St.lucia Birds & Birding

St.lucia Birds & Birding

St.lucia Birds & Birding
5
About
We offer unique and surperb Birdwatching and hiking within ISimangaliso Wetland Park in the north eastern region of South Africa.Our tours can be on 4x4 Open Game safari vehicle or on your small sedan depending on the terrain to explore at a time. Tours can be accomponed by most expirienced Guides introduce you to many wonders of Nature,including mangrooves swamps,Wildlife,Highest vegetated Sand dunes,beaches Savannas and Lakes. Our birding trips range from 2-3hours -all the way to a multi-day outing. We pick up visitors from where they stay or arrange meeting points.We do all the Zululand north east coastal reserves from St.Lucia,Falsebay,Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park,Mkuze,Sodwana,Tembe Elephant Park,Ndumo and Kosi Bay
St Lucia, South Africa
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles228 reviews
Excellent
206
Very good
15
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
3

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Alida Ungerer
Worcester, South Africa6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
What a wonderful trip with Themba! Our family of 3 adults booked 5 days with Themba in/around isiMangaliso, Mkhuze and Ndumo Nature Reserves. It was an absolute priviledge to experience Themba's love, passion and enthusiasm for our family, his community and the beautiful birds of the region that he so enjoyed sharing with us. He made every effort to make sure we got maximum 'lifers' - even with a very long "shopping list" of lifers 😊. Themba is an amazing bird guide and we are forever grateful for his knowledge and our wonderful experiences birding with him. He is simply the best!!
Written 5 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes, it always feels great to see how much dedicated birders and connoisseur alike take interest in our exceptional birding tours. We always try to go extra mile in ensuring that Your experience becomes unforgettable. We will always be ready to give you the best we can ,next time You are in the area again. All the best Themba
Written 7 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Silke Z
7 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
We were picked up by Themba at 7:00 am sharp for a full-day tour.
First we saw lots of birds in the surrounding area, some of which Themba attracted using his cell phone or by calling. Then we drove towards Cape Vidal. There we discovered lots of water birds and also saw rhinos, antelopes and a dung beetle. At lunchtime we had a great picnic that Themba and his girlfriend had prepared. During the picnic we had a beautiful view of the lake. Themba told us how he got into birdwatching and that he has inspired many other people to become interested in nature conservation and trains many young people. It is important to agree on the price for the tour in advance so that there are no misunderstandings afterwards.
Google
Written 23 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your comments. I m glad you really like our experience. Normal tours quotes are clear in website too but if you want to be on private tour with no other people or it sudden turns up that it's gonna be Only you in our truck then it's not viable for us as such trips includes more expenses with fuels; food and park permits.Therefore adjustment is being made and communicated to the guests in advance so that they can make their own choices in time either take a trip or not. Thanks for your valuable feedback!
Written 27 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

maarten b
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Friends
This is the second time we have had the pleasure of Themba's company and wealth of knowledge and insight as we went birding with him. We were, in fact, extremely fortunate to have booked to go out with him four times in the week and frankly could quite easily have liked to be with him each day we were in the st Lucia area - his knowledge is so vast he never repeats himself and remains interesting all the time.

We were a party of five, I being the least informed and knowledgable so found everything fascinating and interesting, the others were all experienced birders and they too were learning and discovering little known facts.

Themba is Zululand born and bred, he has grown up there, knows every square inch of the area and explains beautifully how the whole system inter reacts. I found his explanations of the impacts of the silting up of the lagoon mouth, the effects of commercial agriculture both fascinating and interesting and hope that a lasting solution can be found to suit all parties. it is comforting to know that Themba is there and that the voice of conservation of nature and wild life will be heard and is in his safe hands.

If you are an extremely enthusiastic and knowledgable birder or, like me, an absolute novice and you are intending to go birding in the greater St Lucia area. you really need to contact Themba.

We wish him every success in the future and. are already penciling in our next trip to South Africa and will certainly be including a few days with him. Themba is as much part of our SA vacation as visiting Cape Town our hiking in the Drakensberg.
Written 7 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much, Maarten. It's been really great repeating our birding experience with You, as well as your Team. Your company is always great, your love for Birds is surely unmistakable. I'm always looking forward to ensure a lasting moment with every nature lover or birder visiting Zululand Thanks once more again and looking forward to hosting you in future again.
Written 10 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sabine J
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Friends
Themba is a fantastic birding guide who is able to find all of the birds he hears, and he knows them all. He takes the time to make sure you see the bird and also know which ones are calling. One of the highlights was seeing the trogon and exploring the areas around the village where he grew up. Thank you Themba for a wonderful day!
Written 30 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much Sabine for going out with me. Birding with you and Herman has been really great! Your interest in my local birds was amazing. I am looking forward to showing you more of my birds anytime you visit my country again. All the best, Themba
Written 1 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Maps30179261569
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
Initially I was a little concerned that I would taking a solo 2 day birding outing, but it turned out to be a blessing.
I had the undivided attention from my guide, Themba. He had so much information that I had difficulty taking it all in.
Themba is extremely knowledgeable, but his manner is totally relaxed and easy-going. I was particularly impressed by his knowledge of bird calls, many of which he was able to mimic beautifully.
The 2 days spent with Themba were a remarkable experience for me never to be forgotten.
I can highly recommend St Lucia Birds & Birding to any considering a birding safari in this area.
Written 3 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks somuch for sharing your experience with Us. Meeting and birding with You, was such a great pleasure. Your unfailed energy to explore with me even into those beautiful sometimes uneven terrains of the Wetlands really made it a great fun & memorable one. Looking forward to host You in the future again. Regards Themba
Written 3 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Aaliyah Shah
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Business
What an amazing trip with Themba and his team. Not only was it an incredible experience around iSimangaliso Wetland Park but Themba was beyond brilliant in engaging with our large group of 40+ students from across the country. He has certainly helped instil a wonder and love for the South African environment in young environmentalists. Thank you Themba - you are exceptional and incredible in what you do!
Written 21 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks somuch Aaliya. I m glad that you and your Students really liked the experience. I hope to meet you and do much more advanced guided walk with you when you are possible back in future. Thank you.
Written 22 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Resort49148700640
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
We had an incredible birding tour with Themba in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Early in the morning, he picked us up from our accommodation and began the tour with fascinating background information about the history of the park. What made this experience truly special is that Themba grew up in the area. His knowledge of birds is absolutely amazing. He can identify most species within seconds, often just by hearing them. His passion and enthusiasm are contagious, and he shares information about both the birds and the surrounding nature in a fun and engaging way. Our day ended with a lovely barbecue.

We had a fantastic day and felt completely at ease with him. Themba was attentive, funny, and made sure we both enjoyed the experience. We spotted some great bird species, but this is ofcourse just luck. We highly recommend a tour with him to anyone interested in birds and nature!
Written 13 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks somuch for sharing your experience with us. Our Customers happiness is always on the forefront of our melody for this is all what really matters for us. We will always try and keep all our guests happy by going any extra mile possible. Looking forward to meet you in our future tours again. Kind regards Themba
Written 13 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

David S
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2025 • Solo
Themba arrived on time for a full day of birding, and it was incredible. His ability to mimic such a wide variety of bird calls was impressive. Also, adding over 50 lifers in one day was well beyond expectations. We saw both forest and grassland species.
Written 8 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks somuch for joining and enjoying our Birding experience. As you could see yourself this is tailor-made for birders and nature lover's experience. With more diverse habitats of iSimangaliso wetland Park on the show, this is only a"starter" for now,more is to come on your next trip. Looking forward to hosting you in Zululand again. Thanks Themba
Written 8 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Charlie A
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Friends
Thimba’s guiding was superb. We went as a group of 5 to have a look at the local St Lucian birds and were able to see 31 species we had never seeing before. Thimba could emulate all the calls perfectly, so much so that we often were not sure if the calls were coming from him or the bird. He could identify species from the smallest amour of detail and was good at describing the exact location of birds we could not see. I would recommend this tour to any bird enthusiasts travelling in the area.
Written 6 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's been really a great time! Well spent! Birds were more responsive while welcoming you in Kzn South Africa. Next time,you come, as promised, I will take you out to much more advance different habitat type with more variety of birdlife. Enjoy rest of your holiday, until we meet again in our beautiful African landscape
Written 11 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Thomas W
Wiesbaden, Germany29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
We quickly decided to call the bird guide Themba, who had been recommended by the tourist office. This was the best decision! Themba knows the birds, their songs and calls and where to find them. He lured the birds he wanted with calls and sounds with great patience and effort. There was plenty of time for taking photos and observing. Unfortunately, the two morning tours were too short to find out more about his other work. Discovering the birds took priority! We had a lot of fun and will definitely ask him when we are in St. Lucia again. Themba, all the best for you and your work.
Google
Written 27 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks somuch for your comments. I know very well the feeling of being part of this awesome birding experience to leave Many with a fonding Heart and the pain of having a short stay in the country is even more worse than One can think. However, I certainly believe that, we will cross ways again and spend more time together, observing the beauty of my birdlife again. Thanks once again for making time and use my services while in the Country. Your support is really appreciated. Looking forward to hosting you in the future again!
Written 27 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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