Special announcement

2010: Birdwatch magazine readers voted Birding Africa as one of the top 5 most recommended bird tour companies in the world. Birding Africa includes Cape Town Pelagics and Cape Birding route. (Click here for more survey details.)

Latest Updates

Please see the News Feed on our home page for Latest Updates, or like our facebook page here.

8 May: Callan joins Ethan for our 2nd year at The Biggest Week in American Birding in Ohio until 17 May. Please visit us for a chat about Birding Africa's tours.

18 March: Knysna Turaco, Malachite Kingfisher, Orange-breasted Sunbird and Cape Grassbird during a Garden Route day trip on 25 February. Click for the trip report and photos.

09 February: Both African Pitta and Chaplin's Barbet seen on our Zambia Pitta Tour in December 2014! Click for the trip report (PDF 1.9 MB) and photos by Tertius Gous.

03 February: 432 birds and 47 mammals recorded during the Eastern South Africa Endemics tour in January 2015.

31 January: A birding trip to Kirstenbosch and Rondevlei for Birding Africa's youngest client at 6 years old!!

6 January: Great excitment! A pod of Orca Whales on our first Cape Town Pelagics trip of 2015! Spectacled Petrel also seen. Click here for photos from 12 January.

15 December: West Coast trip report from 10 December - Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, over 100 Blue Cranes seen amongst an assortment of coastal, wet and grassland species.

22 November: 96 species including Ground Woodpecker, Cape Sugarbird, Malachite Sunbird, African Penguin, Rock Kestrel and Maccoa Duck seen on the 15 November Cape Peninsula tour .

21 November: Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, Rock Kestrel and Kittlitz's Plover (all with chicks) seen on our 12th November West Coast day trip from Cape Town .

19 November: Hottentot's Holland, Cape Peninsula and West Coast - 22, 23 and 24 October 2014 - 149 species.

09 September: Michael Mills reports back after our Angola tour in September 2014: 548 species were seen including all of Angola's endemics.

02 October: Cape Rockjumper, Victorin's Warbler and Spotted Eagle Owl on 25 September's Hottentot's Holland day trip.

01 October: Last minute cancellation: Discounted space available on our South Africa Ultimate Endemics starting on 8 November.

28 August: Birdfair discounts extended to 31 August 2014.

27 August: A huge thank you to everyone who came to visit us at the British Birdwatching Fair. We hope to see you in Africa soon or again at Rutland Water for our 15th birdfair next year!

15 August: Grab one of our Birdfair discounts, valid until 22 August. Applies to selected tours to Tanzania, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia and Botswana

15 August: Attend Callan's lecture on birding in Tanzania during the wildebeest migration: Friday 15 August in Marquee 2 at the British Birdwatching Fair.

15 August: Visit us at the British Birdfair, Marquee 3, stands 28 and 29. Meet Callan, Marje, Jon, Ethan and Tertius.

04 July: A couple of places are now available on our Cape Birds and Flowers tour from Cape Town, 5 - 15 September. Maximum 7 people on this tour.

26 June: Dune Lark, Pel's Fishing Owl, Rockrunner, Hartlaub's Francolin seen on our April tour of Namibia & Okavango Panhandle. Click for Joe Grosel's detailed trip report.

15 June: Cape Town to Kruger Park from 18 - 31 October 2014. Join us as we target South Africa's special bird species, large African mammals and a diversity of landscapes.

11 June: Our 2015 Cape Town Pelagics Calendar is now online.

15 May: Our 2015 Birding Africa Tour Calendar is now available. Have a look at our latest tours and guaranteed departures.

12 May: Visit Birding Africa at The Biggest Week in American Birding until 15 May in Ohio. Click here.

29 March: Latest West Coast day trip with Southern Black Korhaan, Black Harrier, Blue Crane and many wetland species.Click here for the trip report from 19 March.

27 March: Hottentot's Holland trip report from 12 March. Verreaux's Eagle, Cape Rockjumper , African Penguin, Cape Siskin, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Longclaw, African Rail.

25 March: New: Zambia African Pitta tour from 8-13 December. See the pittas during their breeding display, find the endemic Chaplin's Barbet and bird the Zambezi woodlands. Enquire now.

19 March: New trip report from our Cape Peninsula day trip on 5 March. 96 species seen in Kirstenbosch, Kommetjie and Strandfontein.

18 March: Close views of Cape Rockjumper and Black Harrier during our Hottentot's Holland and West Coast day trips on 25 and 27 February. Click here for the trip report.

06 March: Hottentot's Holland day trip on 20 February - Cape Rockjumper, Ground Woodpecker and Verreaux's Eagles. A total of 95 species. Click here for the trip report.

25 February: The latest trip report from West Coast & Cape Peninsula tours on 11 & 13 February - a total of 134 species seen during 2 rewarding days birding around Cape Town.

16 January: Michael Mills reports on our 2013 Madagascar Tour. Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Helmet Vanga, Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur and more. Click for trip report & photographs.

21 December: A spectacular birding adventure - South Africa Ultimate Endemics Tour - 526 species in 23 days!
Click for the trip report and photos from our recent tour.

18 December: Spotted Eagle Owls with chicks, Maccao Duck: two of the many species seen during a guided Kirstenbosch & Cape Wetlands day trip. Continue for the 8 December trip report.

13 December: A good day birding the Cape Peninsula's pristine fynbos, afromontane forests, wetlands and coastal areas. Click for our trip report from the 23 November.

12 December: Southern Black Korhaan and Black Harrier seen on a West Coast day trip from Cape Town. Click to continue to the trip report from 26 November.

9 December: Last spaces on our Ethiopia Tour in April 2014. Join expert leader Michael Mills. Please email info@birdingafrica.com to book or enquire.

7 December: Ethiopia trip report and photographs are now online. Click here to continue.

30 November: Namibia Trip Report: a birding and wildlife adventure. Highlights: Rüppell's Korhaan, Rockrunner, Burchell's Courser, Damara Tern, Benguela Long-billed Lark and White-tailed Shrike. Click to continue to the trip report and photographs.

6 November: New Cameroon Trip Report by Michael Mills. Highlights include Red-headed Picathartes, Egyptian Plover, Standard-winged Nightjar and Grey-chested Babbler.
Click here to see the trip report, photographs and bird list.

19 September: All spaces on the Madagascar 2014 tour departing 17 November have been booked. Bookings are open for the tour starting 8 October. There is also a Pochard extension. Click here to enquire.

31 August: New Uganda and Rwanda trip report by Michael Mills: 530 species including all the specials, plus leopard and mountain gorilla!

30 August: One last day remains to take advantage of uur Birdfair Special discounts on April Tanzania trip and our March Cameroon trip. Please enquire!

8 August: Join us at the British Birdwatching Fair, Marquee 3, stands 28 and 29. Attend Callan's lecture: Birding in Tanzania during the wildebeest migration, Saturday 17 August at 16h40 in Marquee 2. Remember to ask for our early booking discounts!

7 August: Grab an early booking discount, valid for bookings until 31 August or at the British Birdfair. See our Guaranteed Departures* listed above.

6 August: Uganda trip news: African Green Broadbill seen again! Guide Michael Mills reports from Bwindi Forest.

30 July: Early booking special: Uganda Specials Tour 2014 in search of Shoebill, Greenbreasted Pitta and African Green Broadbill. Only USD 5330 for early bookings until 31 August. Book now, contact info@birdingafrica.com.

30 July: Uganda trip news: Green-Breasted Pitta seen again! Join us in July 2014, sign up for only USD 5330 (Early Booking Special until August 31). Book now: info@birdingafrica.com.

18 July: Early booking special: Tanzania: Birding amidst the wildebeest migration. Only USD 5980 for early bookings until 31 August. Book now, contact info@birdingafrica.com.

27 June: Last spaces: Cape Birds & Flowers tour. Join us, 3 to 13 August, from Cape Town.

27 June: Last spaces: Kruger & Drakensberg tour. Join us from 30 September to 3 October with guide Alastair Kilpin.

27 June: NEW! Cameroon Southern Lowland Forest pre-trip!

23 June: Two Wandering Albatross on our Cape Town Pelagics Trip of 15 June. See the trip report with photos.

7 May: News from Tanzania: birding among the wildebeest migration has been spectacular again this week, with such highlights as Dwarf Bitterns, Karamoja Apalis, Golden-winged Sunbirds, Grey-crowned Helmet-Shrike, Beesley's Larks and Hartlaub's and Schalow's Turacos. See the photographs, and stay tuned for our second trip starting today!

8 April: Eastern South Africa Trip Report. Highlights included 5000 Amur Falcons coming into roost, Cape Parrots, Meerkats and 6 White Rhino.

1 April: Cape Rockjumper posed so obligingly on our day trip last week - have a look at Tertius' photographs here.

27 March: Book now for Uganda & Rwanda in August 2014:
Join the Uganda Specials trip for USD4540, Rwanda Nyungwe extension for USD1990 and Murchison & Budongo for USD1990. Contact info@birdingafrica.com.

15 March: Tanzania: last spaces on our birds & mammals trips during the Serengeti wildebeest migration, departing 21 April and 7 May. To enquire, please contact deirdre@birdingafrica.com

15 March: Update from Victoria Falls (Zambia) and Chobe (Botswana): Schalow's Turaco, lions and Amur Falcons.

13 March: African Finfoot, a great start to the Botswana Okavango Tour! Callan just sent us this photo taken at Livingstone, Zambia.

10 March: Track Marje's 30th Cape Argus Cycle Tour, and see how close she is to Sir Richard Branson and Helen Zille! Marje Hemp is one of only two women having doing their 30th race!

25 January: NEW! Zimbabwe and Mozabique: African Pitta Tour Join us from 28 November to 10 December in search of the elusive African Pitta!

25 January: NEW! Zimbabwe and Mozambique: African Pitta Tour Join us from 28 November to 10 December in search of the elusive African Pitta!

24 January: NEW! Okavango Delta & Victoria Falls! Join leader Callan Cohen from 12 - 25 March, by light plane and boat in search of Pel's Fishing Owl and African Wild Dog! Two spaces left.

23 January: Cameroon: two spaces left! See Red-headed Picathartes from 8 March 2013. Join or enquire: email callan@birdingafrica.com or phone +27 21 531 9148.

23 January: New Madagascar photos by Andy Sims and Clive & Janet Dickson taken last November.

23 January: Uganda: two spaces left! See Shoebill & Gorillas up close from 21 July 2013. Email callan@birdingafrica.com or phone +27 21 531 9148.

17 January: New Trip Report: Madagascar by Michael Mills! Highlights included Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Helmet Vanga, Red-ruffed Lemur and more. See the trip report & photographs!

14 January: Trip Reports: Cape Town Pelagics highlights from the last two months include Flesh-footed Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Spectacled Petrel, 3 Jaeger species & Blue Sharks!

1 January: Happy New Year! We wish you a great start of the new year, filled with fun birding trips! Our office reopens this week, ready to offer a series of exciting new trips and trip reports.

25 December: From the top of Table Mountain, Birding Africa wishes you a Merry Christmas and a relaxing festive season with family and friends.

26 November: Tom Gullick breaks a world record: 9000 bird species seen!.

26 November: One last space remains on our birding tour to Cameroon in March 2013.

20 November: Our third Madagascar tour has started today. We’ve been having a very exciting time and here are a few photos of Fosas, Ground Rollers and lemurs so far!

28 October: Our Madagascar tour had an incredible start: on our first hour in the forest, we watched a pair of Fosa, Cryptoprocta ferox, mating above us!

10 October: Last-minute space on our Madagascar tour led by Michael Mills and departing 12 November. Please contact us and ask for the last-minute discount.

20 September: Blue Petrel!: a major highlight on the 2nd of September Cape Town Pelagics trip. See the photographs.

13 September: Our 2013 Tour Calendar has been updated. Have a look at our new tours and guaranteed departures.

4 September: We have returned in the Cape Town office after our attendance at the UK Birdfair. Thank you for visiting us there and attending Callan's lecture on birding in Madagascar.

28 August: New departure: South Africa Ultimate Endemics Tour from 8 February to 2 March 2014. Book early!

27 August: Our South Africa Ultimate Endemics Tour departing in September 2013 is now full.

20 August: New Trip Report: Uganda & Rwanda, by Michael Mills.

10 August: Visit us at UK Birdfair at the entrance to Marquee 3. Callan will be giving a lecture on Madagascar, Friday from 13h00-13h20.

9 August: Everyone had great views of African Green Broadbill. Some tracked Mountain Gorillas and we even saw Leopard! Join our next Uganda tours in January and July 2013.

3 August: Green-breasted Pitta nest building on our Uganda tour! We watched it for 30 mins - everyone ecstatic! Plus great views of Shoebill! Leader Michael Mills reports from Uganda.

25 July: Michael Mills will lead our next Ethiopia tour from 3 to 16 February 2013. To book, please email info@birdingafrica.com.

15 June: The Angola tour dates have been amended. Join tour-leader Michael Mills on our Angola expedition from 19 August until 6 September 2012!

4 June: Photos and highlights from our Tanzania migration tour have just been posted fresh from the press! See here.

20 May: Callan and Deirdre are back from the wildbeest migration in Northern Tanzania! Photos and more details from this 'Birds & Big Cats' trip will be posted this week.

5 May: Our Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe tour dates and prices have been updated to match the local flight schedules. Bookings are open! To join, please email callan@birdingafrica.com or phone +27 21 531 9148.

5 May: Callan has returned from a very successful Ethiopia trip with 505 species in just 13 days! Photos and more details will be posted as soon as he's back from leading a Tanzania trip!

23 April: Cape Town Pelagics has two last spaces on this weekend's trip, 28/29 April. To join, please contact info@capetownpelagics.com or phone 021 531 9148.

17 April: New Cape Trip Report: Hottentots Holland & Overberg in April with Cape Rock-jumper, Cape Siskin, Southern Tchagra, Algulhas Long-billed Lark and more. Read on here.

3 April: New Cape Town Pelagics trip reports: read about watching 17 pelagic species, Spectacled Petrels, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Sperm Whale and more. Read on here.

28 March: Leader Callan Cohen reports about secretive raptors in Ghana: Long-tailed Hawk, African Cuckoo Hawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk and Red-chested Goshawk. See the photographs.

28 March: Guide Callan Cohen is back from one month tour leading in Ethiopia and Ghana. News from the field will be posted here soon.

28 March: New Cape Town Pelagics trip reports: read about watching 17 pelagic species, Spectacled Petrels, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Sperm Whale and more. Read on here.

28 March: Leader Callan Cohen reports about secretive raptors in Ghana: Long-tailed Hawk, African Cuckoo Hawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk and Red-chested Goshawk. See the photographs.

28 March: Guide Callan Cohen is back from one month tour leading in Ethiopia and Ghana. News from the field will be posted here soon.

6 March: See guide Tertius Gous' trip highlights. Find out why a Cape Town day trip is always exciting!

5 March: Cape Rock-jumper eating a Dwarf Chameleon, Klipspringer, Cape Grassbird and all Cormorant species in one day - see Tertius Gous's photographs and trip report from the 28 February day trip from Cape Town.

1 March: Congo Serpent Eagle kick-starts the Ghana tour, reports Callan Cohen today. Read his report from the field and see some photographs of Congo Serpent Eagle, Black Bee-eater and Blue-bellied Roller.

29 February: New Trip Report: Cape Town to West Coast National Park by Dalton Gibbs in February: 109 species!

26 February: Ethiopia - report from the field: leader Callan Cohen sent in a brief report and some photographs of Stresemann's Bushcrow, Ethiopian Wolf, Gelada Baboon, Spot-breasted Lapwing and other highlights. See our blog.

24 February: Namibia: trip feedback and highlights from Ken and Lys Hall's self-drive tour in January. Highlights included Damara Tern with chicks, Dune Lark and Burchell's Courser.

23 February: Cape Town Pelagics trip reports: Wandering Albatross, Pomarine Jaeger, Red Phalarope, Sabine's Gull, Flesh-footed Shearwater and more. Read on and join us.

17 February: Book early to secure your spot on our new tour: South African Ultimate Endemics Tour from 19 October to 10 November 2013. Contact us for more info.

14 February: Visit São Tomé and Príncipe in October for 9 days. Join Michael Mills, 'Probably the best guide in Africa' (U. Toresson, 2011) to see unusual endemics such as Giant Sunbird, Dohrn's Thrush Babbler, Sao Tome Speirops and Sao Tome Short-tail. This follows our 14-day trip to Gabon.

7 February: Uganda photographs from the January trip: see a juvenile Shoebill, Cassin's Hawk-Eagle, Bar-tailed Trogon, African Finfoot and more. Or have a look at Roger next to the famous Mweya elephant!

6 February: Last minute discount: Namibia & Okavango with Callan Cohen for only GBP2917 from Windhoek 15-30 April 2012. Visit wildlife-rich areas of Ethosha National Park and the Okavango Panhandle and see Pel's Fishing Owl. Please contact us.

6 February: Madagascar trip report by Michael Mills. For our other trips of 2011, we've posted these photographs and top sightings as voted by participants. Click here.

31 January: Our Birding Africa and Cape Town Pelagics Newsletter is back on! See the January 2012 issue of The Black Harrier here, or contact us info@birdingafrica.com to receive upcoming issues in your inbox.

27 January: Madagascar: Helmet Vanga and Bernier's Vanga showed on both of the Birding Africa Masoala extension trips last November. See the photographs here.

26 January: John Malloy shares some photographs he took on two Birding Africa Cape Town day trips that yielded 161 species! See the photographs or read Alastair's trip report.

30 December: Last-minute availability: Uganda Birds & Gorillas tour from 10 to 21 January 2012. Contact tour leaders Callan Cohen and Deirdre Vrancken: info@birdingafrica.com or call +27 21 531 9148.

29 December: Cape Town Pelagics trip reports have been posted. Read about sightings from our 6 most recent trips: Kerguelen Petrel, Southern Royal Albatross, Southern Right Whale and Manx Shearwater, Great-winged Petrel, Parasitic and Pomarine Jaeger, Black-bellied Storm Petrel and Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross, Spectacled Petrel and Wandering Albatross.

28 December: Our recent Kruger-Drakensberg tour started with much excitement: the endemic Southern Bald Ibis, Lanner Falcon and Bearded Vulture. See the photographs.

14 December: Callan and Deirdre are back from two months tour-leading in Madagascar! Here are the highlights from our second tour (1-16 november 2011), as voted by particpants. Top bird: Madagascar Flufftail!

21 November: Our Madagascar tour from 19 November to 10 December 2012 is now fully booked. We have 4 more tours available; please see our tour calendar.

1 November: Madagascar: Callan and Deirdre have just completed the first of six group tours this season. Here are some photographs of a pair of Short-legged Ground Roller, Banded Kestrel with prey, the world's largest chameleon, the world's largest lemur, Indri, Common Sunbird-Asity and more.

12 October: New trip report: Rwanda African Bird Club Conservation Tour, July 2011.

12 October: New trip report: Uganda Specials Tour, July 2011.

12 October: Angola Endemics Expedition: Trip Report! Everyone had outstanding views of every single Angolan endemic bird. Have a look at the report's annotated species list of 535 species, plus some pictures of some sought-after endemics.

10 October: Uganda: only 3 places left on our Shoebill & Gorillas from 10 to 21 January. For more info, please contact us.

7 October: Prince Ruspoli's Turaco! Abyssinian Catbird, Stresemann's Bush Crow, Gelada Baboon and Ethiopian Wolf can all be seen on our April Ethiopia Tour. See the details and join us to the Roof of Africa, one of Africa's top birding spots!

6 October: New Trip Reports from our day trips from Cape Town to the West Coast and Hottentots Hollands. Read through some of the sightings such as Cape Rockjumper, elephant shrew, Southern Right Whales and Black Harrier, or see the pictures.

5 October: For new Cape Town Pelagics trip reports, please see the website: www.capetownpelagics.com

2 October: Our next Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe tour will start on 15 September. Find more details and prices here.

29 September: Cape Town Pelagics trip report: Southern Royal Albatross and hundreds of Common Dolphins on 17 September with Cape Town Pelagics guide Dalton Gibbs. Read the full report and see some pictures here.

19 September: Last chance to book: 24 September pelagic with Cape Town Pelagics. Ask for our last minute discount. Click here to book.

12 September: Cape Town Pelagics trip reports: Wandering Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross and Northern Royal Albatross, led by Cape Town Pelagics guides Dalton Gibbs and Cliff Dorse on 4 September. See the full reports here.

23 August: Cape Town Pelagics trip report: thousands of birds, including European Storm-Petrel, led by Cape Town Pelagics guide Dalton Gibbs on 20 August. See the full report here.

23 August: Cape Town Pelagics trip report: Indian and Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross and Bryde's Whale with Cape Town Pelagics guide Dalton Gibbs on 7 August. See the full report here.

23 August: Cape Town Pelagics trip report: Southern Right Whales and Humpbacked Whales with Cape Town Pelagics guide Barie Rose on 2 August. See the full report here.

12 August: Cape Town Pelagics - 7 Albatross species in a day! Wandering Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross, Southern Fulmar and a white morf Southern Giant Petrel, seen on the 7th of August trip with Cape Town Pelagics guide Barrie Rose. See some photographs and read the full report here.

10 August: Red-collared Babbler and Red-faced Barbet among other specials and Albertine Rift Endemics on our Rwanda tour last July. See the photographs and read about the trip highlights!

5 August: Green-breasted Pitta jump display on our Uganda tour. See the photographs of a Green-breasted Pitta, African Green Broadbill, Shoebill and read about the trip highlights!

3 August: Madagascar - last two places: Our tour from 19 to 30 October has only 2 places left. For more info, please contact us.

2 August: Cape Town Pelagics - 6 Albatross species in a day!: Wandering Albatross, Northern Royal Albatross and 4 other Albatross species, seen on the 30 July trip with Cape Town Pelagics and guide by Barrie Rose. See some photographs and read the full report here.

8 July: Our 2012 Birding Africa tour schedule is set. Click here to see our 2012 tour destinations and dates.

7 July: The 2012 Cameroon tour is set! It will be led by Michael Mills from 9 - 30 March 2012. We offer 2010 rates for bookings received before 31 August: 4982€, single room supp 440€. Contact us at callan@birdingafrica.com for more details.

6 July: The latest Birding Africa Cameroon Tour Report is now online. Top birds were: Red-headed Picathartes, Mount Kupe Bushshrike, Golden Nightjar, Quail-Plover, Fraser's Eagle-Owl, Egyptian Plover, Standard-winged Nightjar, Bannerman’s Turaco, White-spotted Flufftail and Shelley’s Oliveback.

2 July: Cape Town Pelagics trip report: Southern Fulmar, Antarctic Prion, and Bryde's Whale in July with Dalton Gibbs. Read the full report here.

16 june: Please visit us at the UK Birdfair, 19 to 21 August at stands 28/29 in Marquee 3. Or attend Callan Cohen's lecture about Birding in Ethiopia on Friday 14:30-14:50 in the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre.

15 june: The South Africa: Cape Birds & Flowers Tour from 6 to 16 August 2011 has a few more spaces left. If you are interested, please have a look at last year's tour and contact us for details.

9 june: Our Madagascar group tours in 2011 are fully booked. Bookings for our 2012 tours are now open. Please enquire.

9 june: Cape Town Pelagics trip report: Wandering Albatross on and Dusky Dolphins in May with Cliff Dorse. Read here.

8 june: Cape Town Pelagics trip report: Sub-Antarctic Skua, Wilson’s Storm-petrel and Cory’s Shearwater in April with Dalton Gibbs. Read the full report here.

11 April: Our Madagascar tour from 14 to 29 November has just two places left. Our other 'Endemic Birds & Lemurs' group tours are now full. Please contact us if you are interested in joining.

5 April: Cape Town Pelagics Trip Report: five Albatross species, Wilson's Storm Petrel, Blue Shark and Common Dolphin on the Cape Town Pelagics trip of 26 March, led by Cliff Dorse. See the full report here.

2 April: New Trip Report: a West Coast day trip from Cape Town led by Otto Schmidt resulted in rewarding photographs and views of specials such as Southern Black Korhaan, Cape Penduline Tit and Black Harrier.

1 April: Congratulations to Patrick Rollinson, who wins the 10th African Bird Club ID Challenge. Test your African birding skills... and win a Southern African Birdfinder or a 50% discount on a Cape Town Pelagics trip!

30 March: New Trip Report: we saw Pectoral Sandpiper - a rare vagrant for southern Africa, Caracal and African Wild Cat on a West Coast day trip from Cape Town.

22 March: New Trip Report: a Cape day trip with Barrie Rose in search of Cape Rock-jumper and Victorin's Warbler.

22 March: Cape Town Pelagics Trip Report: Coryís Shearwaters, Grey (Red) Phalarope, Oceanic Blue Shark & Skipjack Tuna on with Barrie Rose on 12 March.

19 March: Cape Town Pelagics Trip Report: Flesh-footed Shearwater, European Storm-Petrel and Humpbacked Whale on with Cliff Dorse on 5 March.

16 March: Pelagics evaluation: Simon & Jane joined a Cape Town Pelagics trip in February and share their feedback.

11 March: Rwanda's Nuyngwe and Akagera offer 25 Albertine Rift endemics, Shoebill, tarmac roads and comfortable lodges.
Read our Rwanda birding article published in ABC Bulletin 17(2) and join an 8-day tour that supports bird conservation.

8 March: Last place: Cape Town Pelagics trip on Friday 11 March. Join leader Barrrie Rose in support of Birdlife International's Save the Albatross Fund. Exceptional last minute discount. Contact us.

1 March: Cape Town Pelagics Trip Report: Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skua, Oceanic Sunfish and more on February 6th.

25 February: Cape Town Pelagics Trip Report: Manx Shearwater, Parasitic Jager, Wilson's Storm-Petrel and more on February 6th.

24 February: Cape Town Pelagics Trip Report: 4 species of Albatross, 3 species of Shearwater, 2 species of Storm-Petrel and more on January 8th.

17 February: Ethiopia - hot from the field: 14 endemics in one day, cliff-hanging Gelada baboons, a scarce Spot-breasted Lapwing, a vagrant Egyptian Plover and a highly desired White-cheeked Turaco! See the pictures and read Callan's report.

4 February: Updated Cape Town Pelagic Trip Reports and sightings of 2010: 4 Albatross species on April 24, Wilson's Storm-Petrel on May 29, Pintado Petrel on August 15 and Great Shearwater & 13 Southern Right Whales on September 5, Red Phalarope, Sabine's Gull and Humpbacked Whale on October 17, Red Phalarope, Wandering Albatross and 4 whale species on November 6.

2 February: Madagascar & Masoala in November: last chance to book. Click here for the details or email us.

25 January: Ghana Trip Report. Michael Mills reports back about watching Yellow-headed Picathartes, African Piculet and more!

13 January: Shoebill display observed in Uganda. Read Callan & Deirdre's report and see the photographs of a Shoebill pair and one in flight!

8 January 2011: Trip Report, Malawi with Michael Mills. Read about Lesser Seedcracker, Black-lored Cisticola & other top 10 birds!

28 December: Cameroon 2011: only 2 places left! Book now.

28 December: Cameroon: tour participant Barry Wright sent us some photographs including Egyptian Plover and the incredible Standard-winged Nightjar.

23 December: The results are out! Top birds and experiences as voted by the Madagascar tour participants: click here.

22 December: Madagascar: Helmet and Bernier's Vangas seen on our Masoala extension. Click here for some photographs.

21 December: Madagascar: 122 endemic species in 16 days. Plus 26 lemur species. Click here for some photographs.

27 October: Last two places: 30 October Cape Town Pelagics. Join our seabirding trip from Simonstown while you support seabird conservation. Click here to book or phone Amanda Kropman 083 270 7452.

27 October: New Cape Town Pelagics trip report: Southern Royal Albatross,Wandering Albatross, Sabine's Gull and Pomarine Jaeger among 31 species on this Cape Town Pelagics trip of 23 October, led by Cliff Dorse. Read more.

25 October: New Trip report, Western Cape: Guide Dalton Gibbs reports back from the Tanqua Karoo where specials included Protea Seed-eater, Ludwig's Bustard and Layard's Titbabbler. Read the report, click here.

25 October: New trip report from the Cape Town Pelagics trip of 11 September, led by Bruce Dyer. Read about the sightings of Humpback Whale and more: click here.

18 October: Marie and Marcia praise their West Coast daytrip with highlights such as Black Harrier and Blue Crane. Click here for their trip feedback and the trip report.

18 October: Namibia tour report and photographs. Sightings include 71 endemic and near-endemic birds plus the rarely seen Aardvark and Aardwolf!

17 October: Cameroon tour photographs by participant Andy Deighton. These include Jos Plateau Indigobird, a new record for Cameroon!

17 October: Namibia tour photographs by tour-leader Callan Cohen include top birds such as Hartlaub’s Francolin and Rosy-faced Lovebird.

17 October: Art helps save the Albatross. Albatross Task Force member, and regular Cape Town Pelagics guide, Meidad Goren describes his experiences with artist Bruce Pearson. Read more here.

15 October: New Cape Town Pelagics trip report from 19 September by Dalton Gibbs. Read about the sightings of Bryde's Whale and more: click here.

15 October: New Cape Town Pelagics trip report from 18 September by Patrick Cardwell. Read about the sightings of Pomerine Jaeger and Sabineís Gull, and more: click here.

13 October: Patrice Christy recently guided a private Birding Africa tour to Gabon and AP Leventis kindly sent us the photos - see them here.

13 October: Cape Rock-jumpers and spectacular Black Eagles on a very windy day trip led by Otto Schmidt - read Enrico's comments here.

13 October: Climate change scientist Hector Galbraith comments on the best birds of his Madagascar trip: Scaly-Ground-Roller and Nuthatch Vanga... read more here.

24 August: The UK Birdfair auction raised funds to save some of Ethiopia's rarest endemic birds, such as Liben Lark. Dr. Claire Spottiswoode signed copies of "Where to Watch Birds in Ethiopia" and Birding Africa and Cape Town Pelagics donated guided day trips and a signed copy of the "Southern African Birdfinder".

23 August: A new species for Sao Tome, Grey-rumped Swallow, has been recorded on one of the Birding Africa tours in August.

12 August: Last chance to join the Cape Spring Flowers Tour tour. For a sneak preview of what we saw last year, click here. Contact us info@birdingafrica.com to book and witness one of the most spectacular flower displays on earth!

11 August: Our Cape Birds & Flowers tour headed on to Kirstenbosch and the West Coast National Park yesterday. Callan reports of amazing views of Black Harrier. Read on here.

10 August: Our Cape Birds & Flowers tour made a head start with highlights such as Cape Rock-jumper, Southern Right Whale and Goliath Heron. Read on here.

26 July: New trip report and photographs from the 15 May Cape Town Pelagics trip led by Barrie Rose. See photographs of specials seen such as Black-bellied Storm Petrel: click here.

22/6/10: Last two places: Cape Birds & Flowers tour in August. Join Callan Cohen and see birds, spring flowers and mammals. Have a sneak preview - click here for the slideshow.

22/6/10: Cuckoo Finch research: Birding Africa co-founder Dr Claire Spottiswoode and Dr Martin Stevens discover how hosts can tell their own eggs from those of brood parasites! Read on here.

22/6/10: Archer's Lark's only site is invaded by Parthenium weed, finds the Somaliland Birding Africa expedition team survey.

4/6/10: Pelagics Trip Report from the Cape Town Pelagics on 29 May 2010 led by guide Dalton Gibbs.

4/6/2010: Trip report, Cape Town: Guide Otto Schmidt went out to see 100 species on 21 April. 'Top drawer' service, wrote Jay. 'Efficient service and excellent guide' said Nigel & Chris.

4/6/2010: Somaliland birding photographs: Callan sent us his second batch straight from the field!

3/6/2010: Birders spotted another rare Cape leopard! For the second time in May, now thanks to watching Verreaux's Eagles!

1/6/2010: Trip Report, Western Cape: Cape Eagle Owl, Protea Seedeater and more. Dalton, Michael and Otto report about 197 lifers - click here.

27/5/10: A new bird hide opened at Rooisand Nature Reserve - Marje Hemp attended the inauguration and reports about alien timber, Osprey and the Biodiversity Festival: click here.

25/5/10: Cape leopard, mobbed by Pied Crows, seen with Birding Africa! Our guide and the Cape Leopard Trust report back: click here.

24/5/10: Grey-headed Albatross and Black-bellied Storm Petrel, unusual sightings on 15 May with Cape Town Pelagics.

20/5/2010: Callan Cohen is exploring Somaliland with Michael Mills and others. They report back and share some pictures.

22/4/2010: New Tour: Malawi Birding Tour, 13 days in November 2010 with tour leader Michael Mills.

28/3/2010: New Tour: Ghana: Yellow-headed Picathartes and forest birding in December 2010.

27/3/2010: Madagascar: Good news for birding and lemur-watching; Rosewood logging and export is now prohibited.

17/3/2010: Golden Nightjar found and photographed on a Birding Africa trip to Cameroon.

5/3/2010: Trip report: summer birding in February: the Cape Peninsula and Hottentot's Holland with guide Otto Schmidt.

4/3/2010: African Openbills on our Cape Town birding trips. 2010 brought the first ever record of these storks in Cape Town!

25/2/2010: Madagascar: top birds and experiences from our latest tours, as voted by tour participants.

22/2/2010: New Namibia-Okavango photographs by Utz Klingenböck on a Birding Africa tour in October 2009.

19/2/2010: Birdfair 2009 raised £263,000 for BirdLife International’s project ‘Preventing Extinctions: Saving the World’s Critically Endangered Birds’. Birdfair 2010 will raise funds for ‘Saving southern Ethiopia’s endemic birds’. Join our tour to Ethiopia and Somaliland in June 2010.

17/2/10: Read Peter Ryan's and Callan Cohen's article about Rwanda Birding and get ready for our African Bird Club Conservation Fund Tour to Rwanda.

15/2/10: Booted Eagle, Sooty Blue butterfly and Marbled Leaf-Toed Gecko seen at the Birding Africa office garden today.

11/2/10: Madagascar's Ebony and endangered lemurs are being poached at an alarming rate. Read Wikipedia about the illegal logging and see how the internet and tourism can help.

3/2/10: Our first 2010 trip report! Eastern South Africa Endemics, led by Michael Mills.

22/12/09: See Picathartes on video, filmed by Martin Kennewell on the Birding Africa tour to Cameroon.

2/2/10: Grey-backed Storm Petrel, the 2nd record for southern Africa! See the pictures taken on our 27 December Cape Town Pelagic trip.

2/2/10: Uganda Birds & Primates: Callan and Deirdre have just returned from leading three tours - here are some photographs.

2/2/10: >Soccer & Birding: combine the FIFA World Cup with Cape endemics and Karoo specials. Please e-mail info@birdingafrica.com or phone +27 21 531 9148

2/2/10: Check out our updated 2010 and 2011 tour calendar.

22/12/09: Help find Frodo, Cape Town's juvenile Black Eagle. He left Noordhoek Peak and carries yellow wingtags "Y006". Please contact Lucia Rodrigues.

29/11/09: Callan and Deirdre have just returned from their Madagascar tour - here are some birds they photographed.

28/10/09: >
Click here to see the image galleries!

On 24 October 2009, South African birders and photographers photographed South Africa's amazing bird diversity to raise awareness about climate change! Oganised by: Birding Africa, PlusPlusMinus, Birdlife South Africa and 350.org.
Click here to see the list of 365 submitted species.
Click here to meet the team.

24/10/09: Would you like to positively contribute to the environment while birding?
Have a look at these greening projects that can help you offset your carbon footprint.

21/10/09: New Cape Town Pelagics trip reports from 17 October 2009. Highlights: Flesh-footed Shearwater and 6 Indian 6 Yellow-nosed Albatross.

19/10/09: New Trip Report from the Diversitas conference day trip to Rooiels, Stoney Point and Harold Porter Botanical Gardens on 17 October.

14/10/09: New Trip Report from the Hottentot's Holland Day Trip on 13 October 2009.
Highlights: Cape Rock-jumper, Cape Siskin and Ground Woodpecker.

14/10/09: New Cape Town Pelagics trip reports from August, Septemer and October 2009.
Highlights: Antarctic Fulmar, Little Shearwater, Southern and Northern Royal Albatross


Get out with your cameras on 24 October, show South Africa's amazing bird diversity and raise awareness about climate change! Submit your pictures and help create an amazing mosaic of 350 bird species in South Africa through the
350-24-24 Bird Photo Challenge!

Join us, Birding Africa, PlusPlusMinus, Birdlife South Africa and 350.org on 24 October. Register on http://350.birdingafrica.com!


27/09/09: Dalton Gibbs reports back from Gough Island!

26/09/09: New Cape Town Pelagics trip report from trips of 12 and 19 September 2009.

30/08/09: British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water proved very successful, with sunny weather and over 20,000 visitors. Callan's "Birding Namibia and the Okavango" was the most highly-attended lecture on the Saturday, with over 240 people. Congratulations to the winners of the Birding Africa competition and the African Bird Club raffle (which we sponsored)!

25/08/09: New Cape Town Pelagics trip report from trip of August 15 2009.

19/08/09: Rwanda: African Bird Club Conservation Tour in 2010 or 2011!

12/08/09: New Cape Town Pelagics trip reports from August and July 2009. Highlights: Little Shearwater and more!

07/08/09: Birding Africa: find out why we are a Birder Friendly Tour Operator registered with Birdlife Travel!

07/08/09: The sub-adult Black Sarrowhawk visits our garden again! Read on about Raptor Research in the Western Cape.

27/07/09: Cape Town's Verreauxs' Eagle Chick has grown! And its sibling never had a chance to hatch. See the pictures of the chick, its nest and the breeding pair. Find out more about the Western Cape Raptor Research Programme.

27/07/09: To follow modern nomenclature and systematics, we've adopted the IOC World Bird List, Version 2.1.

13/07/09: The 8th African Bird ID Challenge has launched! Win a 50% discount on a Cape Town Pelagics trip, a copy of Southern African Birdfinder, or African Bird Club membership for 1 year.

06/07/09: Cape White-eye research in our garden.

02/07/09: Cape Town's Verreauxs' Eagle Chick has hatched! See the pictures of the chick, its nest and the breeding pair and find out more about the Western Cape Raptor Research Programme.

02/07/09: Campbell Fleming, a Cape Town scholar, avid birder and photographer, joined Birding Africa last month as an intern. Click here, to see what he got up to.

02/07/09: New pelagic trip reports from the Cape Town Pelagics trips in June 2009. Highlights: Slenderbilled Prion and Leach's Storm Petrel 30/06/09: Our latest Cape Fynbos and Karoo trip reports feature Hottentot Buttonquail, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler and other fynbos and Karoo endemics... 26/06/09: Tungsten mining threatens RAMSAR site, South Africa's Verlorenvlei. Read the Media Release.

22/06/09: Claire Spottiswoode, one of Birding Africa's founders, was part of the exploratory team at Mount Mabu. The mountain is part of the newly discovered largest rainforest in Southern Africa.

11/06/09: A colour-ringed Black Sparrowhawk visits the Birding Africa office garden. Read why it's a 10 months old male!

31/05/09: Michel Watelet wins the African Bird Club ID Challenge 7. Test your African birding skills... and WIN a Birding Africa Cape Town day trip or a copy of the Birdfinder! 30/05/09: A tragedy unfolded at Kommetjie south of Cape Town as 44 beached and exhausted False Killer Whales were shot during an attempt by hundreds of volunteers to coax further members of the group out to sea. Click here for pictures and more details.

21 May 09: 129 oiled penguins from Namibia were transported 3000 km to Cape Town and rehabilitated by our guide Tertius Gous and SANCCOB. After several weeks of constant and professional care by Tertius and volunteers, over 80 penguins have rehabilitated were released near Cape Town today! All are tagged and some have radio-transmittors. We hope they will make it back to Namibia!

3 May 09: The latest Cameroon Birding Tour Report is now online. Top birds were: Red-headed Picathartes, Brown-chested Lapwing, Quail Plover, Crossley’s Ground-Thrush, Grey-headed Broadbill, Green-breasted Bush-Shrike, White-crested Turaco, Swallow-tailed Kite, Ursula’s Sunbird, Little Oliveback and Arabian Bustard. 30 April 09: The British Foreign Commonwealth Office has relaxed its warning against travel to Madagascar. Tourist visas are now free for stays up to 1 month in 2009. We plan to go ahead with our tours, with the 31 October to 15 November tour being our flagship tour. 30 April 09: Have a look at Wim de Groot's Namibia pictures, taken on a Birding Africa Namibia & Okavango trip.

19 April 09: Extinction warning for the Sidamo Lark was issued this week after surveys by Claire Spottiswoode and colleagues, which Birding Africa helped sponsor. Read more on BBC News and The New Scientist websites.

14 April 09: Destination map

14 April 09: Tour pages: Ethiopia, Mali, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and São Tomé and Príncipe.

7 April 09: Tour pages: Gabon, Cameroon, Tanzania, Botswana and Namibia.

7 April 09: Trip Reports: Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Eastern and Western South Africa.

5 April 09: follow Kersten and Callan on Kersten's Namibia tour blog until April 17!

17 March 09: We are deeply saddened by the passing, after a short illness, of Dr. Steven Piper, one of our favourite guides. We'ld like to extend our deepest condolensces to Steven's family. Steven was a larger than life character with a passion for birding. He had so much energy and devoted a great deal of his time to ringing and teaching, and leading expeditions up to Lesotho. We wish his family comfort and strength.

17 March 09: We are very concerned with the illegal change of government in Madagascar. On the advice of our friends and associates in Madagascar, we're placing our trips on standby and will almost certainly postpone them until next year's wildlife season. Please contact us to express interest in these trips, but note that they are most likely to run between October and December 2010. We continue to monitor the situation to be able to make a decision as best as possible on whether the trips will run. 11 March 09: Raptor Watch with The Friends at Newlands Forest on 14 March 2009, Cape Town!

8 March 09: Trip Reports: Madagascar 18 day and 21 day bird & lemur tours.

7 March 09: Wildlife at the Birding Africa office: pictures and species lists!

7 March 09: Contact us: new contact details!

3 March 09: Angola tour page: pictures, prices, tour details and trip reports.

3 March 09: Madagascar tour page: pictures, prices, tour details and trip reports.

1 March 09: 2009 and 2010 Tour Calendar

1 April 08: Subscribe to our newsletter.

1 Oct 08: Come and visit us at the British Birdwatching Fair from 21 to 23 August 2009. We hope to once again meet you at the British Birdwatching Fair in 2009. It'll be another bustling event, so don't hesitate to set-up an appointment so we're sure to not miss you for once that we come to the UK! Please email Callan on callan@birdingafrica.com. Our stand has traditionally been in Marquee 3, stand 28/29. See www.birdfair.org.uk for more details.

We have also visited the Dutch Birding Fair in Lelystad. See www.vogelfestivaal.nl for more details.