Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park - World Seabird Conference
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World Seabird Conference
Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park
31st October to 2nd November 2015 (3 days)
Narina Trogon by Adam Riley
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was established to protect Lake St.Lucia, arguably the most
important breeding area for waterbirds in South Africa. St. Lucia is the most accessible and
reliable area to find all of the east coast specials and areas such as Cape Vidal Game Reserve
provide excellent game viewing opportunities coupled with fantastic birding. this short tour will
focus on birds special to the region as well as exploring the iSimangaliso Wetland Park’s eastern
shores area where large mammals are regularly seen.
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THE TOUR AT A GLANCE…
DETAILS
Tour Dates 31st October to 2nd November 2015 (3 days)
ZAR 10,250.00 per person sharing (approx. US$ 895.00 per person sharing at
Tour Price current exchange rates); The tour price is fixed in ZAR, while other rates subject
to exchange rate fluctuations (see financial arrangements below)
Tour Size Limited to 6 participants with 1 Rockjumper leader
THE ITINERARY
31st October Arrive in Durban and transfer to St. Lucia
1st November St. Lucia and iSimangaliso Wetland Park
2nd November St. Lucia to Durban and depart
THE TOUR IN DETAIL…
Day 1, 31st October: Arrive in Durban and transfer to St. Lucia. Having landed at King Shaka
International Airport we will make our way up the N2 highway to our first stop in the town of
Mtunzini. Here we will look in particular for Palm-nut Vulture, Black-throated Wattle-eye and
Rufous-winged Cisticola. Other possible birds in the area include Green Malkoha, Grey, Purple-
banded and Eastern Olive Sunbirds, Black-bellied Starling, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Yellow-
rumped Tinkerbird, Purple-crested Turaco, White-eared Barbet, Yellow-bellied Greenbul and
Terrestrial Brownbul.
Thereafter, we will make our way to the main coastal road and on to the village of St. Lucia,
nestled on the shores of a lake of the same name and part of a world heritage site. If time allows, we
will take a drive to the nearby river mouth where we can obtain great views of Hippopotamus and
Nile Crocodile lazing on the exposed sandbanks.
Day 2, 1st November: Lucia and iSimangaliso
Wetland Park. This morning we will make our way
into the dune forest on the edge of St Lucia town –
the dunes here are the world’s highest vegetated
dunes! This rich forest supports an exciting variety of
endemics and specials, including the beautiful
Livingstone’s Turaco, Woodward’s Batis, Brown
Scrub Robin, Green Twinspot, Red-backed Mannikin
and Lemon Dove. Samango Monkey, Red Duiker,
Banded Mongoose and Red Forest Squirrel are
possible mammal species that we may encounter.
We will also take some time to drive the road
through the Eastern Shores section of iSimangaliso Woodward’s Batis by Hugh Chittenden
Wetland Park to Cape Vidal. The habitats we traverse
include moist coastal grassland, wetlands and coastal forest, and this translates to a large number of
potential new species! Some of the top birds we will search for in the grassland and forest mosaic
include the scarce Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Crowned Eagle, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Pale-
crowned and Croaking Cisticolas, and Yellow-throated Longclaw, while in the tall coastal forest at
Cape Vidal itself we will look for Green Twinspot, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher and Grey
Itinerary - WSC Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park 2015 3
Waxbill. The grasslands en route support populations of African Buffalo, White Rhinoceros,
Common Reedbuck, Warthog, Greater Kudu and Common Zebra, with the forested areas holding
Red Duiker and Samango Monkey.
Day 3, 2nd November: St Lucia to Durban via Dhlinza Forest. We will get up very early this
morning and spend most of the morning in the
lovely Dhlinza Forest Reserve. This beautiful
forest reserve supports an avifauna combining
both coastal and mistbelt bird species, and here
we will search for African Goshawk, the rare
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Narina Trogon,
Crowned and noisy Trumpeter Hornbills,
Square-tailed Drongo, Chorister Robin-Chat,
Grey Cuckooshrike and the highly endangered
Spotted Ground Thrush. South Africa’s only
forest canopy walkway is situated here and we
will spend most of our morning birding from
this superb viewpoint, before making our way
to King Shaka International Airport.
Spotted Ground Thrush by Markus Lilje
GROUP SIZE
This is limited to 6 participants with a Rockjumper tour leader
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
The price for this WSC Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park trip is ZAR 10,250.00 per person sharing
(approx. US$ 895.00 per person sharing at current exchange rates)
Single supplement cost is ZAR 365.00 (approx. US$ 35.00) and will be charged if you wish to have
single accommodations.
Please note: The price above is fixed in the currency printed in BOLD (ZAR – South African
Rand). Any other currencies listed will be converted according to prevailing exchange rates at the
time of final invoicing. Further to this, the price does NOT include the domestic flight from Cape
Town to Durban that will be required after the World Seabird Conference on day 1 of the tour. As a
general guideline, we suggest you budget +/- ZAR 1,500.00 * US$ 130.00 per person. Rockjumper
is able to make the reservations for this flight on your behalf but final price will be determined at
the time of ticketing.
The price above INCLUDES:
All meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 3;
All accommodations on a sharing basis (subject to availability);
Ground transportation in a VW Kombi T5 or similar & related fuel costs;
All reserve entrance fees and conservation fees as required by the itinerary;
Gratuities for hotel/lodge staff and
Guiding services and costs of a Rockjumper leader.
The price above EXCLUDES:
Accommodation on the evening of the 30th of October;
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Breakfast on the 31st of October;
ANY international or domestic flights (and associated taxes) - see note above;
Visa fees of any kind;
Any beverages/additional drinks or bottled drinking water (water is potable in South Africa);
Trip Insurance of any kind;
Special gratuities and
Telephone calls, laundry and other items of a personal nature.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
a) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we now quote our tours in the currency
pertaining to the destination in question. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency
printed in bold (ZAR – South Africa Rand), and the actual cost in the other currencies listed
will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 4
months before the tour).
b) Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration, a small
party supplement will have to be charged.
c) Furthermore, these costs are subject to unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may
have to be adjusted as a result.
d) Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and / or leader at short or no
notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as
close to the original program as possible.
Special Notes:
Much of our time is spent in vehicles, as we do have to cover long distances in order to get
to the best areas for birds and animals. The more luggage you pack the less room there is in
the vehicle, so it is important for the comfort of yourself and your fellow travellers that you
do not over-pack. Kindly stick to 20kg (44lb) for check in luggage and 8kg (+-18lb) for
hand luggage.
Crime is problematic in certain areas of South Africa. Exercise caution as you would for any
big city where crime exists. Do not unnecessarily flaunt cash and valuables and do not leave
valuables exposed in the vehicle.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DETAILS:
This tour does not include ANY airfares. The tour will start at King Shaka International
Airport around mid-morning. Further meeting details in this regard will be forwarded to you in
due course. The tour will conclude at around midday (approx. 12 noon) at King Shaka
International Airport on day 3. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like
assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Rockjumper office.
FLIGHTS:
Johannesburg is the main port of entry for international flights in South Africa and is well serviced
by all of the world’s major airlines. We have the capacity to advise you on the best route according
to your preferences, but your local travel agent will best be able to book these flights for you.
However, please DO NOT book your international flights until you have consulted the
Rockjumper office for confirmation on the status of the tour.Itinerary - WSC Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park 2015 5
Rockjumper Birding Tours
Worldwide Birding Adventures
PO Box 13972, Cascades, 3202, South Africa
Registration number 2001/059480/23
Tel: +27 33 394 0225
Fax: +27 88 033 394 0225
Tel (USA & Canada toll-free): 1-888-990-5552
Email: private@rockjumperbirding.com
Alternative email: rockjumperbirding@yahoo.com
Website: www.rockjumperbirding.comYou can also read
