21-Day South Africa: Birding Safari

Sugarbird hummingbird sitting on the endemic fynbos pincushion protea flower in Cape Town, South Africa

What to expect on this itinerary

Let South Africa’s cosmopolitan cities seduce you, its vast, rich landscapes inspire you, its iconic animal sightings allure you, and its fabulous colorful birdlife enchant you on this safari and birding exploration from Umhlanga to Cederberg. On the journey, history and culture will come to life as nature awakens within the plains and bushveld surrounding you, an experience that will be richly rewarding.

Countries Visited

South Africa

Places Visited

Umhlanga, Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve, andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, Makuleke Contractual Park, Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, Cape Town, Cederberg

Suggested Duration

21 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Umhlanga - Embrace Umhlanga’s Refreshing Seaside Energy

Umhlanga embraces KwaZulu-Natal’s golden coast and typifies a glitzy South African seaside retreat. Sunlight reflects off the glass surfaces of lofty apartments, waves crash against the searing shoreline, and locals gather in boutique cafés overlooking the Indian Ocean. These quintessential Umhlanga scenes will welcome you to KwaZulu-Natal after a short transfer from King Shaka International Airport to your seaside accommodation. In the evening, spotlights illuminate the iconic red-tipped Umhlanga Lighthouse, and the moonlight sways with the swells. These spectacles will backdrop your scrumptious seafood dinner at one of Umhlanga’s premier restaurants.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Umhlanga - Living the High Life

Day 3

Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve - Nestled in the North Coast’s Rich Wilderness

Day 4

Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve - Breathtaking Birding Pilgrimage

Day 5

Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve - Boating across the St. Lucia Estuary

Day 6

Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve - Close Encounters with Africa’s Animals

Day 7

andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve - An Afternoon Introduction to Phinda

Day 8

andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve - Searching for the Big Five

Day 9

andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve - Cultural Immersion and Wildlife Education

Day 10

Makuleke Contractual Park - Private Retreat in the Greater Kruger Park

Day 11

Makuleke Contractual Park - Fever Tree Forests and the Crook’s Corner

Day 12

Makuleke Contractual Park - Spirited away by the Lanner Gorge

Day 13

Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve - Spectacular Forest Scenes in Sabi Sands

Day 14

Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve - Kruger Discoveries before Dawn

Day 15

Cape Town - The Western Cape’s Prized Cityscape

Day 16

Cape Town - A Detour through the Cityscape

Day 17

Cape Town - Bird Watching at Cape Point

Day 18

Cape Town - Taste Tours of the Cape Winelands

Day 19

Cederberg - Bushmans Kloof World of Fynbos

Day 20

Cederberg - Art and Culture beneath the Cederberg Mountains

Day 21

Cederberg - Goodbyes to the Historically Rich and Wildly Diverse

Trip Highlights

  • Relish a unique birding bushwalk through Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve that will allow you to scan the sprawling bushveld in search of the North Coast’s iconic feathered creatures
  • Climb into a boat settling sail across the St. Lucia Estuary and capture the remarkable wildlife sightings and birdlife experiences that await on the banks of this picturesque riverside setting
  • Attune with nature as you come closer to cheetahs and elephants than ever before during a visit to the Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre and Elephant Interaction near Hluhluwe
  • Scour the open plains and low-lying bushveld mapped across Phinda game reserve in search of Africa’s iconic and sensational Big Five animals, which includes lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and cape buffaloes
  • Visit a traditional Zulu village and delve into the rich history and heritage of the local community as you witness customary performances and tuck into their distinct cuisine during your stay
  • Step into the groves of the world’s largest fever tree forest and admire the breathtaking riverside spectacles that will present themselves to you during an exploration of Crook’s Corner in Makuleke Contractual Park
  • Explore Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve before the sun rises as your guide illuminates the bushveld with a spotlight and you survey the landscape for hunting predators, nocturnal birds, and more
  • Travel through Cape Town city’s suburban and heritage districts, visiting fabled museums and contemporary art galleries that showcase the height of South African creative talent and the country’s memorable history
  • Wander along the Cape coastline to Cape Point, stopping at sparkling Blue Flag beaches en route and capturing the incredible birdlife that finds refuge in the region’s nourishing environments
  • Learn more about wine alongside a sommelier during visits to the Cape Winelands elite estates, where you will savor the award-winning vintages, peer into the barrel-laden cellars, and absorb the region’s mesmerizing vistas

Starting Price

$20,500 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1124 reviews

Carolyn T.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe Trip Review: Wildlife, Local Cuisine, 13-Day Trip

Wow, I ran out of superlatives–fantastic, awesome, amazing. Everything was well organized and the recommended accommodations were all top-notch. The guides were so expert in their field. Every activity was well worth the time. Every meal was delicious.

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Anil M.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Tour Review: 10 Nights

Our first trip to southern Africa was amazing, exceeding all expectations. We saw everything we came to see, and more. The game rides were well structured and safe, the visuals were unbelievable, and taking a side trip to Victoria Falls was a great idea. The accommodations were quite luxurious, despite being considered mid-range. There was always someone there to greet us and guide us at every travel point.

Zicasso's tour operator tailored our itinerary to our wishes and was wonderful to work with. Things couldn’t have gone better.

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Grace J.
South Africa Travel Review: Safaris, 1 Week

We had an awesome trip. Zicasso's travel expert was amazing. She accomplished everything.

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Nancy H.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Tour Review: Cape Town, Franschhoek, Wine Tasting, Elephant Experience, River Cruise, Wildlife, Nature, Scenery, 13 Nights

Zicasso's trip planner arranged the most fabulous trip for my family. She knew exactly what I wanted and delivered a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa! She always answered my questions promptly. She chose memorable experiences for us, our lodgings were top-notch, and she "kept in touch, behind the scenes," to ensure all elements were going smoothly. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone planning a trip to Africa!

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LESLIE W.
Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique Trip Review: Gorilla Trek, Bush Camps, 3 Weeks

It was very well planned. Zicasso's travel specialist was responsive and flexible in the planning process and throughout the final details.

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Catherine R.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Vacation Review: Safari, 11 Nights

The trip was amazing. Zicasso's trip expert did an awesome job planning the trip. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and exceeded all of our expectations. The “in-country” travel was seamless. Our accommodations and tours were all top-notch. I can‘t thank her enough for planning this awesome experience.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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