Sustain Wildlife and Birding Safaris

06/12/2024

Join us on a 5-day Zululand birding tour for the opportunity to spot 250+ bird species, including Pel’s fishing owl, the southern banded snake-eagle, and the African broadbill. This tour promises incredible biodiversity across wetlands, forests, and coastal regions.

Limited places remain – secure your spot now: [email protected]

Image: Southern Tchagra

04/12/2024

Today we celebrate the cheetah, the fastest land animal and an increasingly threatened species. Found in select areas of Southern Africa, including KZN and Namibia, these elegant cats face challenges such as habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.

Together, let’s raise awareness of protecting wild spaces where cheetahs and other species can thrive.

29/11/2024

A recent survey by the Association of British Travel Agents shows that 60% of travellers are buying fewer souvenirs on their travels than they used to. The top reasons cited include finding souvenirs tacky, environmental concerns, reduced luggage allowances, and tighter budgets.

At Sustain Safaris, we encourage our guests to support local communities by buying curios and mementos. Many residents rely on this income to feed their families, and since most items are handmade using sustainable materials and recycled items, they’re eco-conscious, too.

If you’d like to shop for curios, please communicate this to your tour leader/guide who will include a stop at a local market in your itinerary.

28/11/2024

Often misunderstood, vultures are nature's cleanup crew, playing a vital role in maintaining a healthy aaecosystem.

From their impressive wingspans to their unique feeding habits, these majestic birds are truly fascinating. Read more to learn about their conservation status and their breeding and feeding habits.

Read more: https://sustainsafaris.com/your-guide-to-africas-vultures/

27/11/2024

Introducing our 19-day expedition, running from 27 April to 15 May 2025.

This tour will take you through the remote wildernesses of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, promising exceptional sightseeing opportunities for elusive birds and mammals, including the pangolin, brown hyena, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, black rhino, African civet and aardwolf, to name just a few.

Contact us for bookings and more info: [email protected]

26/11/2024

Join us on 2 to 5 February for our 4-day KwaZulu-Natal Mountains Birding Tour, departing after the Flock to Marion AGAIN event. This tour takes you through the hilly Midlands and up the rugged Sani Pass, part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

With an altitude range stretching from sea level to 2,900 masl, you’ll explore an array of habitats from grasslands and wetlands to indigenous forests and rocky slopes. Our goal? To spot over 200 bird species, including numerous endemic and red-listed species, along with the chance to see 20+ mammal species, orchids, proteas, and more.

Highlights include a 4x4 birding trip up to the Lesotho border via Sani Pass and birding through the forests and grasslands of the KZN midlands.

Contact us for more details at [email protected]

25/11/2024

The Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) is an African icon, recognised in Southern Africa’s woodland savannahs by its striking black coat and dramatic, sweeping horns. Sable antelopes are typically seen in small herds, led by a dominant female.

The powerful males are also known to have territorial behaviours during the rut.

22/11/2024

🤩 Website Refreshed 🤩

We are delighted to announce that we have spent months refreshing our website and the new look is now finally live for the world to explore: https://sustainsafaris.com/

We have many more tours that we have already operated throughout both Southern and East Africa that will be added over the coming months...so stay tuned.

Thank you to the great team at Big Ambitions for all the hard work and collaborative effort.

Please provide us with your feedback and suggestions.

Discover Africa’s unique species Extraordinary expeditions for seasoned naturalists   Plan & Book Download Brochure A warm welcome from Sustain Safaris! Are you an experienced naturalist or wildlife enthusiast? Travel with us to the wildest locations in Southern Africa in search of rare, shy, elu...

21/11/2024

Announcing an exclusive 5-day Zululand Bird Tour, departing 2 to 6 February 2025 following the Flock to Marion AGAIN cruise. This moderately-paced safari provides birding enthusiasts with a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal’s Zululand and Maputaland (Elephant Coast) regions.

Expect to see approximately 320 bird species, including five endemics, such as Pel’s Fishing-Owl, the Southern Banded Snake-Eagle, and the African Broadbill. The tour also promises sightings of over 30 mammal species, including the iconic leopard and black rhino.

You’ll travel through renowned game reserves such as iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Bonamanzi Game Reserve, and the ‘Holy Grail’ of Southern African birding, Mkuze Game Reserve. With habitats ranging from savannah and woodlands to coastal forests and estuaries, this tour ensures remarkable biodiversity at every turn.

Interested? Contact us for more info: [email protected]

21/11/2024

Birds of our Sustain Safaris 11-Day Namibia Tour
06 to 16 November 2024

We were fortunate to find and photograph some special birds.

20/11/2024

Northern and Central Namibia 11-Day Tour
06 to 16 November 2024

A selection of photos of some of the varied and wonderful species and landscapes we encountered during our 2,350 kilometer journey.

In total we observed: 42 mammal species, 145 bird species, 9 reptile species.

Species highlights included:

* Top 10 Birds - Olive Bee-eater, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Violet-eared Woodhoopoe, Rockrunner, Hartlaub's Spurfowl, Ruppell's Korhaan, Ruppell's Parrot, Southern White-faced Owl, Double-banded Courser, Carp's Tit.

* Top 10 Mammals - Congo Rope Squirrel, Black Mongoose, Bushveld Sengi (Elephant Shrew), Dassie Rat, Honey Badger x 4, Cheetah x 3, Black Rhino, Brown Hyena x 5, Cape Fox x 3, Commerson's Leaf-nosed Bat.

* Top 5 Reptiles - Southern African Python, Boomslang, Ovambo Tree Skink, Namib Rock Agama, Rock Monitor.

20/11/2024

Building a brighter future for our planet? It starts with nurturing a love for wildlife and conservation at an early age, transforming today’s children into tomorrow’s environmental advocates and changemakers.

Happy World Children’s Day! Let’s ensure our children understand the value of what we’ve all been entrusted with.

19/11/2024

Black Mongoose (Galerella nigrata)
07 November 2024
Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy, Namibia

On the morning of Day 2 of our recent Sustain Safaris 11-Day Namibia Rare Mammal and Birding Tour, we were fortunate to view, photograph and film this rare and cryptic Black Mongoose coming for a brief lap of water at the lodge waterhole.

There is ongoing debate amongst zoologists as to whether it is its own species or a sub-species of the Kaokoveld (Angolan) Slender Mongoose (Galerella flavescens). From my observations in the field, having now observed 6 individuals during the last year, I believe it is a distinct species.

18/11/2024

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues our oceans face today. With over 8 million tonnes of plastic entering our oceans each year, events like Oceans of Plastic 2024 highlight the urgent need for action.

At Sustain Safaris, we’re acutely aware that our oceans are teeming with not just life but also plastic waste that endangers marine species, including many we observe on our marine wildlife tours, like the Cape fur seal, African penguins and numerous other seabirds.

Oceans of Plastic 2024 calls on individuals, communities, and businesses to rethink and reduce plastic use, from minimising single-use plastics to supporting clean-up initiatives and ocean conservation organisations. Every small change creates a far-reaching ripple effect!