Recommended Tour Operators

Absolute Birding Safaris and Tours – we are a small specialist birding company that puts our clients’ needs first. We cater for twitchers, listers or just the casual birder. We offer standard tours for groups or specialised tours custom crafted to our client’s specific needs. We prefer smaller groups so that we can give our clients individual attention. Check out our comprehensive website for additional info.

“It’s all about the birds!”

We offer a variety of options :

• Birding to anywhere in South Africa.
• Game reserve guided tours.
• Namaqua spring flowers trips.
• Pelagic trips including whale watching.
• Historical trips with emphasis on military history.
• Photographic safaris.

The African Edu-Eco team of professionals, under the expert leadership of Wayne Johnson (Professional Field Guide, Dangerous Game Specialist, Marine Guide and Cornell Lab Qualified and FGASA National Bird Guide), have formulated a number of exciting and innovative Birding-in-Africa Mentorship Experiences which cater for individuals with enquiring minds and yearning to learn-and-know more about the African Environment and an innate desire to learn more about Africa’s Bird diversity and the African Bush, its constituent members, the various relationships and related form and function of each individual and population within the ecosystem. These awareness experiences are compiled professionally and are comprehensive, experiential, transformational, immersive, fun and exciting.

All Birding-In-Africa Mentorship Experiences are presented in a variety of Regional Birding Hotspots in South and Southern Africa. Destinations and locations within these Regional Birding Hotspots comprise Nature Reserves; National Parks; Conservancies; established Birding Hotspots; Wildlife Hotspots and Private Game Reserves.
Our programs have a 1:6/8 leader to participant ratio emphasising personalised care and attention and the very best guided experience. Our Birding-In-Africa leaders are very highly qualified, knowledgeable, educators and guides who love sharing and facilitating exceptional holistic awareness experiences.
Join us on an IMMERSIVE and TRANSFORMATIONAL Birding-In-Africa Mentorship Experience of a Lifetime now.

At Your Service Trips and Tours trading as Willie Hall Tours specialise in creating Adventure Safari tours that focus on Southern Africa’s magnificent wildlife and birding for small groups throughout Southern Africa. Hiking and Trekking as well as Wildlife photography are included to explore nature and added as an addition benefit to enhance your experience.
As specialised nature experts, we will lead you to experience a lifetime special to some of the finest Birding, Mammal and Biodiversity spots.
The focus of our tours are to limit travel time and maximize your experiences in Southern Africa’s nature beauty spots. Our mission is to create tours for you at affordable prices and to suit your budget.

Willie Hall Tours aims are to have:
• Personalised tours to a maximum of 12 guests,
• Use qualified nature guides including local Birdlife bird guides,
• Visit amazing Wildlife destinations and biodiversity of nature,
• Supply excellent affordable accommodation, and
• Have comprehensive itineraries and specific checklists.

Come join Willie Hall Tours and experience Southern Africa’s wildlife!

Birding Africa is a bird tour operator specialising in leading professionally guided bird tours for groups and private individuals to countries throughout Africa and Madagascar. We customise tours for both world listers and more relaxed holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies, botany and other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa’s and Madagascar’s most diverse birding destinations. Our guides’ knowledge of African birds and birding areas is our greatest strength and together we have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations with the birding community and had a fun time exploring our home continent. We’ve even written two acclaimed guide books on where to find Southern Africa’s and Madagascar’s best birds.

In addition we offer guided tours and self-drive birding holidays in Southern Africa, and guided birding day trips from most of the main city centres. We are based in Cape Town and therefore focus on guided day trips on the Cape Peninusla, Hottentots Holland and West Coast National Park and 2-day loops to the Tanqua Karoo and Overberg.

Birding is more than our passion, it’s our lifestyle, and we are dedicated to making professional, best value trips filled with endemic species and unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997, we’ve run bird watching tours in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders, small birding groups and top international tour companies. We’ve run Conservation Tours in association with the African Bird Club and work with and consult for a number of other top international tour companies and the BBC Natural History Unit.

Choose Birding Africa: 2500 bird species, 20 endemic bird families, the world record for bird species seen in a day and the most exhilarating primate and mammal watching on earth. We are bird guide authors and conservationists living in Africa, drawn together by a common passion: sharing our enthusiasm for Africa’s birds with the world.

Birding Ecotours specializes in Small Group birding adventures world-wide. Typically, our maximum group size is 6 people in countries with primarily forest birding, or 8 people in more open countries where the birds are easier to see.

We like to do things differently. Our team is constantly innovating. For example, we offer some unique tours, including Bird Sound Recording tours, Owls of the World® Tours, tough mammal tours and more. We lead the way in the birding tour industry.

What is one of our typical birding tours like? Our main focus is of course on finding the important birds (especially the endemics and specials). Our trip lists are top-notch (we do encourage you to look at our trip lists and compare them with those of other companies). However, we understand that birding tours can be tiring, so we prefer to add a day or two, rather than to knock ourselves completely out by rushing all the way through. This gives us back-up-time in case some birds don’t cooperate as expected, and also gives time to stop for mammals and other interesting things along the way.

We also run a lot of Birding Photo Tours, which need a different approach to a typical birding tour – more space in the vehicles for camera gear, the correct pace to get photos (not just visuals), angling the vehicle correctly (when not on foot) and loads of other considerations are important here.

We have three offices, one in the USA (headed up by Mike Nelson), another in Peru (led by Eduardo Ormaeche), and the final one in South Africa (with Chris Lotz and several others based there). Our Peru office is a real asset, with Eduardo and team being able to offer very high quality birding tours at competitive prices throughout the neo-tropical region, including Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Central America and the Caribbean. Our US office is weakened by the fact that Mike spends a lot of his time in Africa and Asia! Overall, we have an extremely strong presence in Australia, Africa, South America, North America, Europe and Asia, and we sometimes arrange cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic.

We’re always happy to arrange a custom trip, in addition to our wide array of Small Group set-departure trips. We can run any of our advertised tours any time by request. And, if you send us a wish-list, we’ll revert to you with a custom itinerary fast – our team loves the challenge of finding difficult birds including flufftails, owls and other elusive species.

If you contact us, you’ll find that we’re spectacularly enthusiastic, and highly efficient at e-mailing detailed information to you. It’s our contagious enthusiasm for birding, and the natural world as a whole, that spurs us on to give the outstanding service that might be surprising to you. Ask us a question and we’ll answer you with gusto.

Please e-mail info@birdingecotours.co.za if you want to be added to our mailing list or if you have any questions about birding or of course about specific tours. And peruse our website, www.birdingecotours.co.za.

Join Stuart McLean on a birding experience up the majestic Sani Pass or visit the mistbelt grasslands and forests. Stuart, based in Himeville KZN, is a qualified tour guide and has been guiding for the last 20 years. He has completed a rock art course, has botanical experience, and an interest in dragon-and damselflies, adding a different dimension to his tours.

Stuart is a passionate naturalist and offers natural history tours in the Southern Drakensberg area.

• Birding up Sani Pass: All day trip up the Sani Pass in a 4×4 looking for Drakensberg Rockjumper, Sentinel Rockthrush, Drakensberg Siskin, Bush Blackcap and Mountain Pipit.
• Mistbelt Tour: A half day to Bulwer – Hella Hella to spot Cape Parrots and the Blue Swallows.
• Bushman Painting Hikes: A 5-6 hour hike into the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park to view the bushman paintings.

Cape Eco-Tours is a small, but dynamic tour operator based in Cape Town. We offer private and personalized tours designed specifically to suit the needs and interests of each individual client. We guarantee value for money tours with personal attention on all trips.

Trips to any destination in South Africa will be customized to include any one or more of the following:

• Bird watching (whether you are a relaxed birder or a ‘twitcher’)
• Botanical rambles (Fynbos, spring flowers etc)
• Ecological walks and drives
• Scenic country drives
• Wine tours and tasting
• Whale watching
• Tours customised for keen to serious photographers

For Birding and Botanising in the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Free State, KZN & Gauteng

See up to 10000 seabirds of 25 species on Cape Town Pelagics‘ seabird trips from Cape Town and Durban. Cape Town Pelagics is run on a non-profit basis and over the last 8 years, we’ve donated over R 60,000.00 to Albatross research and conservation. One of the projects we’ve supported recently has been Birdlife International’s Save the Albatross Campaign, of which the Albatross Task force is a part.

We’re glad that through our pelagic trips we’ve been able to play our small role in helping to save Albatrosses, not only by direct donations, but also by raising awareness (for example for the Leap School Bird Club) and providing an opportunity for people to see Albatrosses and becoming inspired for conservation. We also take out Albatross researchers for free on research trips. See trip schedules and reports on our website and blog.

Through our sister company, Birding Africa, we can also organise any of your land-based birding needs, such as accommodation, transport and expert guides.

Lawson’s Birding, Wildlife and Custom Safaris started out in 1990 with some of the first dedicated birding safaris to South Africa, in the process pioneering some of the now popular routes and stakeouts. Since then we’ve grown into a specialised birding and wildlife safari company, offering first-class birding and wildlife trips to a range of countries in Southern and Eastern Africa. Our range of set-departures caters to both the casual birder and the more enthusiastic ‘lister’, as well as the general natural history enthusiast. For those who prefer not to join groups, or who have specific travel requirements, we are also the custom-safari specialists. Either way, we’ll use our extensive knowledge and experience to create a fun, rewarding and memorable African experience for you.

Lawson’s safaris comprise:

• small groups of up to 12 participants (safaris for larger groups or private tours are available on request)
• knowledgeable and experienced professional leaders
• excellent accommodation with birds and wildlife on the doorstep
• incredible wildlife destinations
• comprehensive itineraries and species checklists

Take a look at our set-departure safaris or contact us to put together a custom-made itinerary to suit your needs, interests and budget.

We look forward to setting up the trip of a lifetime for you and to meeting you here on African soil!

“You’ll want to return to Africa with us time and time again!”

Outdoor Heartbeat (Pty) Ltd is a South African based tour operator.  Our passion for birding was fundamental in the establishment of this organization. We believe in excellence of service and our vision includes individual professionalism and virtue of our partners.
We offer unique tours in the following fields in Southern Africa:

• Birding
• Nature
• Culture
• Fly-Fishing
• Expeditions
• Custom Tours

Our tours are designed by the best qualified, experienced and active guides in their field. Outdoor Heartbeat also partners with area and subject specialists to ensure extreme customer satisfaction.

We offer exciting 1day tours to extended adventure-filled tours. Our tours are filled with highlights, adventure and memories, so book your dream tour with us.

Our tours are focused in South Africa and we cater for both local and international tourists.
We make use of venues with an excellent reputation and affordable rates.

We use prime birder friendly venues, all with excellent reputations and affordable rates. Our tour leaders are well qualified, government registered guides, who have completed regular first aid training. They all hold government issued professional driving permits (PDP).
We can also create a fully customised tour for almost any specific adventure that you have in mind. Please talk to us about this service as it sets us apart from other tour operators.
We normally limit our group sizes to eight people to ensure that we cater for individual attention on matters of interest to you, which is not always possible in larger groups. We make sure that matters of interest to you are conveyed in such a way that they are of interest to all in the group.

Our tour leaders are all passionate birders and accomplished tour coordinators who derive great pleasure from sharing their birding experiences with others. Most of our tours are guided by full time Rockjumper leaders, often with the backup of the most experienced local birders across the globe. Whilst we guarantee that our leaders have superb birding skills, we also appreciate that they need to be personable, professional, friendly, attentive and dedicated to delivering a rewarding, educational, safe and enjoyable birding experience!

Our office team is based in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and is highly skilled at orchestrating the complex arrangements that efficient and organized traveling requires. Questions are gladly answered in a friendly and comprehensive manner, and you will find that booking with us is nothing but a pleasure. We do our utmost to ensure that all your requests and requirements are met; whether before, during or after your tour with us.

Our leader to guest ratio is one of the best in the birding tour industry and most of our tours have a maximum of eight participants, giving our guests a very personalized tour experience. For some destinations we provide two leaders with an absolute maximum of 12 participants. The only exception to this is cruises where larger groups are unavoidable.

Our tour costs and booking conditions represent excellent value for money and are very reasonable. Although we are not always the least expensive in the market, it is important to compare exactly what you are getting when dealing with low cost or local operators. In particular, the services of a professional tour leader can make.

Birders can overnight at Simplicity, our comfortable thatched lodge, which is self-catering and can accommodate 8 guests. Bed linen and towels are provided, along with braai-wood.
Guests can also stay at Lily Pad hut, our rustic bamboo hikers’ accommodation, overlooking the upper narrow section of the Kleinemonde West River, for up to 24 hikers in 2 dormitories with bunk beds, (bring own food, drinks, utensils, towels, bedding/sleeping bags). The river flows after good rain and the narrow section can be seen from the deck. Wood is provided for the braai and for the donkey-boiler for hot outdoor showers. There are open-air long-drop toilets.

Guests must bring all their own food and drinks as there are NO shopping facilities close by.
Nyala Valley offers an unforgettable birding experience.

Sustain was created as a conservation-driven ecotourism company, with a business model focused on creating exceptional and great value safari experiences that give back. We specialize in creating and leading superb nature tours that focus on the region’s magnificent birds and wildlife, as well as all other manner of biodiversity. Our group leaders are qualified nature and birding guides, and will ensure that your expectations are exceeded, as we lead you into the finest biodiversity hotspots in the region, and stay at some remarkable lodges on the journey. As regional experts, we will lead you on the experience of a lifetime to some of the finest bird, mammal and biodiversity hotspots in Southern Africa.

Our private tours endeavour to limit travel time and distance, and to rather focus on maximizing remarkable experiences in areas of breath-taking natural beauty. We look forward to creating the tour of a lifetime for you at affordable prices.

Sustain Safaris comprise:

• Personalized tours with maximum 12 guests (max 2 guides with 6 guests per guide);
• Experienced and knowledgeable professional tour leaders;
• Amazing wildlife destinations and biodiversity;
• Excellent accommodation in birding and wildlife havens;
• Comprehensive itineraries and species checklists.

We look forward to arranging the trip of a lifetime for you and to meeting your every need on African soil. Enjoy the rawness and allure of African wildlife experiences with Sustain Wildlife and Birding Safaris.

So, contact us to arrange a tour itinerary to suit your needs, interests and budget.