List your tour

2-Day West Coast Birding Tour

Explore the Western Cape coast over two days, from Darling farmland and Geelbek shorebirds to a Berg River boat trip and Velddrif wetlands.

  • South Africa Show on map
  • 2 days
  • Group 1-8 people
  • Difficulty: moderate
  • Price on request
  • Dates on request
  • Private tour
  • Pace: Moderate
  • Language: English
  • City: Cape Town
Send inquiry
2-Day West Coast Birding Tour
1/1

About this tour

This compact West Coast journey begins north of Cape Town among the farm roads between Malmesbury and Darling. Open-country birding gives way to strandveld and the tidal flats of West Coast National Park, where the timing of the Geelbek Hide visit follows the tides.

The second morning starts at Velddrif with a two-hour sunrise boat trip on the Berg River. Wetlands, salt works and coastal sites then provide a different mix of waterbirds, terns, pelicans, flamingos and dry-country species.

Owl sites and a Fiery-necked Nightjar outing may be included when time and conditions allow. The tour uses Langebaan as its overnight base; current dates, rate and final inclusions are confirmed for each departure.

Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to South Africa.

Birds you can spot

African Darter
African Darter
Anhinga rufa
target
African Hoopoe
African Hoopoe
Upupa africana
target
African Sacred Ibis
African Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
target
African Spoonbill
African Spoonbill
Platalea alba
target
African Stonechat
African Stonechat
Saxicola torquatus
target
Banded Martin
Banded Martin
Riparia cincta
target
Black Harrier
Black Harrier
Circus maurus
target
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
target
Black-necked Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
target
Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
target
Blue Crane
Blue Crane
Anthropoides paradiseus
target
Bokmakierie
Bokmakierie
Telophorus zeylonus
target
Brown-throated Martin
Brown-throated Martin
Riparia paludicola
target
Cape Long-billed Lark
Cape Long-billed Lark
Certhilauda curvirostris
target
Cape Penduline Tit
Cape Penduline Tit
Anthoscopus minutus
target
Cape Teal
Cape Teal
Anas capensis
target
Capped Wheatear
Capped Wheatear
Oenanthe pileata
target
Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
target
Chestnut-banded Plover
Chestnut-banded Plover
Charadrius pallidus
target
Chestnut-vented Warbler
Chestnut-vented Warbler
Curruca subcoerulea
target
Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
target
Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
target
Common Ringed Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
target
Common Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
target
Common Tern
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
target
Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
target
Eurasian Curlew
Eurasian Curlew
Numenius arquata
target
Eurasian Whimbrel
Eurasian Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
target
European Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Merops apiaster
target
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Caprimulgus pectoralis
target
Glossy Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
target
Great Egret
Great Egret
Ardea alba
target
Great White Pelican
Great White Pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus
target
Greater Crested Tern
Greater Crested Tern
Thalasseus bergii
target
Greater Honeyguide
Greater Honeyguide
Indicator indicator
target
Grey Plover
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
target
Grey Tit
Grey Tit
Melaniparus afer
target
Grey-backed Cisticola
Grey-backed Cisticola
Cisticola subruficapilla
target
Grey-headed Gull
Grey-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
target
Grey-winged Francolin
Grey-winged Francolin
Scleroptila africanus
target
Hartlaub's Gull
Hartlaub's Gull
Chroicocephalus hartlaubii
target
Jackal Buzzard
Jackal Buzzard
Buteo rufofuscus
target
Kelp Gull
Kelp Gull
Larus dominicanus
target
Kittlitz's Plover
Kittlitz's Plover
Anarhynchus pecuarius
target
Lanner Falcon
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
target
Little Egret
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
target
Little Grebe
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
target
Little Stint
Little Stint
Calidris minuta
target
Long-billed Crombec
Long-billed Crombec
Sylvietta rufescens
target
Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis
target
Martial Eagle
Martial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosus
target
Namaqua Dove
Namaqua Dove
Oena capensis
target
Osprey
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
target
Pale Chanting Goshawk
Pale Chanting Goshawk
Melierax canorus
target
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
target
Pied Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
target
Pied Starling
Pied Starling
Lamprotornis bicolor
target
Pin-tailed Whydah
Pin-tailed Whydah
Vidua macroura
target
Purple Heron
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
target
Red-faced Mousebird
Red-faced Mousebird
Urocolius indicus
target
Red-necked Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus
target
Rock Kestrel
Rock Kestrel
Falco rupicolus
target
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
target
Sanderling
Sanderling
Calidris alba
target
Sandwich Tern
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensis
target
Secretarybird
Secretarybird
Sagittarius serpentarius
target
Speckled Mousebird
Speckled Mousebird
Colius striatus
target
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Bubo africanus
target
Three-banded Plover
Three-banded Plover
Charadrius tricollaris
target
Verreaux's Eagle
Verreaux's Eagle
Aquila verreauxii
target
Western Barn Owl
Western Barn Owl
Tyto alba
target
White-backed Mousebird
White-backed Mousebird
Colius colius
target
White-fronted Plover
White-fronted Plover
Charadrius marginatus
target
White-throated Canary
White-throated Canary
Crithagra albogularis
target
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Crithagra flaviventris
target
Yellow-billed Kite
Yellow-billed Kite
Milvus aegyptius
target

Itinerary

Day 1
Darling farmland, Geelbek and Langebaan
West Coast birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Leave Cape Town accommodation at 06:00 and scan the Malmesbury-Darling farm roads for cranes, raptors, larks and other open-country birds. Continue to West Coast National Park in time for tidal shorebird activity at Geelbek Hide, then work the strandveld before checking in at Le Mahi Guest House in Langebaan.
Day 2
Berg River, Velddrif wetlands and salt works
West Coast birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Travel to Velddrif for a two-hour golden-light boat trip on the Berg River, followed by wetland birding around Die Plaat. Continue to the salt works for pelicans, plovers, terns and grebes; owl sites and an after-dark Fiery-necked Nightjar search may be added if time allows. Overnight at Le Mahi Guest House.

Locations & map

  • West Coast birding circuit - West Coast National Park, Langebaan and surrounding Western Cape sites South Africa (Coastal lagoon, strandveld, fynbos, wetlands and open-country habitats.)

Availability & pricing

Availability: Available on request · Season: Custom dates; best timing will be confirmed after enquiry

Price: Price on request

Included

  • Professional bird guide - Guided birding support; final details to be confirmed.

Not included

  • Final travel costs - Flights, insurance and unconfirmed third-party costs are not included unless agreed with the organizer.

Transport & stays

  • Road transfers and guided birding stops Transport details are confirmed during enquiry handling based on route, party size and dates. | Meet: Cape Town accommodation or West Coast meeting point, to be confirmed | Pickup: Pickup arrangements on request

Policies & FAQ

Can this tour be customized?

Yes. This itinerary can be customized around target birds, budget and time frame. Confirm preferred dates, pace and priorities when sending an enquiry.

Send inquiry

Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.

Select Date
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun