From the moment you arrive at Cape Town by air, the sheer beauty of the Cape strikes you. As you approach the peninsular, the spectacular Table Mountain and its adjacent hills dominate the landscape. Numerous bays and shallow lagoons add to this idyllic scene. It is against this breath-taking scenery that we will explore a wide range of habitats for the exciting birdwatching and other wildlife to be found here, much of it endemic to the region.

Spring in the Western Cape of South Africa offers the visiting naturalist the spectacle of masses of flowers of a bewildering variety of species – collectively known as the Cape Floral Kingdom. Many ‘wintering’ (from our point of view) birds from the north are now arriving and a range of local species are getting on with breeding. Around the coast, southern right whales have gathered in favoured bays to join the Cape fur seals and the many seabirds.

The holiday will be based on two centres, the Cape Town area (nine nights) and Hermanus (five nights). The latter is an attractive little town along the south coast, famous for its whales and giving easy access to the Overberg and its special delights. Two further nights will be spent on direct overnight flights from London – Cape Town and back.

Dates: 8th December to 22nd December 2024

Dates: 9th June to 23rd June 2025