"Birds, Wild flowers, Elephants (Addo) and Mammals of Little Karoo and the Garden Route."
Port Elizabeth Return
14 days
Early Nov
Tour Review : “Thank you both very much for your amazing efforts and hospitality which made the Tour so very enjoyable. We have learned so much, and are now bitten by the "South Africa Bug" which makes one long to return again for further experiences! We thought the balance of the itinerary was excellent, and the accommodation exceptional.” Jenny & Brian Hulse, Atherstone UK
This exciting 'new' itinerary explores the more remote places. A spectacular trip to the wild untamed "frontier" country. This is a non-malarial area full of interesting places, birding spots, plants and some breath-taking scenery. About 500miles south of Durban on the East coast of South Africa lies the town of Port Elizabeth, on the shores of the Indian Ocean in Algoa Bay. We travel from Algoa Bay renamed Nelson Mandela Bay, to Addo Elephant Park, where we stay in the park for a few nights. We spend time with the elephants at 'safe' close quarters enjoying their social behaviour
Kori Bustard
The Plains of Camdeboo - Blue Cranes
Erica discolor
In 1820 the British Government was facing a depression and the problem of soldiers returning from the Napoleonic Wars, turned their attention to settling people in the frontier districts of the Eastern Cape, an area 800 miles from Cape Town. More than 4 000 British people left their loved ones and homes and landed on the beach in Algoa Bay, where they were guided inland to their allocated land. There they set up farms and came into bitter conflict with Bantu tribes moving south. The British who survived sank their emotional roots deep into the soil of this frontier land. They paid for their farms with blood and tears, and their descendants became some of the bravest and most patriotic of all the people of southern Africa. This is were this story begins on the beach in Algoa Bay ...
One hundred miles inland of the Indian Ocean are the Plains of Camdeboo which cross the Little Karoo wilderness to the mountains encircling them. Here we stay near Graaf Reinett and visit the new Camdeboo National Park where we may see Kori Bustard and Gemsbok. With permission we visit the former homestead of Eve Palmer who wrote the book 'The Plains of Camdeboo'. The trip crosses the Little Karoo and goes north at the town of George to follow the Garden Route. We take the 'Old George to Knysna' road through the forests enjoying the birdlife and emerging at the Wilderness National Park. Tstistikamma National Park is scenic and we spend time at Storms River mouth. Plettenberg Bay and Knysna have Nature Reserves full of birdlife and wild flowers
Black-headed Oriole
A Bird Hide
Boophone disticha
Four National parks and three lesser known Nature/Game reserves. Three Important birding areas: Swartkops Estuary Nature Reserve IBA SA 096 (travel through); Karoo Nature Reserve IBA SA 090; Tsistikamma Nat. Park IBA SA 098
The focus will be natural history, birding, wild flowers, history and culture.
For more information on the itinerary please contact us
Code
Arrive SA
Depart SA
Price
Prices subject to alteration. *some Dinners excluded.