Another Sussex Birder's Observations: South Africa Birthday Safari 7th - 15th June 2026 Part 1 7th

Sunrise South Africa

Back in February I was looking into doing something special for my 70th birthday. I couldn't find any birding trips that tempted me so looked into doing a safari. With the recommendation from a friend of the Vuyani Safari Resorts I booked a six night package and managed to get a cheap flight just as the Iran conflict started.

Sunday 7th June I took the train to Victoria arriving at 2pm, then took the underground changing at South Kensington to Heathrow. However engineering work on the line meant at Hammersmith I had to get onto a bus which took me to Heathrow Terminal 2. From there the Elizabeth line to to Terminal 5 for my on time 11 hour British Airways flight to Johannesburg at 7pm.

Monday 8th I arrived in Johannesburg at 7am, collected my luggage and then checked in for my next flight with Air Link at 10.30 to Hoedspruit.

Descending into Hoedspruit

Arriving at 12.00 30 minutes late due to congestion at Johannesburg airport we quickly disembarked and I found my guide and driver waiting for me.

A 15 minute drive to the lodge, where I was greeted with hot towels and a Cranberry Juice. Then taken to my room and showed around the resort.

My Room

Raised walkway between rooms and facilities

Bedroom

Veranda

Washroom

Outside Shower

Pool and Dining area

Lunch was at 1.30 and a bit of a nap until 4pm when I went for my first safari.

This was to be the norm, an afternoon safari from 4pm to around 6.30pm and a morning safari 6.00am to 9.30am. The rest of the time was spent relaxing, eating and drinking.

Todays afternoon safari was a good introduction to the birds and animals there. I was surprised that I would get to see a couple of Lions so soon into my trip.

Hoopoe

Wildebeest

Grey Go-away-bird

Lion - male 3yrs old

Giraffe

Impala

Nyala - male

Springbok (a brief and only sighting of the trip)

Every evening as darkness fell we stopped for a sundowner before returning to the lodge

Sundowner time

Dinner this evening was held around the Boma Fire with a buffet barbeque served.

Boma Fire

Barbeque

Tuesday 9th very much the same as last nights safari but with a few more birds and some Zebra and Elephants.

Wildebeest

Cape Vulture

African Fish Eagle

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

White-backed Vulture

Impala male

Kudu female

Temminck's Courser

Baboon finding safety on an electricity pylon

This evening after the sundowner back at the lodge dinner was served in the restaurant.

Wednesday 10th. The Birthday! The guide asked what do we want to see today? my answer was Rhino and more Lions and I wasn't disappointed! It wasn't long before a Rhino was straight in front of us.

Next up was a Brown Hyena, as soon as we approached he took off and not seen again.

Brown Hyena

Then we sped off as a lion had been seen by another jeep.

We returned back to the lodge for breakfast and I was greeted with this in my bedroom

On the afternoon safari, there were some new guests who wanted to see elephants so the afternoon was spent heading to the far side of the reserve where a herd had been spotted in the morning.

We didn't find them but we saw plenty of other birds and animals.

Kodu

Blacksmith Lapwing

Crowned Lapwing

Southern White-crowned Shrikes

Hippos

Giraffe with Oxpecker

Southern Red Hornbill

Red-billed Oxpecker

Striped Kingfisher

Warthog and Wildebeest

Wildebeest

Dinner tonight was to be a bit special, as the lodge had prepared a birthday cake for me to be served as dessert. A chocolate cake with cream and strawberries served with South African sparkling wine.

The cake

I then had to listen to a rendition of Happy Birthday from the staff and guests and then another in German. A few glasses of local Whisky later I retired to bed.

Thursday 11th surprisingly no headache, another safari at 6 am. This time with a new guide and driver. Once again similar creatures seen with a few new.

Bonking White-backed Vultures

Yellow-fronted Canary and Southern Red Bishops

Better views of Grey Go-away Bird

Arrow-marked Babler

African Fish Eagle

White-crested Helmetshrike

Kudu

Warthogs

Southern Grey-headed Sparrows

The intention on this afternoon safari was to look for the elephants again but after seeing some of the usual we sped off as a pride of Lions had been spotted.

I was pleased to spot a small flock of birds, and didn't realise until I went through my photos it contained a Cut-throat Finch. Although having seen them before this was my first photo of one.