Pennant-winged Nightjar focus tour

Day 1: Hoedspruit to Letaba.
The drive from Hoedspruit to Letaba, entering Kruger through Orpen Gate, passes through mixed bushveld and open savanna and offers excellent early birding. Along the route, species such as Lilac-breasted Roller, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Fork-tailed Drongo, Magpie Shrike, Wattled Starling, Marico Sunbird, White-browed Scrub Robin, Red-crested Korhaan and Burchell’s Starling are commonly observed. Riverine and woodland areas near Letaba support African Fish Eagle, Giant Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Stork, and Grey Heron.

Other species found include African Hoopoe, Sabota Lark, Black-backed Puffback, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, White-fronted Bee-eater and Mourning Dove. Raptors observed en route may include Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, and Black-winged Kite.

Mammals include Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Plains Zebra, Giraffe, and frequent sightings of Elephant and Buffalo, with Lion and Leopard present in the area. As dusk approaches, nocturnal species such as African Scops Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet and Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl may be active around camp.

Day 2: Letaba to Shingwedzi.
The drive from Letaba to Shingwedzi moves into northern Mopaneveld and offers rich birding opportunities. Woodland and riverine habitats attract White-crested Helmetshrike, Grey Go-away-bird, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, Jacobin Cuckoo, Red-billed Oxpecker, Bennett’s Woodpecker, and Woodland Kingfisher. Along rivers, African Jacana, Saddle-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, and Great Egret can be found.

Other species found, include Swainson’s Spurfowl, Southern Ground Hornbill, Red-capped Lark, Violet-back Starling, Kurrichane Thrush, White-bellied Sunbird and Grey-headed Bushshrike. Raptors observed en route may include Wahlberg’s Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, and Brown Snake Eagle.

Mammals include Elephant, Buffalo, Kudu, Waterbuck, Nyala, and occasional Lion and Spotted Hyena.

Day 3: Shingwedzi to Punda Maria.
Traveling north from Shingwedzi to Punda Maria enters a more remote and bird-rich area, dominated by sandveld and broad-leaved woodland. Birding highlights en route include Broad-billed Roller, Mosque Swallow, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, White-bellied Sunbird, Green Wood Hoopoe, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Blacksmith Lapwing, Wire-tailed Swallow, White-winged Widowbird, Namaqua Dove, Cape Starling, European Bee-eater and Tawny-flanked Prinia.

Mammals include Elephant, Buffalo, Eland, and occasional sightings of African Wild Dog, with Lion and Leopard still present. Arrival at Punda Maria Rest Camp places the itinerary in the heart of northern Kruger, an area renowned for northern specials and rarities.

Day 4: Punda Maria.
A full day around Punda Maria focuses on both woodland and open-clearings birding. Notable species include Racket-tailed Roller, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Crowned Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Grey-headed Parrot, Arnot’s Chat, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Eastern Nicator, Red-billed Quelea, Zitting Cisticola, Green-winged Pytilia, Dusky Indigobird, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah and Violet-backed Starling. Raptors such as Dickinson’s Kestrel, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, and African Hawk-Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle are seen.

In the evening, attention turns to open clearings and sandy tracks for the Pennant-winged Nightjar (Caprimulgus vexillarius). Males perform spectacular display flights, showing off elongated wing pennants while calling with soft trills, providing one of the most memorable nocturnal birding experiences in southern Africa.

Mammals include Bushbuck, Nyala, Elephant, Buffalo, and occasional Lion.

Day 5: Punda Maria to Mopani.
The drive from Punda Maria to Mopani Rest Camp passes through northern mixed woodland and sandveld. Birding along the route includes African Green Pigeon, Black-collared Barbet, African Hoopoe, Lilac-breasted Roller, Mosque Swallow, Southern White-crowned Shrike, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Southern Red Bishop, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Speckled Mousebird, Red-billed Quelea, Kori Bustard, Common Ostrich, and Secretarybird.

Mopani overlooks Pioneer Dam, a hotspot for waterbirds and waders, offering excellent late-afternoon birding. Species seen regularly are White-faced Whistling Duck, African Fish Eagle, Goliath Heron, Black Heron, Reed Cormorant, African Darter, Water Thick-knee, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Great Egret, Squacco Heron, Giant Kingfisher and Mocking Cliff Chat

Mammals include Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra, and Plains game, with occasional Lion or Leopard sightings.

Day 6: Mopani to Satara
Driving from Mopani to Satara moves into central Kruger’s open savanna, a region known for high predator densities and rich plains game. Birding includes Kori Bustard, Secretarybird, Southern Ground Hornbill, Burchell’s Coucal, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Little Bee-eater, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, African Pipit, Sabota Lark, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Helmeted Guineafowl, Black-bellied Korhaan, Temminck’s Courser and Diederik Cuckoo. Raptors include Martial Eagle, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Black-winged Kite, Little Sparrowhawk and African Hawk-Eagle and with a bit of luck Pallid and Montagu’s Harrier.

Mammals along the route include large herds of Buffalo, Plains Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, with Lion, Cheetah, and Spotted Hyena active in the open savanna. Camp birding at Satara is productive for species such as Mourning Dove, Green Wood Hoopoe and Red-billed Hornbill.