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Specialist African Safaris - More than just a game drive
Co-ordinates S28 03 26.4 E32 17 42.2
We run our safaris out of Bonamanzi Game Reserve, a 4 000 hectare, private South African game reserve, safari lodge and natural heritage site, which is also one of the largest private wildlife and birding parks in Zululand. Bordered by a World Heritage site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in the east and with Hluhluwe Game Reserve a short drive to the west, it's easy to see why we've selected Bonamanzi for our Zululand Birding Safaris. Located in the heart of Zululand, Bonamanzi happens to be widely recognised as one of the top birding destinations in Southern Africa.
For a map of the region, click here.
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Cormorants over Lake St Lucia at twilight. |
Our birding safaris are run by Dave and Sally Johnson, who have encyclopediac knowledge of birds as well as the natural world. Sally is the expert on the flora of the region so it is fascinating to walk with them and hear what they have to say on both the birding and natural history of an area.
Read more about Dave and Sally here.
Accommodation comprises delightful, air conditioned thatched chalets, all with en-suite bathrooms, set in beautiful, thorntree studded parkland with warthog and nyala wandering freely through the camp. Our classroom is a beautiful, semi-enclosed deck overlooking an African waterhole where the water lilies splash their colour across the languid waters and frogs serenade one another late into the night.
Dinner is served beneath the star-studded heavens, while cathedrals of candles and a huge campfire throw flickering, golden shadows across enchanted faces. Delicious food, chilled drinks and convivial company are a given, and time is marked by the slow wheel of the Southern Cross through the African sky.
These 3-day workshops take place over a weekend, with registration and an introductory talk (including a slide show) on the Thursday evening and then a full day on Friday and Saturday and a half-day on Sunday.
Bonamanzi Bird List
The full Bonamanzi Bird List can be seen here and with 385 confirmed sightings I think that anyone would agree that this is the place to do birding. Their list includes 4 East Coast endemic or near-endemic species, a number of southern African endemic species, 29 red Data species, some range-restricted birds, and a number of species whose southern limits are the Hluhluwe region.
While Dave and Sally cannot possibly guarantee sightings, participants in the workshop can look forward to seeing, amongst others, these “specials” : Neergaard's Sunbird (endemic), Pink throated Twinspot (endemic), Lemon breasted Canary (near-endemic), Rudd's Apalis (near-endemic), African Broadbill, Natal Nightjar, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Pink throated Long claw, Pel's Fishing Owl, African Finfoot, Cuckoo Hawk, Green Coucal, Crested Guineafowl, Bearded Robin, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Yellowbreasted Apalis, Lesser Blackwinged Plover, Blackbellied Korhaan, Grass Owl, Black Coucal, Greyrumped Swallow, Rufous winged Cisticola.
For a more comprehensive Bird List, click here
Programme
Thursday
16:00. You will need to arrive at Bonamanzi in by 15:00 or so and we'll meet in the elevated lounge at the waterhole at about 16:00 for registration. We'll then have a walk around the camp looking at some of the many birds in amongst the lala palms and acacias. Dave will than hold a discussion on what we're likely to see over the next few days. Pre-dinner drinks will be served followed by dinner.
Friday
06:00. After a 05:30 wake-up call we meet in the dining room for coffee and a light snack before departing in Thompson Touring and Safaris' vehicles for a game drive. We'll go slowly, stopping at various points of interest along the way as we work the area, looking for birds and other interesting things. (Dave and Sally are both “walking encyclopedias”). As the day begins to heat up, we return to base for a scrumptious breakfast.
An hour or so before lunch Dave and Sally will host another camp walk, looking at interesting birds, plants and insects. This can be tailor made to the group's interests so shout if there is a particular subject that you are interested in.
15:00. Meet at the dining room for afternoon tea and then into the 4 X 4's again – this time heading for the Hluhluwe River flood plains. This is one that mustn't be missed at all. The afternoon's birding will be rounded off with a cruise up the Hluhluwe River, making the most of the riverine birds returning to roost. Sundowners will be served on board and we then return to camp for dinner.
Saturday
06h00. After a 05:30 wake-up call we again meet in the dining room for coffee and a light snack before departing for another stunning morning in the bush. We'll work different habitats to Friday and the morning culminates with netting and ringing session. This unique experience will enable one to get really up close and personal with the birds while Dave and Sally point out distinguishing characteristics of the various species. We return to camp and breakfast and Dave will hold mid- morning lectures and a slide show in the conference centre.
Saturday 15:00. Meet at the dining room for afternoon tea and then into the 4 X 4's again and this time we head for False bay park and walk one of the trails through the very typical Western Shores forests. Sundowners will be served on the shores of lake St Lucia as we keep an eye open for waders and birds returning to roost.
The highlight of the afternoon will be on the drive back to Bonamanzi and dinner when Dave will attempt to capture some of the Nightjars that sit on the roads after dark , the idea being to look at the features of these very difficult to identify species.
Sunday
06h00. After the inevitable 05:30 wake-up call we again meet in the dining room for coffee and a light snack before heading out again. The actual route will be decided on the day but will more than likely be back to flood plains to see what's new. Guests depart after breakfast served under the trees at camp.
Equipment required is as follows:
Workshop Dates: The next birding workshop is from 16th to the 19th October 2009.
Workshop Cost : R7125 Sharing or R7925 -00 Single. Non-Participating partners sharing:
R3 485.00-00
Note:The cost of the workshop includes accommodation, food, teas and coffees, comprehensive course notes and a certificate of completion of the workshop. Drinks and extras are for your own account.
E-mail us on info@oldcanvasexpeditions.com for more information.
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