Cape Endemics
Cape Endemics
Sugarbirds, Rock-jumpers and Albatrosses!
A Perfect Introduction to the Cape Birds and
pre-trip to the Eastern South Africa trip
December 17-24, 2008
Reservations and prepayment are required on all Ventures. Your place on this Venture will be reserved when your deposit of $300 has been received. Please make your check payable to VENTURES, Inc. and send it to this address or call the office with your VISA or MasterCard #.
Limited to 10 participants.
Often considered one of the most scenic stretches of landscape in the world, the Cape ranks among Africa's premier birding destinations. It provides easy access to a good selection of coastal and mountain specials, and some of the world's best sites for such highly localized endemics as Knysna Warbler, Hottentot Buttonquail and Cape Siskin, and seabirds such as African Penguin. We will visit Overberg, on a gently undulating coastal plain, that provides a large diversity of much-coveted species, from Cape Rockjumper to Blue Crane. The parched brown expanses, aloe-lined escarpments and lonely isolated hills of the Tanqua Karoo will provide an apt setting for such fine and sought-after dry western endemics as Karoo Eremomela, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Namaqua Warbler and Fairy Flycatcher, among many others. Cape Town is also one of the best locations in the world for a pelagic tour. Combining iconic seabirds such as the Wandering Albatross, a huge diversity of endemic coastal and migratory oceanic species and stupendous numbers of albatrosses and petrels, as well as plenty of marine mammals.
There is not a better time to visit this wonderfully diverse, yet safe African nation. Our accommodation will be comfortable and convenient to the best birding spots. The food is excellent and the people very friendly. If you have never been to Southern Africa before, this trip to the Cape will open your eyes to the beauty and diversity that is South Africa.
Leader: Mark Welford
$3075 per person with single room supplement of $280
Price includes: All transportation throughout (with driver), all accommodation, all meals, entrance fees and gratuities (except for leader/guide), trip information, packet & bird checklist, and guide/leader service throughout. Also included is a day long pelagic out of Simon's Town.
Not included: Round-trip airfare from the US to South Africa, airport departure tax, alcoholic beverages, any meals specified in the itinerary, laundry, and other items of a personal nature.
The maximum group size with 1 leader and a local guide is 11 persons. The deadline to confirm the trip is Oct 10, 2008.
African Penguin, Cape rock-jumper, Cape Sugarbird, Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, Cape Long-billed Lark, Cape Clapper Lark, Karoo Eremomela, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Layard's Tit-babbler, Cape Vulture, Blue Crane, Agulhas Long-billed Lark, Knysna Turaco, Gray-headed, Yellow-nosed and Shy Albatross..
Day 1 Wed 17-Dec-08 - Arrival in Cape Town - Cape Town at Howard's End
Day 2 Thu 18-Dec-08 - Cape Peninsula day trip - Cape Town at Howard's End
Day 3 Fri 19-Dec-08 - West Coast day trip - Cape Town at Howard's End
Day 4 Sat 20-Dec-08 - Pelagic - Cape Town at Howard's End
Day 5 Sun 21-Dec-08 - Tanqua Karoo Tanqua - Klein Cedarberg or Tanqua Guest House
Day 6 Mon 22-Dec-08 - Tanqua Karoo - Cape Town Howard's End
Day 7 Tue 23-Dec-08 - Overberg Overberg - Honeywood Farm or Malgas Hotel
Day 8 Wed 24-Dec-08 - Overberg - Cape Town Howard's End
Due
to weather and other conditions, this itinerary is subject to change.