查看完整版本: South Africa - August 2016 (Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon)

kmatthew 28/08/2016 00:52

South Africa - August 2016 (Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon)

Visited South Africa at the beginning of the August. Will like to thanks Captain Wong for initiating the trip and also Ah Yuen for the great company through our journey to Kruger and Blyde River Canyon. South Africa is well worth visiting for those who want to get a taste of Africa for the first time, it's also a much more budget friendly country to visit compare with Kenya or Tanzania. South Africa offers quite a lot of endemic species and even a few endemic families. Our timing was not the best for birds, but we still had quite a few interesting and target species. We managed to get the BIG FIVE at Kruger, even the Leopard!

We only hired a guide for our short stay at Cape Town, [url=http://brians-birding.co.za/]Brian Vanderwalt[/url] was extremely helpful and very experienced local bird guide, I highly recommend spending a day or two with him at Cape Town. He found us both Blue Cranes and Cape Rockjumpers fairly easily. The rest of our trip was self driven, Kruger offers very good game watching even without any guiding, Blyde River Canyon is highly recommended for the amazing sceneries!

Will no doubt visit this unique corner of earth again in the near future. For full trip report and more photos, please visit the links below:

Trip Report:
[url=http://matthewkwanbirding.blogspot.hk/2016/08/south-africa-trip-august-2016-part-1_17.html]Part 1[/url] - Cape Town + False Bay
[url=http://matthewkwanbirding.blogspot.hk/2016/08/south-africa-august-2016-part-2.html]Part 2[/url] - Cape Town + Johannesburg + Kruger (Crocodile Bridge)
[url=http://matthewkwanbirding.blogspot.hk/2016/08/9th-august-day-6-woke-up-to-another.html]Part 3[/url] - Kruger (Crocodile Bridge + Satara)
[url=http://matthewkwanbirding.blogspot.hk/2016/08/south-africa-august-2016-part-4.html]Part 4[/url] - Kruger (Satara + Letaba)
[url=http://matthewkwanbirding.blogspot.hk/2016/08/south-africa-august-2016-part-5.html]Part 5[/url] - Kruger (Letaba) + J G Strijdomtunnel + Blyde River Canyon
[url=http://matthewkwanbirding.blogspot.hk/2016/08/south-africa-august-2016-part-6.html]Part 6[/url] - Blyde River Canyon

Blue Crane - endemic (National Bird of South Africa)
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVcAbLKXaTI/V7Gl8TFeT7I/AAAAAAAANtg/_8tTeFgu4wQy4PyVhfn_LedbAvoPHJuBgCEw/s1600/_01A1764.jpg[/img]

[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-in0kImztIv8/V7Gl82HQISI/AAAAAAAANtg/Ks23gcHqax8FxzsIt7XjwSURiNLNBYELACEw/s1600/_01A1830.jpg[/img]

Cape Sugarbird - endemic
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4hp5Sih35VA/V7MdzhgJGyI/AAAAAAAANyM/W_qQtfyqakovaKaMgPuKxF7pjvLIF4PKwCEw/s1600/_01A2238.jpg[/img]

[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkcU7jciIkM/V7Md1_0QZbI/AAAAAAAANyM/FzVUL-uBxhAm5YSodP4XuXAtWvAcjQkYwCEw/s1600/_01A3061.jpg[/img]

Cape Rockjumper - endemic
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qenk9yRPoUA/V7Md0LyWCNI/AAAAAAAANyM/lf5dzFlyLtM02rc8kftdWg9_VRzLD4mPgCEw/s1600/_01A2313.jpg[/img]

[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ULX7vlEToYU/V7Md0afQ6gI/AAAAAAAANyM/R1UhY6SDBI0HhYz_cZMCwmY1NKb8kn7AACEw/s1600/_01A2462.jpg[/img]

Cape Grassbird - endemic
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6BT0TV_48QU/V7MdzaHHuNI/AAAAAAAANyM/XuBxjbYVZVoGvpnI_xerBDrltEZUtPhuQCEw/s1600/_01A2175.jpg[/img]

African Penguin - endemic
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D9DqHRKulMM/V7Md4Pa2lZI/AAAAAAAANyM/nzlYcHf0eqUQw2VGbr38anvq3exOrJHWQCEw/s1600/_01A3446.jpg[/img]

[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhFbXNOqg3k/V7MdysFFjeI/AAAAAAAANyM/uujcoHQndWc21jAfxj2nY3hGyCBFnn_fwCEw/s1600/IMG_0421.jpg[/img]

Cape Cormorant - endemic
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GzmyZCeZcUg/V7Md5wloYPI/AAAAAAAANyM/y0EuDOCGuFMh_RRZHJQVbw69DRHytnbdgCEw/s1600/_01A3700.jpg[/img]

[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8M2EMiP390/V7Md6SIZgWI/AAAAAAAANyM/YApSWr5XlrIgFe1ozYyPVPe-jir0dIZ2gCEw/s1600/_01A3854.jpg[/img]

Crowned Cormorant - endemic
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0uIUBsMI5UI/V7Md6J_ZgwI/AAAAAAAANyM/2RI7m-kGM_oeaX-yzAi9sjESNQLd7B7gwCEw/s1600/_01A3817.jpg[/img]

Southern Bald Ibis - endemic
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YsYim7DCmZY/V7xU3kRhyqI/AAAAAAAAOM0/h5nIDDRcpMEhmR6RrxlG4c4iRajo8L38gCEw/s1600/_01A9086.jpg[/img]

Orange-breasted Sunbird - endemic
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C0D6GRz7_Fs/V7Md0Zq7PDI/AAAAAAAANyM/Y-tzkAZdi4MMBklphr2cyqbtM_ctNHoVgCEw/s1600/_01A2486.jpg[/img]

Southern Double-collared Sunbird - endemic
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LIV95zK4Mm0/V7UDiFyJ-CI/AAAAAAAAN68/y4hWyBluhr0ZU45BfI0zORLm5_cQNioYwCPcB/s1600/_01A3979.jpg[/img]

Malachite Sunbird
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sy0Bgd0qAPA/V7UDkQQqmEI/AAAAAAAAN68/_QsMhvPzh1UMMR2KP1UfVmH7D28AF-ktACPcB/s1600/_01A4441.jpg[/img]

Cape Batis - endemic
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qtwxS2WrKVw/V73Zx2u8vPI/AAAAAAAAOQY/q1VAFAkf-W4YjjTe_FgXSaEGA1RJOgLRQCPcB/s1600/_01A9802.jpg[/img]

[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qSmcwgzT5U8/V7Md2uhoZWI/AAAAAAAANyM/US1xIJxJmiAQ0Ul2d-ykrTl_X0SMdFEbACEw/s1600/_01A3215.jpg[/img]

Spotted Eagle Owl
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U5fbc1ey-e8/V7UDhw1kXPI/AAAAAAAAN68/DRpgc8JdZD4wChj4gHoOdUHt7VgEXaeDACPcB/s1600/IMG_0639.jpg[/img]

Giant Eagle Owl
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_t6gYtO-Uk/V7lvekC31II/AAAAAAAAOBU/d1yYoeiVG18MPujpHUyYWBbZikhr40SgwCEw/s1600/_01A7176.jpg[/img]

African Scops Owl
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ce9lnXF5jO0/V7lvYSFUAgI/AAAAAAAAOBU/yaSoD2Y5isEHFK02WX6b9UCnPQi2yK9NwCEw/s1600/IMG_1990.jpg[/img]

Lilac-breasted Roller
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_EpQgH5PHE/V7lvfXoXEyI/AAAAAAAAOBU/xwXcmrIKOT4zkusJMEZSzDZOETUzLIH2wCEw/s1600/_01A7257.jpg[/img]

Purple Roller
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjjrKM-fsVU/V7q99rfAn3I/AAAAAAAAOHQ/fgmo7_yVncovFYIG8Jcf-AklOWzO7MtnACEw/s1600/_01A8077.jpg[/img]

White-browed Robin-Chat
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U4d9dWkBcFc/V7q94NbF8RI/AAAAAAAAOHQ/V5TypC1qG9E-3asddny2N-1Weac6lNoPgCEw/s1600/IMG_2124.jpg[/img]

Crested Francolin
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6u1KNBqVJ4k/V7lvclNo76I/AAAAAAAAOBU/vsX_0EaUsBE_3QunnCLCfy7GmzJenUruACEw/s1600/_01A6830.jpg[/img]

Swainson's Spurfowl
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H86Q6XP0nE0/V7UDwrBIITI/AAAAAAAAN68/6bihUx-LxtM8liLPG55rVnrfBedtfQ9QACPcB/s1600/_01A6144.jpg[/img]

Kori Bustard
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZFpBM_GPSs/V7q99wzHTSI/AAAAAAAAOHQ/LVNH5gHXCeUZLR_BA2vjW-0TQ27-d5N0gCEw/s1600/_01A8157.jpg[/img]

Red-crested Korhaan
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z439cDZR9wc/V7lvdilDJDI/AAAAAAAAOBU/Crd2e22yk7wC9jWg1eCyRpy0T7oRo6w7ACEw/s1600/_01A7011.jpg[/img]

Green Wood-Hoopoe
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0165AW5fhMY/V7q98u4jQUI/AAAAAAAAOHQ/TsXpCacQItwkFgdCBQKiO8134GSpa8_5QCEw/s1600/_01A7931.jpg[/img]

Golden-tailed Woodpecker
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jLgAE7wRasI/V7q95Ms2OEI/AAAAAAAAOHQ/bKODbo6QXbYZcTpIl9_g4vefcUvllq6mwCEw/s1600/_01A7432.jpg[/img]

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aKLLRAt-wFY/V7lvfvpew9I/AAAAAAAAOBU/3so_hfni7I49Qt5mb-0XqkJt31dIOb34gCEw/s1600/_01A7291.jpg[/img]

Southern Red-billed Hornbill
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZOrvh4gwrg/V7lvfwjWGGI/AAAAAAAAOBU/LY_E1zzS7HYfUCv_TSfl66pUotSkfVW_gCEw/s1600/_01A7309.jpg[/img]

African Grey Hornbill
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFt3iqU8Bso/V7q95s9GnQI/AAAAAAAAOHQ/pcHT4Qci7Kguts3CcaXfbYz5yS9jD8pqgCEw/s1600/_01A7455.jpg[/img]

White-backed Vulture
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2HIvVO5_ze8/V7lveyBhRhI/AAAAAAAAOBU/XPp1z8pQXFQL8YAx6e-egDqLn849dQm3QCEw/s1600/_01A7218.jpg[/img]

Lappet-faced Vulture
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VAW27Gb8AjE/V7lvfPkt1lI/AAAAAAAAOBU/ix60qcIfOIIasi2o5PszBm2AWmPOg_gsgCEw/s1600/_01A7234.jpg[/img]

Martial Eagle
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0ZK4vPqhpA/V7q95MPPHYI/AAAAAAAAOHQ/oSm9koRIiecrWuWK2EnDV3Xv9Bz_s-vNgCEw/s1600/IMG_2258.jpg[/img]

Southern Masked Weaver
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18zq0GsGHZA/V7UDlTNMvpI/AAAAAAAAN68/gHPM1lzvK1I-olKBGIWDoT431nlkK7POgCPcB/s1600/_01A4681.jpg[/img]

Cape Weaver
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4wSjD4S-Xms/V7Gl9A0jvLI/AAAAAAAANtg/hyJEm3Nzm80jFW_ncTHiP9AAOTp2yi-kQCEw/s1600/_01A1839.jpg[/img]

Cape Canary - endemic
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nC5-ZWvpC6k/V7Gl59K21CI/AAAAAAAANtg/U7MgSUquwJ8aAy_IeQBWduci6GBhlqyfgCEw/s1600/_01A1299.jpg[/img]

Swee Waxbill - endemic
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fxi7H53UqZA/V7Md1eVQtLI/AAAAAAAANyM/ehdNvokc09EbIydisdRB9FtakACzWieLACEw/s1600/_01A2958.jpg[/img]

[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d81Pjm_6H8g/V7Md1cLndvI/AAAAAAAANyM/ENRypDDxCA0-Zd6Knz-UHZCM6gVaoaLwACEw/s1600/_01A2993.jpg[/img]

African Elephant
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk4O1jkkK9A/V7lvYDBF-gI/AAAAAAAAOBU/XshFsrhSKoAASONi6yo37KNN1rotsyonACEw/s1600/IMG_1897.jpg[/img]

White Rhino
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7wgAgXSbi9I/V7lvXPNk67I/AAAAAAAAOBU/IOm_pma6SSI8qpJzYW_pjCDBE_3cWmEvwCEw/s1600/IMG_1810.jpg[/img]

Blue Widebeest
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CKpbYUPuwP0/V7lvUulihFI/AAAAAAAAOBU/JckDm50CbXkibCux5yK7FmuhUMESR-L5wCEw/s1600/IMG_1378.jpg[/img]

Plain Zebra
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWATmXpUApE/V7lvVEkXF3I/AAAAAAAAOBU/itledKGTZQ0s786J0tsNP8gWBVBQ0grxACEw/s1600/IMG_1440.jpg[/img]

African Buffalo
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pW3E6oDFQM/V7UDnxVlwJI/AAAAAAAAN68/cyN_cUEC1i4D9JqJByW0n1RxCDZ9eavzACPcB/s1600/IMG_0969.jpg[/img]

Hippo
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/---7jKLjMars/V7UDoXqZDPI/AAAAAAAAN68/C2cMIAfanigSGPge180Uvb-jNJMOZz-WwCPcB/s1600/IMG_1033.jpg[/img]

Leopard
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pt7XWnO-Kec/V7UDosWuLCI/AAAAAAAAN68/DNb95pYfo1E4KZ3ZB-ttVTkj3MwkL6a-ACPcB/s1600/IMG_1116.jpg[/img]

Lion
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GaDipLJeSqo/V7q99AysN9I/AAAAAAAAOHQ/sQwwfrjtDS4irHQx-OpZtkIa3Ck0VszrgCEw/s1600/_01A8022.jpg[/img]

Giraffe
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sAWCysBhnxg/V7q93i8KzEI/AAAAAAAAOHQ/lvCMRJyhLeIXgz_Hb9kKXOBvDMPWeaOxACEw/s1600/IMG_2060.jpg[/img]

Blyde River Canyon - Three Rondavels
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3TiUBjJvv8/V73UpG5a2NI/AAAAAAAAOQE/zM7fhDcTCcYxkUYccr3DbwP4f2zFzN4vwCPcB/s1600/IMG_8927%2B4.jpg[/img]

[[i] Last edited by kmatthew at 29/08/2016 09:49 [/i]]

9Wi 28/08/2016 07:54

Great and excellent shots. 3551004445 3551004445 3551004445 3551004445

hkwongkit 28/08/2016 08:16

One of the best trip reports I've seen posted here for a long while.
Superb photography you'd done and I enjoyed reading your well written blogs on this trip too.
Well done and thanks for sharing, Matt!

kmatthew 28/08/2016 23:43

Thanks 9Wi and KK, I really think SA deserves more attention from HK birders, even a casual trip like ours yielded some pretty good birds, while our itinerary also managed to cater for a lot of non-birding friends on our trip. It's also one of the best value birding location I've ever been on for the amount of birds and animals the country can deliver.

wcaptain 29/08/2016 10:18

與有榮焉 My pleasure to travel with young stars

BTW, Southern Ground Hornbill (Bird of the trip)

[URL=http://s37.photobucket.com/user/wongcaptain/media/160A7665%20-.jpg.html][IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e75/wongcaptain/160A7665%20-.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Yuen_Wasp 29/08/2016 18:39

與有榮焉 My pleasure to travel with senior birders~thanks Captain and Matthew

BTW~
Trumpeter Hornbill
[img]https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14095984_10153904828690642_8102459965389147381_n.jpg?oh=9cbf3d006d8322ff15dae040b1ff09f5&oe=584CE4C1[/img]

Common Ostrich
[img]https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14021738_10153891551355642_8240367093666907137_n.jpg?oh=4d0d52bc9f92598be6bbe581239ce433&oe=585610FC[/img]

kmatthew 29/08/2016 20:49

Great shots of the 3 species I missed!!!3551cry445
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查看完整版本: South Africa - August 2016 (Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon)