In December I had a short break from safaris and had arranged to go on a birding course in the far north of Kruger. I had three objectives for that week– 1) to learn more about birds plus see some of the unique species of the area; 2) to have a holiday in Kruger Park which involved a lot of walking; and 3) to have that holiday in the Parfuri / Makuleke region which is relatively inaccessible to the general public. So on the 8^th December I travelled to the far north of Kruger, the Parfuri region, to a training camp located on the southern banks of the “great, green, greasy” Limpopo River for a wonderful week of birding. I saw many new (for me anyway!) birds and learnt a huge amount more about their calls and habits. There were 15 of us on the course with 2 instructor guides and we walked for 3-4 hours every morning while it was still relatively cool and drove every afternoon when it was generally too hot to walk.

To get a first hand feel of the pulse of Africa, the experience of a safari tour is a must. Being a part of the travel group is more advantageous as it allows one to be guided by a travel leader, while you can relax and get the most out of the experience. The most probable means of transport during a safari tour is either an open vehicle or an air-conditioned mini bus. Medical and travel insurance are an important part of any travel venture. Also make sure you carry sun block and light, comfortable clothing as a defense against the scorching heat. A camera is also a must to capture those unforgettable fleeting moments of bird watching or an unexpected coming face to face with wild life.