8-Day St Lucia and Sani Pass Birding Tour
An 8-day KwaZulu-Natal birding itinerary linking Umdoni, Oribi Gorge, Ingeli Forest, Sani Pass, Eshowe, St Lucia and iSimangaliso.
About this tour
This 8-day KwaZulu-Natal itinerary combines coastal forest, gorge, escarpment, wetland and St Lucia/iSimangaliso birding habitats.
The route includes Umdoni Park, Oribi Gorge, Ingeli Forest, Sani Pass and Lesotho, Eshowe, St Lucia, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and a Durban return.
BirdWatch.info collects enquiries first and forwards qualified enquiries to the local tour organizer after initial review. Dates, price and final inclusions are confirmed during enquiry handling.
Birds you can spot
African Rock Pipit
Anthus crenatus
target
Anthus crenatus
target
African Yellow Warbler
Iduna natalensis
target
Iduna natalensis
target
Barratt's Warbler
Bradypterus barratti
target
Bradypterus barratti
target
Bearded Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus
target
Gypaetus barbatus
target
Black-bellied Bustard
Lissotis melanogaster
target
Lissotis melanogaster
target
Black-throated Wattle-eye
Platysteira peltata
target
Platysteira peltata
target
Blue Swallow
Hirundo atrocaerulea
target
Hirundo atrocaerulea
target
Brown Scrub Robin
Cercotrichas signata
target
Cercotrichas signata
target
Brown-backed Honeybird
Prodotiscus regulus
target
Prodotiscus regulus
target
Buff-streaked Chat
Campicoloides bifasciatus
target
Campicoloides bifasciatus
target
Bush Blackcap
Sylvia nigricapillus
target
Sylvia nigricapillus
target
Cape Parrot
Poicephalus robustus
target
Poicephalus robustus
target
Chorister Robin-Chat
Cossypha dichroa
target
Cossypha dichroa
target
Collared Pratincole
Glareola pratincola
target
Glareola pratincola
target
Croaking Cisticola
Cisticola natalensis
target
Cisticola natalensis
target
Crowned Eagle
Stephanoaetus coronatus
target
Stephanoaetus coronatus
target
Dark-backed Weaver
Ploceus bicolor
target
Ploceus bicolor
target
Drakensberg Prinia
Prinia hypoxantha
target
Prinia hypoxantha
target
Drakensberg Rockjumper
Chaetops aurantius
target
Chaetops aurantius
target
Drakensberg Siskin
Crithagra symonsi
target
Crithagra symonsi
target
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon
Columba delegorguei
target
Columba delegorguei
target
Eastern Golden Weaver
Ploceus subaureus
target
Ploceus subaureus
target
Eastern Nicator
Nicator gularis
target
Nicator gularis
target
Fan-tailed Grassbird
Catriscus brevirostris
target
Catriscus brevirostris
target
Gorgeous Bushshrike
Telophorus viridis
target
Telophorus viridis
target
Green Malkoha
Ceuthmochares australis
target
Ceuthmochares australis
target
Green Twinspot
Mandingoa nitidula
target
Mandingoa nitidula
target
Grey Crowned Crane
Balearica regulorum
target
Balearica regulorum
target
Grey Cuckooshrike
Ceblepyris caesius
target
Ceblepyris caesius
target
Grey Waxbill
Glaucestrilda perreini
target
Glaucestrilda perreini
target
Ground Woodpecker
Geocolaptes olivaceus
target
Geocolaptes olivaceus
target
Gurney's sugarbird
Promerops gurneyi
target
Promerops gurneyi
target
Knysna turaco
Tauraco corythaix
target
Tauraco corythaix
target
Knysna Woodpecker
Campethera notata
target
Campethera notata
target
Lemon-breasted Canary
Crithagra citrinipectus
target
Crithagra citrinipectus
target
Livingstone's turaco
Tauraco livingstonii
target
Tauraco livingstonii
target
Long-tailed Widowbird
Euplectes progne
target
Euplectes progne
target
Mountain Pipit
Anthus hoeschi
target
Anthus hoeschi
target
Mountain Wagtail
Motacilla clara
target
Motacilla clara
target
Narina Trogon
Apaloderma narina
target
Apaloderma narina
target
Olive Bushshrike
Chlorophoneus olivaceus
target
Chlorophoneus olivaceus
target
Orange Ground Thrush
Geokichla gurneyi
target
Geokichla gurneyi
target
Palm-nut vulture
Gypohierax angolensis
target
Gypohierax angolensis
target
Purple-banded Sunbird
Cinnyris bifasciatus
target
Cinnyris bifasciatus
target
Purple-crested Turaco
Gallirex porphyreolophus
target
Gallirex porphyreolophus
target
Red-capped Robin-Chat
Cossypha natalensis
target
Cossypha natalensis
target
Red-chested Flufftail
Sarothrura rufa
target
Sarothrura rufa
target
Red-necked spurfowl
Pternistis afer
target
Pternistis afer
target
Rosy-throated Longclaw
Macronyx ameliae
target
Macronyx ameliae
target
Rudd's Apalis
Apalis ruddi
target
Apalis ruddi
target
Rufous-winged Cisticola
Cisticola galactotes
target
Cisticola galactotes
target
Scaly-throated Honeyguide
Indicator variegatus
target
Indicator variegatus
target
Senegal Lapwing
Vanellus lugubris
target
Vanellus lugubris
target
Short-tailed Pipit
Anthus brachyurus
target
Anthus brachyurus
target
Southern Bald Ibis
Geronticus calvus
target
Geronticus calvus
target
Southern Banded Snake Eagle
Circaetus fasciolatus
target
Circaetus fasciolatus
target
Southern Brown-throated Weaver
Ploceus xanthopterus
target
Ploceus xanthopterus
target
Spotted Ground Thrush
Geokichla guttata
target
Geokichla guttata
target
Square-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus ludwigii
target
Dicrurus ludwigii
target
Swamp Nightjar
Caprimulgus natalensis
target
Caprimulgus natalensis
target
Tambourine Dove
Turtur tympanistria
target
Turtur tympanistria
target
Trumpeter Hornbill
Bycanistes bucinator
target
Bycanistes bucinator
target
Wailing Cisticola
Cisticola lais
target
Cisticola lais
target
White-eared Barbet
Stactolaema leucotis
target
Stactolaema leucotis
target
White-starred Robin
Pogonocichla stellata
target
Pogonocichla stellata
target
Woodward's Batis
Batis fratrum
target
Batis fratrum
target
Woolly-necked Stork
Ciconia episcopus
target
Ciconia episcopus
target
Yellow-throated Longclaw
Macronyx croceus
target
Macronyx croceus
target
Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler
Phylloscopus ruficapilla
target
Phylloscopus ruficapilla
target
Itinerary ▼
Day 1
Umdoni Park
KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Birding around Umdoni Park coastal forest and nearby habitats.
Day 2
Umdoni, Oribi Gorge and Ingeli Forest
KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Birding across Umdoni Park, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve and Ingeli Forest.
Day 3
Sani Pass and Lesotho
KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Mountain pass birding around Sani Pass and Lesotho habitats.
Day 4
Eshowe
KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Travel and birding around Eshowe area forests.
Day 5
Eshowe
KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Additional Eshowe birding for forest and regional targets.
Day 6
St Lucia
KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Move to St Lucia with wetland and coastal birding.
Day 7
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Full day birding in iSimangaliso Wetland Park habitats.
Day 8
Durban return
KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit
Mixed birding habitats
Birding around Durban route and return arrangements.
Locations & map
- KwaZulu-Natal birding circuit - Umdoni, Oribi Gorge, Ingeli Forest, Sani Pass, Eshowe, St Lucia and iSimangaliso South Africa (Coastal forest, wetlands, gorge, escarpment, montane and subtropical habitats.)
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: Durban, St Lucia or agreed KwaZulu-Natal 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.