinza Forest. Groundscraper Thrush Turdus litsitsirupa A bird was seen in Kruger NP. Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus Our first bird in Kruger NP! Seen again a couple of days later. Olive Thrush (RE) Turdus olivaceus Common in Benvie Garden, Kirstenbosch BG and Ceres. Karoo Thrush (RE) Turdus smithii Our guest house in Johannesburg provided good sightings of this endemic.

Chats & Old World Flycatchers Muscicapidae Karoo Scrub Robin (E) Cercotrichas coryphaeus West Coast NP and the Tanqua Karoo gave us sightings of this characterful endemic. Bearded Scrub Robin Cercotrichas quadrivirgata This pretty scrub robin showed well at Cape Vidal in Eastern Shores GR. Kalahari Scrub Robin Cercotrichas paena Unfortunately only heard on one occasion along the Zaagkuildrift road. White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys A bushveld inhabitant that we saw along the Zaagkuildrift road and in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Brown Scrub Robin (RE) Cercotrichas signata A couple of birds were seen to varying degrees of satisfaction in St Lucia. [Grey Tit-] (Fan-tailed) Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus We had this species in Kruger NP. Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina Seen in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR, St Lucia and Benvie Garden. Marico Flycatcher (RNE) Bradornis mariquensis Commonly seen along the Zaagkuildrift road. Fiscal Flycatcher (RE) Sigelus silens One was seen along Zaagkuildrift Rd with many more sightings throughout the Western Cape. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Seen often in Kruger Np and Mkhuze GR. Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens

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Mkhuze GR, Kruger NP and St Lucia provided views of this species. African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta Common in Eshowe, Karkloof, Sani Pass and Kirstenbosch BG. Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra Seen almost daily in the latter half of the tour. White-throated Robin-Chat (RE) Cossypha humelaris This endemic was glimpsed in Kruger NP. White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini Fabulous views were enjoyed in Skukuza camp in Kruger. Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis This stunner was common at False Bay Park and St Lucia. Cape Rock Thrush (E) Monticola rupestris Seen at the base of Sani Pass and Rooi Els. Sentinel Rock Thrush (E) Monticola explorator This lovely endemic was seen at Wakkerstroom and in Lesotho. African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus Seen in open country around Wakkerstroom, Johannesburg and the KZN Midlands. Buff-streaked Chat (E) Saxicola bifasciata Seen at Wakkerstroom, Sani Pass and the Karkloof area. Sickle-winged Chat (RE) Cercomela sinuata Common in Lesotho. Karoo Chat (RNE) Cercomela schlegelii Quite a few individuals were seen in the Tanqua Karoo. Tractrac Chat (RNE) Cercomela tractrac This short-tailed chat was also seen in the Tanqua Karoo. (Southern) Ant-eating Chat (RNE) Myrmecocichla formicivora Recorded around Wakkerstroom and in the Tanqua Karoo. Mountain Wheatear (RNE) Oenanthe monticola Also seen around Wakkerstroom and in the Tanqua Karoo. Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata Seen at Kgomo-Kgomo and en route from Cape Town to West Coast NP. Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris Seen along Sani Pass and later in various rocky areas in the Western Cape.

Sunbirds & Spiderhunters Nectariniidae Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris Seen in Kruger and then daily in Zululand. Orange-breasted Sunbird (E) Anthobaphes violacea This inquisitive little endemic was seen daily in fynbos habitat in the Western Cape. (Eastern) Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea Seen very well at St Lucia. [Grey] (-colored) Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii Also seen well at St Lucia. [Amethyst] (Black) Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina We had great looks at this pretty species in Wakkerstroom and the Karkloof area. Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis Seen along the Zaagkuildrift Rd, Kruger NP and around Hluhluwe.

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Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa This cracker was seen at Wakkerstroom, Sani Pass and the Western Cape. Southern Double-collared Sunbird (E) Cinnyris chalybeus First seen at Benvie Garden and then daily in the Western Cape. Greater Double-collared Sunbird (E) Cinnyris afer We saw these handsome birds along the lower parts of Sani Pass. Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis We saw this stunner at Mkhuze GR. Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus Seen at our lodge near Hluhluwe and St Lucia. White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala Seen along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and near Hluhluwe.

Old World Sparrows Passeridae White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali This species was seen along the Zaagkuildrfit Rd, near its eastern distribution limit. House Sparrow Passer domesticus A widespread species, seen in association with human habitation, across the country. Great Sparrow (RNE) Passer motitensis We saw five of the crisp-looking sparrows near Kgomo-Kgomo. Cape Sparrow (RNE) Passer melanurus Quite common, and seen at sites throughout the country. Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus This species was seen regularly during the eastern leg of the tour. Yellow-throated [Petronia] (Sparrow) Gymnoris superciliaris Only two seen in Kruger NP.

Weavers & Allies Ploceidae Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger Seen in Kruger NP. Scaly-feathered [Weaver] (Finch) (RNE) Sporopipes squamifrons Seen right at the eastern edge of their range along the Zaagkuildrift road. [Thick-billed] (Grosbeak) Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons This thuggish-looking weaver was seen in Kruger NP and at St Lucia. Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis Seen in Kruger NP and St Lucia. Cape Weaver (E) Ploceus capensis We found this endemic around Wakkerstroom and near Ceres. [Eastern] (African) Golden Weaver Ploceus subaureus These bright yellow birds were common in St Lucia. Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius Seen in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and at St Lucia. Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus Common around Johannesburg, Zaagkuildrift Rd and Wakkerstroom. Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus Seen daily in the Maputaland and Zululand areas. [Dark-backed] (Forest) Weaver Ploceus bicolor

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This forest-dwelling weaver was seen in Mkhuze GR, near Hluhluwe and in St Lucia. Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea We saw thousands along Zaagkuildrift and in Kruger NP, where they had a breeding colony attended by many Lesser Spotted Eagles. Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer These striking birds were seen at Kgomo-Kgomo and around Wakkerstroom. Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix Recorded at various wetlands during the eastern leg of the tour. [Yellow Bishop] (Yellow-rumped Widow) Euplectes capensis Seen in the Karkloof area, along Sani Pass and in fynbos habitat in the Western Cape. [Fan-tailed] (Red-shouldered) Widowbird Euplectes axillaris Seen daily from Wakkerstroom to the Karkloof area. White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus Seen daily in Kruger NP and along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens Seen well en route to Sabie and later near Himeville and the Karkloof area. Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne We loved watching this outlandish species in high-lying grasslands near Johannesburg, Wakkerstroom, the Karkloof area and Himeville.

Waxbills & Allies Estrildidae [Green-winged Pytilia] (Melba Finch) Pytilia melba This gorgeous species was seen along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and in Kruger NP. Red-headed Finch (RNE) Amadina erythrocephala Only seen at the feeders at our guest house in Johannesburg. Green (-backed) Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula We only heard this secretive little bird at Benvie Garden. Pink-throated Twinspot (RE) Hypargos margaritatus We had difficult views of this beauty at our Hluhluwe lodge and False Bay Park. Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala We found this along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and in Kruger NP. African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata We had great sightings of birds near Hluhluwe and at Marutswa Forest. Jameson’s Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia We saw a pair of these scarce finches along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. [Blue Waxbill] (Blue-breasted Cordonbleu) Uraeginthus angolensis This neat species was common in bushveld habitat during our first week. Swee Waxbill (E) Estrilda melanotis A glimpse of a pair at Sani Pass was followed by simply crazy views of a pair just metres away in Kirstenbosch BG. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild We had scattered sightings across the country. (African) Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis This beautiful little bird showed well along Zaagkuildrift Rd and near Wakkerstroom. Bronze [Mannikin] (Munia) Lonchura cucullata Small flocks were seen in Kruger NP, Hluhluwe and around St. Lucia. Red-backed [Mannikin] (Munia) Lonchura nigriceps

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We only heard these at Benvie Garden.

Indigobirds Viduidae [Village Indigobird] (Steel-blue Widowfinch) Vidua chalybeata Three showed nicely along Zaagkuildrift Rd. Dusky [Indigobird] (Widowfinch) Vidua purpurascens A singleton showed up in Kruger NP. Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura Seen regularly during the eastern part of the tour. [Long-tailed] (Eastern) Paradise Whydah Vidua paradisaea We saw this fabulous bird along the Zaagkuildrift Rd and daily during our time in Kruger NP. Cuckoo-finch Anomalospiza imberbis What a great find! We had sensational views of a male bird at Cedara.

Wagtails & Pipits Motacillidae Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis Seen regularly at scattered localities throughout the country. Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara We found a pair of these elegant river wagtails near Sabie. African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp Seen almost daily during our eastern leg. [Cape] (Orange-throated) Longclaw (RE) Macronyx capensis Seen near Wakkerstroom, the Karkloof area and Strandfontein SW. Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus This stunner was seen in Kruger NP and Mkhuze, Eastern and Western Shores GRs. [African] (Grassveld) Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus Very common around Wakkerstroom, also seen down in the Western Cape. Mountain Pipit (BE) Anthus hoeschi We saw three of these boldy-marked pipits in Lesotho. Buffy Pipit Anthus vaalensis Singletons were seen west of Johannesburg and in Kruger NP. Yellow-breasted Pipit (E) Anthus chloris We had phenomenal looks at three of these pretty endemics near Wakkerstroom.

Finches & Allies Fringillidae Forest Canary (E) Crithagra scotops This endemic canary showed nicely at Benvie Garden and Marutswa Forest. Lemon-breasted Canary Crithagra citrinipecta We saw seven birds very well in palm savanna near Hluhluwe. Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica Regularly seen throughout the eastern leg of the tour. Cape Siskin (E) Crithagra totta We finally obtained wonderful views of three birds below the loighthouse at Cape Point. Drakensberg Siskin (E) Crithagra symonsi Good views were had of this species on our Sani Pass day trip. Yellow Canary (RNE) Crithagra flaviventris Seen in Lesotho and then in West Coast NP and the Tanqua Karoo.

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Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata We had sightings of this large, brightly-coloured canary at Eastern Shores GR, Cedara and Sani Pass. Streaky-headed [Seedeater] (Canary) (RNE) Crithagra gularis Seen along Sani Pass. White-throated Canary (RNE) Crithagra albogularis We found this near-endemic in the Tanqua Karoo. Protea [Canary] (Seedeater) (E) Crithagra leucoptera We had a stroke of good fortune when we came across two of these scarce canaries along Du Toits Kloof Pass on the last morning. Cape Canary Serinus canicollis Seen in good numbers around Wakkerstroom.

Buntings Emberizidae Cape Bunting (RNE) Emberiza capensis Seen along Sani Pass and then almost daily in the Western Cape. Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris We saw this lovely bird in Kruger NP and an out-of-range bird in the Karkloof area.

Annotated List of Mammal Species recorded

Nomenclature and taxonomy follows The Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa by Chris & Tilde Stuart (2007).

Total species recorded: 52

Bats Pteropodidae Epauletted Fruit sp. Epomophorus crypturus , most likely Peter's Epauletted Fruit Bat, were seen on their day roost at Satara Camp. >>>unidentified Vespertine Bat seen at Wakkerstroom, not contributing towards trip total.

Baboons & Monkeys Cercopithecidae Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus Seen on numerous occasions in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR, along Sani Pass and in the Western Cape. Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops A commonly encountered primate throughout the east of the country. Samango (Blue/Sykes’s) Monkey Cercopithecus mitis Only seen near Cape Vidal in Eastern Shores GR.

Bushbabies Galagonidae Greater Galago (Thick-tailed Bushbaby) Otolemur crassicaudatus We spotlighted an individual in Satara Camp.

Hares & Rabbits Leporidae Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis Seen on a night drive in Kruger NP.

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Cape Hare Lepus capensis Seen in the Wakkerstroom area.

Squirrels Sciuridae Red Forest Squirrel Paraxerus palliatus Recorded in coastal forest around St Lucia. Smith's Bush Squirrel Paraxerus cepapi Fairly common in Kruger NP.

Rats & Mice Cricetidae & Muridea Four-striped Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio We had super views of an individual in Kirstenbosch BG. Sloggett’s Ice Rat Otomys sloggetti This endearing was seen at the top of Sani Pass and in Lesotho.

Dogs & Allies Canidae Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas We saw one along Zaagkuildrift Rd and more in Kruger NP. African Wild (Painted/Cape Hunting) Dog Lycaon pictus We were very lucky to have TWO sightings of these rare canids in Kruger NP. They were among the first we saw upon entering the park with 17+ and then we saw a group of 11 two days later.

Mongooses Herpestridae Slender Mongoose Galerella sanguinea We saw this elegant mongoose along the Zaagkuildrift Rd, in Kruger NP and near Hluhluwe. Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula We found two of these adorable creatures in Kruger NP. Small Grey Mongoose (RE) Galerella pulverulenta One was seen at Paarl SW. Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo We enjoyed sightings of this gregarious mongoose in Kruger NP and near Hluhluwe. Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata This species was common around Wakkerstroom. Suricate (Meerkat) Suricata suricatta We also found this cute animal around Wakkerstroom.

Hyaenas Hyaenidae Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta We had great sightings of this scavenger in Kruger NP. Cats Felidae African Wildcat Felis silvestris We saw one very well on our Kruger night drive. Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Thanks to kind fellow park-users we enjoyed distant but good views of three cheetahs in Kruger NP. Lion Panthera leo

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Again, thanks to fellow park-users we got to see seven of these iconic cats during our last few hours in the park. Leopard Panthera pardus We had a sadly terrible view of one of these beauties in Kruger NP.

Hyraxes Procavidae Rock Hyrax (Dassie) Procavia capensis Seen along Sani Pass with great close-up views at Stony Point.

Elephants Elephantidae African Elephant Loxondonta africana Seen daily in Kruger NP.

Zebras Equidae Common (Burchell's/Plains) Zebra Equus quagga burchelli Common in Kruger NP and the Zululand and Maputaland reserves.

Rhinoceroses Rhinocerotidae Square-lipped (White) Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum We had wonderfully close sightings of these massive creatures in Kruger NP.

Hippopotami Hippopotamidae Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius We saw these behemoths in Kruger NP, Mkhuze GR and St Lucia estuary.

Pigs Suidae Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus We saw this comical animal in Kruger NP and Mkhuze, Western and Eastern Shores GRs.

Giraffes Giraffidae (Southern) Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis We enjoyed multiple sightings of this unique creature in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR.

Bovids & Horned Ungulates Bovidae African (Cape) Buffalo Syncerus caffer Good numbers were seen in Kruger NP and Eastern Shores GR. Eland Taurotragus oryx We saw large herds along Sani Pass, at Cape Point and in West Coast NP. Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros This regal antelope was seen in Kruger NP and Eastern Shores GR. Nyala Tragelaphus angasii This beautiful antelope was common in the Hluhluwe area, Mkhuze GR and False Bay Park. (Cape) Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus We had close views of confiding individuals in Kruger NP and at St Lucia. Common Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus Seen in Kruger NP and Eastern and Western Shores GRs.

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Mountain Reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula Great spotting by a sharp-eyed guest revealed three of these scarce antelope along Sani Pass. Southern (Common) Reedbuck Redunca arundinum Common in Eastern and Western Shores GRs. Grey Rhebok (E) Pelea capreolus We saw 15 animals near Ceres. Great views were had while the bus's punctured tyre was replaced! Black Wildebeest (E) Connochaetes gnou We saw many of these endemic animals outside Wakkerstroom. Blue Wildebeest (Brindled Gnu) Connochaetes taurinus We encountered this odd animal regularly in Kruger NP and the Zululand reserves. Blesbok (E) Damaliscus pygargus We recorded both subspecies – Blesbok and Bontebok. The former was seen in highland grassland around Wakkerstroom while the latter was seen at Cape Point Impala Aepyceros melampus A common antelope in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Red Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus Seen outside Wakkerstroom. Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis Seen outside Wakkerstroom and also in the Tanqua Karoo. Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus We saw two of these lovely antelope on a granite koppie in Kruger NP. Steenbok Raphicerus campestris We saw these small antelope daily in Kruger NP, the Tanqua Karoo and along the Zaagkuildrift Rd. Blue Duiker Cephalophus monticola We saw one these delightful tiny antelope in Dhlinza Forest. Red Duiker Cephalophus natalensis This richly-coloured mammal was seen near Sabie, Mkhuze GR, Hluhluwe and St Lucia. Common (Grey/Bush) Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia We had a few sightings in Kruger NP. >>>Red Lechwe Kobus leche >>>This species was seen on a private nature reserve outside Wakkerstroom where it had been introduced – it normally occurs in Botswana and further north. Does not contribute to the trip total.

Fur Seals Otariidae Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus Seen in good numbers along the Western Cape coastline.

Annotated List of Total species recorded: 52

Black Dendroaspis polylepis Bizarrely we saw one of these on our Kruger night drive! Southern African Python Python sebae We were lucky to find a large specimen in Kruger NP. Karoo Sand Snake Psammophis notostictus One of these was seen as dashed across the path in West Coast NP. Crocodylus niloticus

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Some really massive crocs were seen in Kruger NP and at the St Lucia estuary. Nile Monitor Varanus niloticus The region's largest lizard was seen in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Variable Skink Trachylepis varia Seen at the Blyde River Canyon. Striped Skink Trachylepis striata Seen in Kruger NP. Sekukhune Flat Lizard Platysaurus orientalis This beautiful lizard showed well at the Blyde River Canyon. Drakensberg Crag Lizard (E) Pseudocordylus melanotus The colourful males of this species were observed in Lesotho and along Sani Pass. Black Girdled Lizard (E) Cordylus niger Seen well at Cape Point. Warren's Girdled Lizard (E) Cordylus warreni We found a few hiding under rocks at the Blyde River Canyon. Cape Girdled Lizard (E) Cordylus cordylus Several were found basking on rocks at Stony Point. Southern Rock Agama (RE) Agama atra Seen in rocky areas in the Western Cape. Southern Tree Agama Agama atricollis We saw this attractive lizard in Kruger NP. House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia Seen in dwellings in Kruger NP, St Lucia and Hluhluwe. Cape Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus capensis This tiny lizard was seen in Kruger NP. Flap-necked Chameleon Chamaeleo dilepis One was crossing the road in front of us in Western Shores GR. Leopard Tortoise Geochelone pardalis We saw the region's largest tortoise in Kruger NP and Mkhuze GR. Marsh/Helmeted Terrapin Pelomedusa subrufa Seen well in Kruger NP. Red Toad Schismaderma carens Seen around our Hluhluwe lodge at night. Natal Cascade Frog Hadromophryne natalensis We incredibly fortunate to see one of these rare frogs at Benvie Garden. Well spotted by a guest! Drakensberg River Frog Amietia dracomontana We found some in Lesotho.

Honourable Mention

Lunar Moth Actias sp. One of these huge, stunning was present at our Hluhluwe lodge.

Rockjumper Birding Ltd c/o Summit Trust Mtius Ltd

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Suite 3 Grand Baie Business Park Grand Baie Mauritius Tel (USA & Canada) toll free: 1-888-990-5552 Email: [email protected] Alternative email: [email protected] Website: www.rockjumperbirding.com