Hi
If you like the idea of letting your bucket list determine where to go birding next, you will love the pilot programs we are setting up for South Africa. You may ask, why South Africa and why in the late summer (January-February)?
If you are an avid birder, you can not have avoided to hear about South Africa Birdlife's fundraising cruise with some 2000 birders to the subantarctic island of Marion - a South African possession and conservation area in the Sub Antartica. The cruise runs Jan 24-Jan 31.
Not only will it be a once in a life time experience (with a post COVID twist), but it is also extremely reasonably priced. Yes, there are a lot of protocols, as there should be, and it will affect the social aspect and fun to some extent, but I still think it will be a hell of a birdparty. I am looking forward to see many real life birding friends and FB friends in the flesh IRL (in spite of facemasks).
Maybe Facebook should be renamed FMB - FaceMaskBook! 🤪🤣
Of course, this allows for an opportunity to test the Bucket List Approach to Birding as 7WB extensions before and after the cruise, which starts in Cape Town and ends in Durban.
Presuming many international birders likely will arrive in Johannesburg, rather than Cape Town, and that several of the South Africa based bird tour operators are offering Cape Town pre Marion itineraries, it makes little sense for me to offer the same.
Instead, I have two other extensions in mind. The first one is a concentrated effort to see the weird looking Aardvark and the best place for it is Marrick Safaris close to Kimberley. The second is a birding itinerary from Durban to Johannesburg that concentrates on the most important targets for general listers (regionalized endemics) and bird family listers.
It is also an itinerary for those who collect visiting different countries around the world, since we shall make brief visits to both Lesotho and Swaziland (COVID regulations permitting).|
In short, the first itinerary is great for new birders who really want to get to know the birds in a smaller area, and those wanting to see iconic mammals. The second itinerary, may seem too extreme for the newbies, but on the other hand, the idea of knocking off countries on the bucket list and the amount of wildlife seen at Mkhuze Game Reserve should complement the extreme birding to some extent. The good thing for newbies is that the trip is quite short, and
therefor, for couples consisting of birders-listers/non-listers, this could actually work quite well.
If these two testimonials doesn't do it for you, I don't know what!
- There are no long drives without birding. The time in the field is maximized.
- Night drives are available every night for mammal watching.
- Therefor the days are long. Three of four night drives are included in the price.
- The main birding will be in the mornings and in the afternoons. If you wish you can take a siesta by the pool, but we shall also offer additional birding in the middle of the day for those that so wish.
- Very good lodging.
- Local guides and game drives.
- Many rare mammals
- Meerkats (Surikats) - Cutest animal of the savanna.
- Relaxed pace, but the days can be made very intense if you wish with birding and wildlife throughout the day and night game drives every night.
The post tour Jan 31- Feb 6
The majority of international birders who need to get back to Johannesburg after the cruise, will most likely make a short extension of a day or two and then fly back to Joburg. But what is you went overland and added a few more days? What are the advantages?
My friend Charley Hesse (Tropical Birding) has been kind enough to help me to put together a program that is very short and effective (some would say too short, but then again birders will always say that). In only six and a half days we hit some of the best birding areas of eastern South Africa and make brief entries into two additional countries - Lesotho and Swaziland. Again, let's list the objectives.
- The best birding to be done between Durban and Johannesburg
- See as many of the regional endemics and specialities as possible.
- Country listers get two additional countries on their lists.
- Wonderful game in Mkhuze Game Reserve.
- Mkhuze is second only to Kruger in biodiversity.
- Six and a half days.
- Detailed itinerary attached in a Word document.
- Likely max 4 paying customers.
Will these tours make it to the 7WB website?
Certainly, the Aardvark trip is already up. The Durban-Joburg itinerary probably has too much traditional birding focus to be on the 7WB website. This means that it is less likely that we shall run this tour on a regular basis. I may offer it again for a second time, when I visit South Africa next time to run the famous Comrades (ultra) Marathon. That could be later in 2022 but more likely in 2023.
The Aardvark itinerary on the other hand will be offered on a regular basis, as the Aardvark is one most enigmatic cool looking mammals of the world.
Prices
The price for the Aardvark program is $2500 in double occupancy, while the Durban to Johannesburg is $1499/person with a minimum of three birders and $2000/person if just two.
Our bookings at the Marrick Safari Lodge will only be held until Monday, so it is URGENT to book if you are interested in the Aardvark tour.
7 Wonders Birding 2022 program online
It took some time, and work around COVID, but it is done. All of our published tours are up on the 7 Wonders Birding Calendar for 2022-2023. YAY!
I still need to upload the Papua New Guinea (August), Namibia (September) or October and Madagascar (November) itineraries, but these will be added very shortly. Be on the look-out. Meanwhile, let me know if you are interested in any of them.
Last minute Bucket List Birding trips with 7WB
Pantanal
Coming up on Nov 26 is a very short Pantanal trip of 6 days. The normal price would be $2850. Only until Monday morning November 15, I am offering a $550 discount. Thus price is only $2300 and it includes the domestic flights from Sao Paulo to Cuiabá and back. Contact me at kolibriexp@gmail,com for more information.
Machu Picchu De Luxe
The best option for seeing Machu Picchu and also have opportunities for great bird photography is doing our comfortable Machu Picchu and Abra Malaga program. The trip starts on Dec 13. Extensions are available should you want to make a longer holiday.
India - end of the year.
India is opening their borders for regular international flights from Nov 15 and COVID seems to be under control.
I don't particularly enjoy the Christmas craze. If possible, I'd rather be birding. If you feel the same, have a look at our India program to escape Christmas with me. I have put three different dates in the calendar, to give you more choice. If you want to extend your travel in the region, we shall organize extensions.
There is much flexibility in this regard.
Hummingbirds in Peru and Ecuador in February.
Do you like Hummingbirds? I have two trips planned in February with a couple of repeat clients and friends that are either into hummingbirds or bird photography. Although, not 7 Wonders Birding tours, these 9-10 day tours are perfect for Bucket List Birders wanting some of the best birds in both areas.
The first tour Northern Peru 10 days with start on February 9 covers a transect over the Andes from Chiclayo to Tarapoto. The nickname of the tour is 50 Shades of Hummingbirds, since we usually get 50 or more species of hummingbirds over the 10 days. It is a action-packed tour both for
quality birding and bird photography. We stay at lodges that have good setups with feeders and plants to attract hummingbirds and other birds. And there are many endemic species on the route including Marvelous Spatuletail and Long-whiskered Owlet.
The second tour from February 19 for 9 days takes you to the best places in Ecuador for Hummingbirds. The trip was a request from a hummingbird-loving lady in the US, who had sent me a list of some 15 species of hummingbirds still needed. I put together a program.
It turns out that she needs to visit some of the best places in Ecuador with hummingbird feeders and set ups for photographers.
Although, she had envisioned a trip that would probably not be of interest of other birders, I disagreed. This itinerary provides some of the best birding in Ecuador, why I suggested that she could lower her costs by letting others join. Luckily for you, if this sounds like something just for you, she agreed!
Although, hummingbirds are the main focus, she also wants to see the special birds of each place, so the tour will be great also for new birders who want to see and photograph other great birds. Let me know if your are interested and I will send you the itinerary.
I am keeping it short this time. Please, note that some of the content above is quite urgent to act upon. Don't hesitate to ask me questions!
Saludos
Gunnar
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7 Wonders Birding
The Bucket List Approach to Birding
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PS: The first episode of Bucket List Birding Podcast shall be uploaded next week. Look out for it!
Please, share this newsletter to anyone you think may be interested in these kind of trips. There are a lot of people who may feel intimidated by regular birding tours for which the Bucket List Birding concept could work very well. Thank you!
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