Save the date! ABA South Africa Safari October 7-17, 2014

African elephants at Kruger National Park (Photo © Marius Coetzee)

We are pleased to announce the first-ever ABA South Africa Safari. The ABA is partnering with Rockjumper Worldwide Birding Adventures and BirdLife South Africa to host a safari with visits to both Cape Town and Kruger National Park.

 On safari in Kruger National Park (Photo © Leon Fouche)

At the extreme south end of the vast expanse that is Africa lies the country of South Africa, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. At the south end of South Africa is Cape Town with the Cape of Good Hope just below it. The southerly most of the three capital cities, Cape Town’s “City Bowl” is surrounded by both mountains and ocean. The pleasant climate and varied topography make for great birding. Two endemic bird families are found here, in the sugarbirds and the rockjumpers. The unique and biodiverse Fynbos shrubland is home to a showy group of sunbird species, among other birds. Coastal areas host African Penguins, several cormorant species, with albatrosses and Cape Petrels lurking just offshore.

The Cape Rockjumper is one of two species in the rockjumper family. The family is endemic to South Africa. (Photo © Adam Riley)

Resting at the northwest corner of South Africa is famed Kruger National Park. One of the largest and most spectacular parks on the continent, Kruger is a mixture of forest, grassland, and Acacia, and it abuts national park land in Mozambique and Zimbabwe to create an immense area (nearly 22,000 square miles) protected for the benefit of wildlife. It is home to the Big 5 (lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, African elephant, and rhinoceros) and also giraffes, wild dogs, and a bevy of antelope species. Yes, there are birds too! Lots of them. An interesting array of larks are to be found here as are striking species such as Saddle-billed Stork, Lappet-faced Vulture, Kori Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, and the furtive Pel’s Fishing Owl.

Leopard (Photo © Adam Riley)

This is an utterly unique ABA offering, that will be of great value, and for a great cause too. The ABA South Africa Safari will coincide with BirdLife South Africa’s Save Our Seabirds Festival in Cape Town to raise money for endangered seabirds.

African Penguins (Photo © Adam Riley)

Join your fellow ABA Members and our in-country hosts for a most memorable visit to one of the world’s richest regions for birds and wildlife. Register your interest today by contacting Nancy Hawley (at [email protected], or call her at (800) 850-2473, X234).

St. Helena Bay is a good place for dolphin and whale-watching. (Photo © Markus Lilje)

Comments

[Dave Skinner]

World travel/Eco-Tourism is a popular tourist trend and there are numerous travel agencies that specialize in accomodating this industry. However, I am not sure that this is the sort of activity that the American Birding Association should be involved in. Such an adventure, would likely consume resources and time that could other-wise be devoted to trips, conventions, rallies, etc, right here in North America. In all honesty, I do not know the extent of the ABA's partnering for this African trip and perhaps there have been other such endeavors involving the ABA in the past that have proven to be quite successful. I don't want to sound totally negative, but I just thought I would share my concern.

[Deb Hirt]

I'd like to know more. Do we have any prices and particulars yet?

[Linda Rockwell]

I think it's disheartening that the first comment about what should be a marvelous adventure is a negative one. The ABA has significantly expanded and broadened its appeal in recent years. That is a really good thing. People who would never have considered joining the old, stodgy ABA are now members. I'm one of those. The only way that an organization can expand is by evolving and broadening its appeal. I say bravo! A reminder: If you do what you always do, you get what you always get.