Sustain Wildlife and Birding Safaris

30/01/2025

FLOCK TO MARION
24-29 January 2025

We have added a few new unbelievable species to our ever growing list of marine marvels. The scenery yesterday was gorgeous too!

I also sponsored a hectare of the Mouse-Free Marion Project - a very worthy cause and vital conservation initiative.

BIRDS
1. Tristan Albatross
2. Wandering Albatross
3. Light-mantled Sooty Albatross
4. Sooty Albatross
5. Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
6. Grey-headed Albatross
7. Macaroni Penguin
8. Gentoo Penguin
9. King Penguin
10. Southern Rockhopper Penguin
11. Sub-Antarctic (Brown) Skua
12. Southern Giant Petrel
13. Northern Giant Petrel
14. White-headed Petrel
15. White-chinned Petrel
16. Great-winged Petrel
17. Kergeulen’s Petrel
18. Grey Petrel
19. Blue Petrel
20. Barau’s Petrel
21. Pintado (Cape) Petrel
22. White-headed Petrel
23. Soft-plumaged Petrel
24. Common Diving Petrel
25. Wilson’s Storm Petrel
26. Black-bellied Storm Petrel
27. White-bellied Storm Petrel
28. Grey-backed Storm Petrel
29. Salvin’s Prion
30. Fairy Prion
31. Parasitic Jaeger
32. Long-tailed Jaeger
33. Tropical Shearwater
34. Little Shearwater
35. Cory’s Shearwater
36. Sooty Shearwater
37. Greater Crested Tern
38. Common Tern
39. Kelp Gull

MAMMALS
1. Striped Dolphin x 12
2. Cuvier’s Beaked Whale x 2
3. S***m Whale
4. Sub-Antarctic Seals
5. Whales?
6. Long-finned Pilot Whale
7. Gray’s Beaked Whale x 8
8. Strap-toothed Beaked Whale x 4

FISH
1. Flying Fish

28/01/2025

Hewitt’s red rock hare (Pronolagus saundersiae) is one of Southern Africa’s most elusive mammals, preferring rocky, mountainous habitats. Known for its rust-coloured coat and shy nature, it’s a rewarding sight for patient observers.

28/01/2025

We’re on the hunt again!

We depart on the 27th of April 2025 on a 19-day tour exploring bucket list specials through Northern Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Join us. https://sustainsafaris.com/.../northern-namibia-botswana.../

22/01/2025

The Erongo Mountains in Namibia are celebrated for its remarkable biodiversity, with species such as the elusive Damara rockrunner, Hartlaub’s spurfowl, Herero chat, and klipspringer. This area also supports communities of reptiles and amphibians, making it a hotspot for herping enthusiasts.

17/01/2025

The Sharpe's Grysbok (Raphicerus sharpei) is a small, shy, solitary antelope that is found from tropical to south-eastern Africa, mostly seen at dawn or dusk, or in the night. Known for its reddish coat that is abundantly flecked with white hairs, it’s a true treasure for naturalists. Spot it on our Sub-tropical South Africa tours.

16/01/2025

Hewitt's Red Rock Hare (Pronolagus saundersiae)
11 ‎October ‎2023
Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, South Africa

These endemic hares are grazers, and are both nocturnal and crepuscular. They live in rocky terrain and are normally solitary, though several may shelter together during the day in deep rock crevices.

14/01/2025

Eastern Rock Sengi (Elephant Shrew) (Elephantulus myurus)
29 August 2024
Khoisan Karoo Conservancy, Hanover, Northern Cape, South Africa

On this chilly day, this precious little guy emerged within 5m of us to soak up every degree of warmth it could from the last rays of sunlight before the sub-zero cold set in for the evening.

13/01/2025

Looking for the best birding apps in Southern Africa?

We recommend Roberts Bird Guide (second edition), SASOL Birds of Southern Africa, Firefinch and BirdPro South Africa – all excellent tools for identifying species and improving your fieldcraft. These apps are a must-have on our birding tours!

Images: Grey Cuckooshrike, Brown-hooded Kingfisher

12/01/2025

African Wild Dog pack
11 September 2024
Kruger National Park, South Africa

On day 6 of our 23-day Rare Mammal Tour we spent half an hour watching this family playing, bonding and feeding. It was funny watching the puppies discover the STOP sign, and hounding the adults for food.

10/01/2025

On our Northern Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe 19-Day Tours we undertake 4 boat cruises along the Okavango and Chobe Rivers in search of remarkable birdlife and wildlife, as we soak in the extraordinary scenery and the sensation of exploring these awesome wild waterways.

We depart on our next magical tour of these regions from 27 April to 15 May 2025!

If you would like to experience it all for yourself, check out: https://sustainsafaris.com/tours/northern-namibia-botswana-zimbabwe-19-day-tour/

09/01/2025

Cape Eagle Owl (Bubo capensis)
Sustain Safaris 14-Day Birding Tour
01 October 2024
Pringle Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

Just before nightfall we heard this magnificent, rare, nocturnal predator call out and we were fortunate to spend a few moments appreciating it.

08/01/2025

Leopard (Panthera pardus) male
06 September 2024
Madikwe Game Reserve, North West, South Africa

We had been parked at a dam, watching elephants and other wildlife activity for 20 minutes, and suddenly only 30m behind us this magnificent creature, that had been cryptically resting in the shadows of a medium-sized bush, suddenly emerged!

07/01/2025

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)
Sustain Safaris 23-Day Tour
18 September 2024
Kimberley, South Africa

One is seldom afforded such long and great views of the stunning bittern.

07/01/2025

Mokala National Park, a lesser-known gem in South Africa, offers sightings of the Cape buffalo, sable, roan, tsessebe and southern white rhinoceros in one of the country’s most beautiful landscapes.

The park’s Karoo koppie habitat also attracts bird species like the melodious lark, pygmy falcon and red-crested korhaan. Don’t miss this incredible destination.

07/01/2025

Angoni Vlei Rat (Otomys angoniensis)
16 September 2024
Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State, South Africa

05/01/2025

Birds from Windhoek to Hwange
19 October to 1 November 2024
Sustain Safaris 14-day Wildlife Tour

They took a few weeks to process and here they are...several of the fantastic birds we enjoyed on our awesome tour venturing through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Some special sightings.

03/01/2025

Mayhem at the African Wild Dog den
Early July 2024
Savuti, Chobe National Park, Botswana

Something unexpected happened and it was hard to watch...

https://youtu.be/x6tTY7Eef7A

Mayhem at the African Wild Dog den Early July 2024Savuti, Chobe National Park, Botswana We had watched this wild dog family for three days, and then somethin...