When my wife and I first went birding with Brian, on two days in October 2005 we vowed then that one day we would return to South Africa and would go with him on a longer trip. This March we did just that – travelling up the West Coast to Springbok and then turning East via Pofadder and Pella to Augabies and then up to the Kalahari and Twee Rivieren before turning back south via the Tanqua Karoo to the Grootvadersbosch Forest Reserve and finally the De Hoop Nature Reserve before returning to Cape Town.
The trip was all we hoped it would be and more. The accommodation which Brian had found for us was superb, each place full of character in its own way, and the birds were brilliant. It is difficult to pick on one place in particular, but the Kalahari was fantastic – the high point being not a bird but brilliant close views of a leopard!
The entire trip was excellently organised by Brian who once again showed himself a five star birder and a great companion. We are already looking towards another trip in 2009!