Baviaanskloof & Addo

24 April to 2 May 2024

This adventure takes us to several exciting destinations and is much, much more than a pure birding trip. We visit two iconic Eastern Cape destinations ie The Baviaanskloof and Addo Elephant National Park.

The word Baviaanskloof, although derived from the Dutch “valley of baboons” is associated with pristine nature, narrow gorges with flowing streams, steep mountain passes, vast plains with waving grasslands, and views of unspoiled wilderness.

Our entire country can be divided into just nine biomes (a unique ecological unit with a characteristic set of plant, animal species and climate) and Addo stretches over five of these with each biome having its own set of key species. In a lesser-known stretch of Addo, where the park meets the sea, there’s a great gathering of high and wide dunes known as the Alexandria Dune Field. This dune sea, as it’s also known, is the largest and least degraded of its kind in the southern hemisphere, stretching over 15 800 hectares, with its widest point being five kilometres from the sea

DESTINATIONS

The Baviaanskloof lies about 120 km west of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape and comprises 270 000 ha. of unspoiled, rugged mountainous terrain. The area encompasses the World Heritage site of the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and the Karoo towns of Steytlerville, Willowmore, Rietbron and Grootrivier. Starting in the East at Komdomo, the road leads through the rugged Grootrivier gorge on its winding path through this pristine conservancy to Willowmore in the west, a total distance of about 203 km

With its World Heritage Site status, the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve is home to the largest wilderness area in the country and is one of eight protected areas of the Cape Floristic Region. Covering some 200km of unspoiled, rugged mountainous terrain with spectacular landscapes the area hosts more than a thousand different plant species, including the Erica and Protea families and two species of ancient cycads. Seven of South Africa’s nine biomes are represented within the Reserve – Fynbos, Forest, Grassland, Succulent Karoo, Nama-Karoo, Subtropical Thicket and Savanna.

The area is characterised by its diverse landscapes due to the region’s high geological, topographic and climatic diversity. The colourful cliffs and rock formations are characteristic of the predominant hard sandstone, which is part of the Table Mountain group of sediments.

The rich and diverse animal life of the area can be attributed to the diversity and complexity of its environmental component. Some of the larger mammal species found are Cape Leopard, Cape Buffalo, Kudu, Cape Mountain Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Bushbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Eland and Baboon.

Birding Attractions

Baviaanskloof

Ludwig’s Bustard, Blue Crane, Booted Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, Black Harrier, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, Red-necked Spurfowl, Grey-winged Francolin, Common Quail, Fynbos Buttonquail (with some luck),Black Stork, Cape Rockjumper, Ground Woodpecker, Olive Woodpecker, Southern Tchagra, Cape Grassbird, Cape Rock-Thrush, Karoo Long-billed Lark, Karoo Chat, Fairy Flycatcher, Cape Sugarbird, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Layard’s Tit-Babbler, Victorin’s Warbler, Black-headed Canary, Protea Seedeater, Cape Siskin.

The Woody Cape section of Addo Elephant Park, formerly known as the Alexandria State Forest, is an 80 km section of the coastline located between the Bushman’s River to the east and the Sundays River to the west. The vegetation of this region primarily consists of the dune fields of the former Alexandria State Forest, which runs along the Indian Ocean coastline between the Bushman’s River and the Sunday’s River. The coastal forest contains classic Afromontane forest trees such as yellowwoods, growing alongside milkwood and coral trees on sandy soils. More than 150 species of birds have been recorded in the forest and adjoining habitats, including the beach.

Birding Attractions

Addo Elephant National Park(Woody Cape)

African Crowned Eagle, Forest Buzzard, African Wood-Owl, Denham’s Bustard, Black-winged Lapwing, Knysna Turaco, Brown Scrub-Robin, White-starred Robin, Chorister Robin-Chat, Olive Bush-Shrike, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Grey Sunbird, Narina Trogon, Olive Woodpecker, Grey Cuckooshrike, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Knysna Warbler, Lemon Dove, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Cape Batis, , Dark-backed Weaver, Forest Canary

This 9-day tour departs from Gqeberha. We travel in an air-conditioned Double Cab 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Includes

Return flights betweeen Johannesburg and Gqeberha, ground transport, all meals and accommodation, guiding, entrance fees and specified activities.  

Excludes

Alcoholic beverages, gratuities and items of a personal nature.