Birding Day Tour Info:

Please let us know where you are staying, so that we can determine a pick-up point and time.

Day trips usually last around 8-10 hours and starting times are relatively flexible, usually between 7am and 8am and you are normally back at your accommodation between 5pm and 6pm.

Our exact route can vary depending on weather, road closures etc.

Lunches (including the guides )There will be an opportunity to stop for lunch along the way, its up to you wether we do this or just eat on the road. We will discuss this in the morning while travelling to our first destination.

Entrance fees into Kirstenbosch Botanical and Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain National Park and West Coast National Park are an additional cost to the client. Budget about R400.00 per day for these fees.

Please bring warm clothes, the weather in Cape Town is unpredictable and changes from warm to cold very quickly. 

Your binoculars - these are essential, we do not provide binoculars to our clients.

Any personal medication you may need on the day. If you are ill before the tour, we would prefer to reschedule the tour with you when you have are recovered for both your sake and the guides. Please read the section on Health below, this is critically important as it is against our policy to start a tour with anyone who is in the early stages of a contagious viral or bacterial infection.

Hat and sunscreen, if the weather is sunny and warm (especially during Spring and Summer), we do spend time walking outside of the vehicle.

Extended Tours

Accommodation: This varies from one location to the next. We utilise the options within the conservation areas we visit.

Alcohol: Not always available. BYO is allowed. We encourage you to drink responsibly.

Bookings: To secure a booking, a 30% deposit is required. The balance of 70% is to be paid two months prior to the trips departure date. Payments by cheque, cash or direct bank deposit into our Australian or South African bank account. 

Cancellations: All cancellations after confirmation of booking will incur a cancellation fee of 30% of the full tour fare. If you cancel within 60 days of departure a cancellation fee of 70% will be charged. Notice of cancellation must be received in writing via email to matt@fangsandfeathers.co.za or fangsfeathers@gmail.com

Company risk policy: Clients should accept tours may include activities involving risk and dangers beyond our control. These include, but are not limited to, activities such as travel in remote areas, theft, malaria, motor vehicle accident and so on. Please contact us by telephone or skype to discuss any concerns you may have before the tour.

Your guide will make every effort to keep to the itinerary we have planned with you. We reserve the right to change the times and itineraries without refund, due to unforeseen weather conditions, road closures, emergency incidents or other circumstances beyond our control. This is to ensure the safety of clients. 

Where it is necessary for us to cancel a tour prior to its departure due to circumstances beyond our control, a 30% cancellation fee will be required. If it is necessary for us to cancel the tour after its commencement because of conditions beyond our control, no refund will be offered.

We encourage our clients to take out full travel insurance in case of delays or cancellations beyond our control.

We accept no responsibility for loss, damage or theft of property and repairs. We retain the right to remove any person from the tour where the safety or comfort of other passengers is at risk.

Health: You must ensure you are in good health as we travel to isolated and remote areas. If you are unsure, check with your doctor first. Please notify us of any medical condition of which we should be aware. If you are taking medication, ensure you carry sufficient supplies for the duration of the tour. We request you provide us with contact details of a family member or friend in case of an emergency. Please note that the national parks and reserves we visit have limited medical facilities. You need to consider this before booking your trip. Some of our destinations carry a malaria risk during the wet season (October to March). Consult your local GP about the malaria prophylactics to take.

Please note, if you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness we require for you to disclose you condition to us, before such trip. We will require your physician's or doctors written opinion if they feel you are fit to attend.  This is very important as we must understand your personal limits so that they can be planned for leading up to your tour. Once a tour has started, it is very difficult to make changes which relate to comfort levels, accomodation, distances which must be covered by road each day, catering etc. It is your responsibility to inform us of your exact requirements during the planning phase of a tour.

If you have an untreated contagious viral or bacterial infection just prior to the tour, we ask you to please cancel the trip with us. If you start the tour with a serious and developing infection which has not been disclosed earlier to us, we reserve the right to and will cancel the trip with you. The risk of infection to our guides is one we dont accept, and it is your responsibility to make sure you are well enough to attend a tour.

Confirmations: All bookings require final payment two months before departure.

Minimum numbers: We cater for one to eight people, which includes the guide. The cost per person will vary depending on how many people book the trip. The scales of economy improve the fuller the trip is. A cost per person is quoted to the client depending on the group size and is subject to variation when you make your booking. 

Travel Insurance: We recommend you obtain travel insurance to cover cancellation by you or us, delay, loss, damage, injury due an unforseen circumstance, unexpected expenses and/or loss of income. This is essential as we will not proceed with the tour if you are suffreing from a contagious illness or chronic condition which has not be planned for during the planning phase with us.

Luggage: Take note of airline weight limits. We request that you limit your personal luggae to one large suitcase or bag, carry bag and your camera gear. This is to ensure packing ease during the tour. You will be expected to carry your own bags between the vehicle and accomodation when checking-in and out of our lodging. Your guide will do the loading and unpacking of the vehicle.

Things to bring: Personal medication, cameras, binoculars, chargers and converters – in Southern Africa large three prong plugs are mainly used. The type of clothing will depend on the time of year. Please contact us prior to your planned trip to obtain advice.

Meals: Most of our destinations are remote and sometimes restaurants in the parks can have limited menus. In the Kgalagardi Transfrontier Park, for example, we self-cater most of the time. This would involve light breakfast, which would include fruit, cereals and coffee, light lunches of cold meats, salad, biscuits, cheese etc. and BBQ style dinners with salads, veggies, meat and poultry. Fresh fish is limited and it is recommended alternative choices be made. There will always be opportunity for clients to stock up on the snacks they require for the duration of the trip. Things do take time in Africa and we ask for a degree of patience with waitrons and service personal since there is a diverse array of language in Africa and culture to be considered, which can make communications more difficult than what you may be used to in North America or Europe.

Vegetarian menus are limited in many of the areas which we visit, and you should discuss your expectations surrounding your dietry requirements with is in the planning phase of the tour to avoid disapointment while on tour. 

Teamwork is needed on our self-catered trips to get meals prepared. This means that you will be involved in the actual preperation of your dinners and will be required to make your own breakfast in the mornings. If you have any special dietary needs, these must be discussed with us in advance.

Guarantee: We will meet the reasonable expectations of all clients to the best of our ability. 

Prices: All prices quoted are for twin-share and family unit-style accommodation, unless indicated otherwise. Single supplement prices if not listed will be quoted on enquiry. Our tours are not recommended for children under the age of 10.

Extended Tours include: Accommodation, guide, vehicle, dinner and breakfasts, bottled water and park entrance fees.

Extended Tours DO NOT include: Travel to and from destination country and accommodation between tour dates. Lunches (including guide’s which are for client’s account). Alcoholic drinks and other personal expenses. Park entrance fees on day trips.

Loss and damage of your equipment and documentation: We will not accept responsibility for the loss and damage of any of your personal equipment including cameras, binoculars, personal and travel documentation. Your optical gear is your responsibility and you will need to take care of your gear while within the vehicles or on foot. Your guide cannot be held responsible for dropped lenses etc.  

Visitor protocol: You must follow the lawful direction of our guides when travelling with us. Always ask permission before taking photographs in culturally sensitive areas. Permits are required for any commercial photography or filming in national parks and reserves. We can assist you in applying for these if necessary.


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