Because South Africa is so diverse, not just in people and landscapes but climate too, each season offers something unique to photograph. Please visit these pages to get a clearer understanding of year round opportunities.
Best time to Visit: https://www.photographytours.co.za/information/best-time-to-visit/
Rain Season Advantage: https://www.photographytours.co.za/information/advantages-rain-season/
Overall April-Nov are the best months but Summer (Dec-March) has its own advantages too

Kruger National Park & Zululand
Dry season is from May-Oct/Nov. Green Season, with its summer rains is from Nov-March when all the migrant birds are back and the baby mammals are everywhere. This is a very hot and humid time of year, the hot weather start from September. July-October is Safari high season with July school holidays, Xmas & Easter being peak high season times that require year+ advanced bookings.

Cape Town
Cape Town offers year round birding but the peak season is winter/spring (June- Nov). This applies for marine animals like whales and sharks too. Summer (Dec/March) can be very windy so birds tend to viewed less on those days however the Penguins and Kirstenbosch Gardens are year round photography destinations

Mountains and Grasslands
For keen birders, visiting Nov – March we highly recommend either adding or substituting one of the safari destinations for the mountain and grassland region, these open habitats are at their birding peak over these times.

Wakkerstroom – Kruger – Zululand – Cape Town (11 Days)
This photo tour is bird photography focused but can be modified to be wildlife focused too.

WAKKERSTROOM (1 Night)
A.M. collection from airport or Joburg central-based hotel. If requested, we can also arrange pre-tour accommodation. We drive 3 hours south east to a spectacular wetland and grassland on the edge of a tranquil farming town. Wakkerstroom is a designated Important Bird and Biodiversity Area with over 370 recorded bird species, many of them endemic specials.  South Africa has 13 unique bird species, nine of them are found in and around Wakkerstroom!

 Wakkerstroom is set up for birding with numerous bird hides (blinds) and great driving routes on quiet farm roads. Specials we’ll be on the look-out for are Southern Bald Ibis, Blue & White-bellied (Barrow’s) Korhaans, Yellow Breasted Pipit, Red-winged & Grey-winged Francolins, Ground Woodpecker, Buff-streaked Chat, Marsh Owl and South Africa’s National Bird the Blue Crane. Accommodation: Comfortable Guest House

 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (3 Nights)
The Kruger Park is justly considered one of Africa’s top wildlife destinations It has an abundance of wildlife 147 mammal species, 500+ birds; Hornbills, Starlings, Vultures, Rollers, Bee-eaters and Shrikes are typical and in the camps and picnic sites many species have become relatively tame allowing for close up photography.

 We will stay 3 nights in Marloth Park which shares over 12 Km’s (8 miles) of the Crocodile River boundary with the Kruger. Marloth is a very special birding destination because it has a fence that keeps dangerous animals out, creating the rare opportunity to be in the Kruger region with the option to walk anywhere to photograph birds as well as giraffe, zebra and other smaller wildlife species on foot! There are many sought after bird species that are easier to photograph in Marloth than anywhere else like Ritz Helmetshrike, Orange Breasted and Gorgeous Bush-shrike, Sterling Barred Warbler, Cut Throat Finches, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbirds and more.    

Though we will be based in Marloth Park, we will be using open topped Safari Vehicles to do excursions into the Kruger. In Marloth, itself we know a number of special bird locations, from a productive bird in flight spot over the river to a private residence that has bird feeders allowing close up photography. In the Kruger we’ll touring the southern region which not only has exceptional birds but is also one of the best areas for wildlife with the Big 5 frequently encountered.

Accommodation: Safari Lodge in Marloth Park

ZULULAND (3 Nights) 
Approximately 6hrs drive south from Marloth is Zululand, South Africa’s premier birding destination because of its diverse habitats. There are an impressive 550+ recorded bird species, for this small area reflecting the incredible bird richness of the region.

If available we will stay at African’s first reserve set up exclusively for wildlife photographers with 9 dedicated hides (blinds), including reflection ponds, a mobile bird hide and even 2 state of the art overnight hides. The hides are par excellence second to none; they’re spacious and soundproofed with Benro GH2 Heads and tripods are provided at each seat, you can of course also bring your own support systems along with Arca Swiss plates are available, at no extra cost.

With almost 400 bird species and 80 mammal species recorded within just 8000 hectares (16 000 acres) this is a bird and wildlife mecca! For birders there are many sought after specials like Pink Throated twinspot, Rudds Apalis, Neergaard’s sunbird, Narina Trogan, African Broadbill, Lemon Breasted Canary and more!

As this reserve has limited accommodation, we have 3 alternative 5 star Lodges to use, all with same exceptional bird and wildlife viewing.  Following breakfast on the 4^th day, we drive 4hrs south to Durban for a 2 hour domestic flight to Cape Town.

Accommodation: 4 star Dedicated Photographic Lodge or 5 Star Private Lodge

CAPE TOWN (3 Nights)
Cape Town is one of the most beautifully located cities in the world and offers opportunities to photograph bird in areas of great scenic beauty. The Cape has some beautiful birds that found nowhere else on the planet like the Cape Sugarbird, Cape Rock jumper,  Orange breasted Sunbird and Protea Seedeater and all 3 mousebirds, which are a family of birds endemic to Africa .And of course, the African Penguin colony at Boulders is sensational, as is Kirstenbosch Gardens which is renowned as one of the most beautiful botanical gardens on earth.

No birding trip to Cape Town would be complete without a visit to the Cape Point where we’ll look for; Cape Sugar birds, Cape Bulbul, Cape Canaries, Cape Cormorant, Black Oyster-catchers, White backed Mousebirds and the endemic bontebok (antelope).

 Where Cape Town really shines for wildlife photographers is out at sea, with some of the best shark, whale, seal and bird photography anywhere so close to the mainland! A Half Day boat trip can sometimes produce spectacles of thousands of birds.  Numbers and diversity of species is seasonal though with June – Sept having the highest bird densities but all through the year (because of these small offshore islands where many marine birds breed), there is always something to photograph.

 Cape Destinations
Day 1: Cape Point and Penguins at Boulders Beach
Day 2: Boat Trip, Milnerton Lagoon, Table Mount Sunset view 
Day 3: Kirstenbosch Gardens, Clarens Drive, Rooiels, Betty Bay, Harold Porter Garden

 The order of the tour days can change depending on weather conditions, especially for the boat trip as large swell can cancel trips. There are numerous alternative options if this happens, such as the Rietvlie and Strandfontein sewage works, Intaka Reserve and the picturesque Cape winelands. Cape Town and its surroundings has so much beauty, there is enough to keep photographers busy for weeks! 

If tour is (mid-august to mid-sept) it is recommended to add an extra day for the West Coast National Park during the wild flower display which attracts an abundance of birds. Accommodation: Comfortable Guest House

TOUR LEADER/HOST
James is an award winning photographer  and a highly qualified Safari Guide with the following FGASA Qualifications I, II, III + SKS DA + a 4 year Degree in Nature Conservation. Prior to starting Photography Tours, James worked as a Professional Safari Guide for 6 years at South Africa’s premier lodges Londolozi, Phinda, Ngala and Tau.
He was also a Safari Director for Micato Safaris (The World’s No 1. Safari Operator).

Bird Portfolio: www.jamesgradwell.com/birds/
Wildlife Portfolio: www.jamesgradwell.com/wildlife/

COST INCLUDES:
All Accommodation (3 and 4 star lodges optimally located for photo opportunities)
All Meals (to value of R250 p/meal when eating at restaurant)
All Transport (including 4×4 excursions at lodges)
All Guided Activities and Excursions (as per itinerary)
All Park Fees, Permits and special concession fees
Domestic Flight Durban to Cape Town
Professional photographer guide, in the field photography tips, techniques & tuition
Pre and post nights can be arranged

COSTS EXCLUDES:
International flights, drinks outside of meal times, snacks, gratuities, fees for passport, visas, immunizations, insurance and airport taxes. Cost of hospitalization and evacuation if necessary, laundry, phone and other items of a personal nature, any optional activities

COVID-19 TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

For entry into South Africa (as per current requirements) guests are required to present a negative, PCR-based COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours of boarding their international flight. And require a PCR test, before flying back, which will be arranged in Cape Town.

 COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

All guests will be required to practice social distancing in public areas. Masks or face shields are compulsory in areas where social distancing is not possible.

 To book this tour or request more info please full in our booking form here

* World Famous Kruger National Park 
* Marloth Park one of the few places in the Kruger Region you can safely walk and photograph birds on foot
* Wakkerstroom SA endemic bird hot spot Bird Hides (blinds) and quiet farm roads in a traditional non-tourist rural town. 
* Zululand with over 550 species recorded in small region this is SA top bird destination
* Kirstenbosch Gardens with its beautiful endemic bird species
* Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope wind swept plains and marine birdlife
*  Marine Boat Trip with birds, whales, sharks and seals.

* Tour can be extended to include Mountains and Grassland regions of the Drakensberg and West Coast National Park during Flower Season (Aug/Sept)