South Africa - Birds & Cricket: One Day Internationals

In January 2020, the England cricket team will be playing a series of Test matches in South Africa. As well as being a sporting powerhouse, South Africa is also one of the world’s most exciting wildlife destinations. This tour will allow those who love cricket and nature to combine their passions; we will take in the final Test, at the iconic Wanders Stadium in Johannesburg, and then travel east to experience some of the birding and general wildlife highlights of this spectacular country, including the world-famous Kruger National Park.

We will depart London on an overnight flight, before settling in to our comfortable Johannesburg guesthouse, where we will be based for six nights. Over the course of our stay here we will enjoy the 5-day Test match between England and the Proteas. Our guesthouse is close to Wanderers Stadium, and we will be able to have leisurely morning departures after breakfast, hopefully followed by full, exciting days of cricket. For anyone who would like the occasional break from the cricket, we will offer optional local birding excursions.

After the conclusion of the match, we will head eastwards towards the highland village of Dullstroom, which sits in the midst of open grasslands and rocky hillsides. Many localised species can be found here, and during our 1-night stay we will hope to see Meerkat, Grey Rhebok and Black Wildebeest, as well as special birds such as Southern Bald Ibis, Bokmakierie, Blue Crane and the endemic Gurney’s Sugarbird.

Following an early morning birding excursion, we will move on to the Mount Sheba Nature Reserve, where we will stay for a further night. The Mount Sheba Hotel is a lovely old-style building, surrounded by wonderful indigenous montane forest. On relaxed walks, we will search for exciting birds like Narina Trogon, Chorister Robin-chat, Orange Ground-thrush and Knysna Turaco, as well as troops of Samango Monkeys.

The next day, we will begin what should be the wildlife highlight of the tour: a 4-night stay in the renowned Kruger National Park. Splitting our time between two separate camps, we will seek out some of the park’s most impressive mammals, including Lion, Leopard, African Bush Elephant, Cape Buffalo, and both Black and White Rhinoceros. Many classic species of African game are common, and we will also have a chance of finding more elusive creatures such as Cheetah and African Wild Dog. The birdlife is no less astonishing; some of the many extraordinary species we could encounter are Kori Bustard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Martial Eagle, Ostrich, Saddle-billed Stork and Lappet-faced Vulture, alongside smaller birds such as bee-eaters, barbets and rollers. In February, much of the most riotously colourful and ornately plumed avifauna – including bishops and paradise-whydahs – will still be sporting its breeding finery. There will also be the opportunity to join night drives with park rangers, which often find such nocturnal treats as African Civet, Large and Small-spotted Genets, Spotted Eagle-owl, nightjars, and big cats on the hunt.

Finally, we must return to Johannesburg for an evening flight back to London. For those who are passionate about wildlife and cricket, this tour will have made lasting memories.