Excellent Birdwatching Guide

by Terry Lunn
(Canada)

The planning was very good; our guide Leon was excellent, very knowledgeable and handled all of the challenges that we presented him with. His expertise with the birds both in sighting and identifying species was impeccable.

I found Lawson's Birding and Wildlife Tours via an internet search.

Accommodation

We stayed at Otter's Den, Blyde River; Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge, Balule Nature Reserve; Nkorho Bush Lodge, Sabi Sand Game Reserve; Gecko Lodge, Hazyview.

For the most part we were satisfied.

Lawson's Note:

We would have liked to stay in the Kruger National Park, due to the client's preference for birding, but due to the World Cup Football we couldn't get any accommodation in the park so had to use private establishments outside the park, which meant quite a lot of driving to and from the Kruger every day, but we made the most of the situation and adapted to suit their expectations.

Food: A few packed breakfasts due to early departures as well as some hearty 'English' breakfasts; great dinners overall (Terry owns a restaurant in Montreal and was very impressed with the dinners especially).

Wildlife

Wildlife was very good considering it was winter season.

Editors note: The winter is dry season in the Kruger Park so even though the landscape is dry and dusty it's an advantage for wildlife sightings, because there is less vegetation to obscure your view and animals congregate around water points, making them easier to find.

Summer rainfall brings lush green vegetation which is nice for photography but the downside is that the denser bush makes it more difficult to spot and photograph animals. Having said that, you will still see a lot of wildlife during the summer.

We got up early and spent most of the day birding and viewing wildlife.

Editors note: Getting up early and leaving as the gates open is a sure fire way to see more animals.

They are more active in the early hours of the morning because the temperatures are lower before the sun rises.

This will also give you an opportunity to possibly spot some of the nocturnal species that are rarely seen.

Tips and Advice

Don't forget binoculars.

The general overall experience was great. Thanks Leon!

Terry's Safari Details:

Rating: 8/10

Safari company used: Lawson's Birding and Wildlife Tours

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Parks visited: Greater Kruger National Park region in South Africa

Date of safari: 20-26 June

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