African paradise flycatcher at EcoTraining´s Makuleke camp. A colorful bird with a blue head, blue eyes, and chestnut-colored body perches on a tree branch in a lush green forest.

Birds of South Africa

From:

US$3.100 per person sharing

US$ 3.900 per single person

Group size:

6 guests

Destinations:

Makuleke, South Africa

Safari dates:

13-20. November 2026

Overview:

Come to South Africa for some bird bonanza. We’re gone explore the country’s best place for bird watching: the Makuleke concession of northern Krüger national park. Whether you’re a bird photographer or have a keen interest in bird watching, this tour is designed to show you some of South Africa’s best and most diverse birding sites.

November is the start of the summer in South Africa. This is the migrant season as birds from other parts of Africa and even as far away as Europe migrate all the way down to breed. This expedition takes place in the remote Makuleke concession, locked between Krüger national park to the south and Zimbabwe in the north. Because of the location this is one of the first places in the country where the migrants arrive. The Mopane and riverine forests, lakes and gores is ideal habitats for rare species like black-throated wattle-eye, Arnot's chat, racket-tailed roller, African pygmy goose and the elusive Pel’s fishing owl. This place is wild and beautiful, and without a doubt the best birding spot in all of South Africa.

This tour has the goal of exploring the huge bird diversity from the endemics and more rare species, to migrants and species adapted to the different natural habitats and biomes. Enjoy an exciting and educational birding tour full of adventure, colors and fun. South Africa is extremely diverse and rich, so don’t miss out on this opportunity of discovering its fascinating birdlife.

Up close of a woodland kingfisher. Birding tour in South Africa with Wild Selection Tours. Makuleke concession of Krüger national park.
Martial eagle in take-off. Birding tour in South Africa with Wild Selection Tours. Makuleke concession of Krüger national park.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Johannesburg:

Welcome to Johannesburg. After you land at O.R. Tambo international airport a driver will pick you up and transport you to your accommodation. Here you will meet your tour leader and the rest of the group. In the evening we’ll have a welcoming-dinner together and talk about the up-coming adventure.

Our accommodation will be the Emerald’s Guest House, just a short drive from Johannesburg’s airport. Dinner is included for this evening.

Day 2 - Departure for Makuleke:

After an early breakfast, we’re getting picked up and transported to the Pafuri gate. This is our entrance to the remote Makuleke concession. From the gate it’s about a 45 minute drive to our camp, depending on what we’re seeing on the way. Have your binoculars and cameras ready as the sky is filled with migratory birds, and the drive is likely to result in some great sightings as well as the iconic wildlife.

Our accommodation will be the EcoTraining Makuleke camp, located in an unfenced prime wildlife area. Tented shared rooms with single beds and with their own verandas, placed on wooden decks in the shade of large nyala trees. Antelopes like nyala and impalas are often found gracing around the tents, with elephants peacefully walking around the camp. This is the most remote and wildest corner of Krüger, and offers spectacular wildlife sightings and the best birding opportunities in all of South Africa.

This will be a travel-day where we’ll include several stops along the way for stretching our legs and places to eat. (Please note that the food at our chosen stops is not included in the price).

Day 3-7 - Birding in Makuleke:

5 days is dedicated to birding while we explore the diverse landscapes of Makuleke. Everyday starts by an early wake up to some morning coffee before we head out on game drives. The diversity of landscapes varies from the riverine forests along the Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers to palm-fringed wetlands, the spectacular views of Lanner Gorge and fever tree forests, to open fields with thousand-year-old baobab trees. Game drives usually take about 4-5 hours where we about halfway through will stop for a coffee break at different birding spots. Look for rarities like the racket-tailed rollers, grey-headed parrots and Arnot’s chat between the mopane forests and listen to the calls of the woodland kingfishers which signalizes that summer is here. Admire the enormous size of Makuleke’s wetlands, lakes and rivers for white-crowned lapwings, sadle-billed storks and African jacanas while the African fish-eagle gives out its iconic call.

Return back to camp before midday for a well-deserved breakfast prepared by the camp’s staff. Here you have the choice of relaxing and enjoying the peace of camp or an optional lecture about birds. While in camp look for the rare black-throated wattle-eye. Even just by staying in camp can produce some great sightings. After a few hours of relaxing some delicious afternoon tea will be served. Then we head out on a game drive, or we have the option for walking safaris. Led by experienced guides we’ll be walking through woodlands and step into the magical forests of the Racket Tail near by where the fever trees reaches for the sky and the warm glow from the sun breaks through. Our schedule is very flexible which gives us an advantage to decide which areas we’ll be exploring next. We’ll also decide which day we’ll be heading over to the Levuvhu bridge to look for the infamous and rarely seen Pel’s fishing-owl, one of the rarest birds in all of Africa. A sun-downer will be served every sunset before we head back to our camp for dinner. Here we’ll discuss the plan for the coming days and reflect on the impressions and sightings around the camp fire.

Day 8 - Departure for Johannesburg:

After a morning coffee and breakfast we’ll departure for the Pafuri gate, leaving Makuleke behind us. We’ll have one last birding experience along the way back to the gate. This is a travel day back to Johannesburg. We’ll be making several stops along the way for something to eat (please note that the food at our chosen stops is not included in the price), an we’re expecting to arrive back to Emerald’s Guest House in the afternoon which will signal the end of the adventure.

South Africa´s birdlife

Makuleke alone contains over 300 species, which includes both migrants and common sightings, as well as rarities. This is the birding Mecca of South Africa.

A brown-hooded kingfisher perches on a branch. Birding tour in Makuleke, northern Krüger, South Africa. Bird photography with Wild Selection Tours.
A Levaillant´s cuckoo. Birding tour in Makuleke, northern Krüger, South Africa. Bird photography with Wild Selection Tours.
A small bird with a long tail lying on sandy ground at night, casting a sharp shadow.
A bird with a dark grey body, blue eye rings, a yellow beak, and long, orange tail feathers perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.
A purple-crested turacoo flying in the sky with grey clouds and distant mountains in the background. Birding tour in Makuleke, northern Krüger, South Africa. Bird photography with Wild Selection Tours.
A flock of ducks flying over a mountainous landscape with rocky cliffs and greenery.
African spoonbill stork in water, with its long pink legs and long pink beak, dipping its beak into the water. Birding tour in Makuleke, northern Krüger, South Africa. Bird photography with Wild Selection Tours.
Green-wood hoopoe perched on a dry, twisted branch against a plain, brown background. Birding tour in Makuleke, northern Krüger, South Africa. Bird photography with Wild Selection Tours.
African scops-owl camouflaged owl perched on a tree branch in a tree trunk in daylight. Birding tour in Makuleke, northern Krüger, South Africa. Bird photography with Wild Selection Tours.
African crowed eagle, perched on a tree branch among green leaves with a cloudy sky background. Africa's strongest eagle. Birding tour in Makuleke, northern Krüger, South Africa. Bird photography with Wild Selection Tours.

Accommodation

Stay in an unfenced camp in the shade of nyala trees, completely surrounded by wildlife and the bush.

Two rustic cabins with thatched roofs in a wooded area, surrounded by green grass and trees, with warm sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Interior of a rustic hut with two single beds, each with a mosquito net, wooden ceiling, and view of green trees outside the windows.
An elephant standing among trees near a wooden structure with propane tanks in the background.
A group of people sitting around a campfire in a natural outdoor setting during dusk or early evening, surrounded by trees and vegetation.
A herd of water buffalo resting in a grassy field with tall green grass and a cloudy sky in the background.
Group of people on a river bank, many with cameras or binoculars, observing a river and landscape.
Interior of a rustic cabin with two single beds covered with white linens, positioned on either side. The cabin has a wooden floor and bamboo walls, with large open windows showing a natural outdoor landscape. There's a small balcony with a wooden railing at the far end, and two hanging mosquito nets are above each bed.
A group of people attending a presentation in a covered outdoor setting, with trees in the background, listening to a presenter pointing at a projection screen displaying a colorful map or data visualization.

Tour highlights:

  • Experiencing the best bird spots in all of South Africa.

  • Unique photo opportunities of rare bird species.

  • Experience the most remote corner of Krüger, without the crowds.

  • Staying at one beautiful camp surrounded by the African bush.

  • Opportunities to expand your bird knowledge.

  • Lectures on how to identify different species.

Included:

  • All accommodations.

  • Transfer from Johannesburg to Makuleke and back.

  • Dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day 2 in Johannesburg.

  • Entrance to Makuleke.

  • Three meals daily in Makuleke.

  • Teas, coffees, and cordials.

  • Two activities daily (game drives and/or walking activities).

  • Highly skilled instructors.

  • Daily lectures (optional).

Excluded:

  • International flights.

  • Visas and vaccines.

  • Food-stops on the way to Makuleke and back to Johannesburg.

  • Additional beverages.

  • Laundry.

  • Toiletries.

  • Personal spending & purchases.

  • Tips for guides.

  • Anything not specifically outlined in the itinerary.

Close-up of a bird with black curly feathers on its head, red eyes, a large beak, and textured skin around its face, set against a green background.
A colorful bird with orange breast, black and white head, and gray wings perched on a tree branch against a blurred green background.
A bird with gray and yellow feathers, a red beak, and pale blue eyes perched on a branch with green leaves and small berries.
A colorful bird with a black head, orange beak, and long tail perched on a tree branch.
A black and white bird perched on a branch, with a blurred background of green and white.
A bird with vibrant purple and pink feathers perched on weathered wood.
Close-up of a hawk's head and upper body against a clear blue sky.
A black bird flying in a clear blue sky with wings spread wide.
A bird of prey, possibly a golden eagle, soaring over rocky terrain with some green plants in the background.
A black and white bird in flight with a yellow and blurred background.
A camouflaged bird with brown and black patterned feathers perched on a tree branch surrounded by green foliage.
A black necked stork with black, white, yellow, and red prominent beak, standing on one leg in grass, spreading one wing, with a blurred earthy background.
A heron flying with a blurred green forest background.
A bird of prey, possibly a hawk or eagle, perched on a tree branch against a clear blue sky.
Close-up of a brown and white owl with bright yellow eyes and a sharp beak.
A close-up of a bird perched on a branch, peeking through green leaves.

Bird photos by: Lars Martin Holta & Renier Meyer (Birding Safaris South Africa)

Ready to witness the birding mecca of Makuleke?

Don’t miss out on witnessing the sky being filled with splashes of colors and wingbeats. Be there when the bush comes alive and Makuleke is colored in emerald green. This is an experience that can only be witnessed at this time of the year. Fill out the form to join us in one of Africa’s true hidden gems.