The nutrient-rich, and rather cold, Benguela Current wells up at the continental shelf south-west of Cape Town. It brings plankton from the southern oceans of Antarctica and creates excellent feeding for pelagic fish and a feeding frenzy for pelagic birds in southern Africa.

These rich waters provide some of the best and most exciting pelagic encounters in the world.

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A day trip to the continental shelf, between 30 and 35 nautical miles south-west of the Cape often rewards the visitor with an incredible density of pelagic birds. Between 5,000 and 10,000 seabirds around a trawler is an amazing – and common – sight.

The abundance of pelagic birds reaches its climax during the winter months of May, June and July when southern breeding birds visit these nutrient-rich waters off Cape Town.

Whether it’s summer or winter, you will not be disappointed. Birds likely to be seen include several species of Albatrosses, Petrels, Skuas, Prions, Fulmars and Gulls.

Southern Africa is generally defined as the area south of the Kunene, Kavango and Zambezi Rivers. Encompassing a diversity of habitats, ranging from tropical coastline to ancient deserts, the range of bird species is equally diverse.

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Annual fluctuations in southern Africa’s 950 or so species are caused by intra-Africa migrants and Palearctic migrants. Of the total species in the region about 19% are endemic or near-endemic.

Endemic birds in southern Africa include such beauties as the Blue Crane, Bald Ibis, Black Oystercatcher, Black Harrier, Cape Vulture, South African Shelduck, Ground

Woodpecker as well as the sugarbirds, korhaans and many larks. Endemic and near-endemics total around 177 species.

Southern Africa can be divided into six broadly defined bird habitats:

Bushveld

By far the largest and richest bird habitat in the region, bushveld is comprised of various woodland types and mixed bush varieties. African bushveld is divided into two distinct habitats: moist and arid. Sparsely grassed undergrowth characterises the arid bushveld; broadleaved woodland with compressed under-story grass characterises the moist bushveld.

Karoo

With two sub-biomes – the Succulent and Nama Karoo – this stark region covers a huge chunk of the south-western interior of southern Africa. Rainfall is low, less than 400mm per year, chiefly in the form of summer afternoon thunderstorms. This highly diverse area produces a true endemic and near-endemic paradise for birders.

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Fynbos

The smallest of the world’s six floral kingdoms – at a mere 90,000km sq – and with more species of plant than the British Isles, the Fynbos habitat offers specialist birding like nowhere else in southern Africa.

Forests

Occupying the high plateaus of central southern Africa, these scattered habitats are in the summer rainfall belt with the best birding during September through to January. Divided into two distinct types of forest, afromontane and lowland forests, this habitat covers a number of fragmented pockets on the eastern side of southern Africa.

Namib Desert and semi-arid zones

Known as the oldest desert in the world, with an average annual rainfall of less than 50mm, the Namib Desert covers large parts of the west coast of southern Africa. Although sparsely habituated, the desert and its vast semi-arid lapels support a varied and interesting avifauna with many specialised and endemic bird species.

Dams, Lakes, Wetlands & Estuaries

With different origins, dams, pans, lagoons, lakes, rivers, marshlands and estuaries support a huge numbers of water birds and waders. Depending on the rainfall patterns of the catchment areas, spectacular displays of birds occurs at times.

Africa birdwatching tours: designed around your wish-list

Endemics, near-endemics, specials and rarities. We know them all and what’s more, we know where to find them.

Whether you are a first-time visitor to the sub-continent or an experienced world-lister, SafariWise can design your birdwatching tour itinerary according to your wish-list of birds.

Combine your birding tour with an Africa safari and other natural history attractions; our specialist guides will make the difference on your long-planned birdwatching tour to southern Africa.

Grey Heron

We do cater for bigger groups on organised birding trips for agents or you may want to arrange a private tour directly with us. Our tailor-made itineraries for groups as small as one or two guests guarantee personal service of a very high standard.

Family groups are also catered for and we look at every aspect of your well-deserved break: from birds to accommodation to meals and you, the most important feature of any tour.