Rare Mammals of South Africa
Introduction
Kimberley - Hanover - Beaufort West - Swellendam - Cape Town / 8-Day Specialized Wildlife & Birding Safari
Specialized Safari Adventure
This guided rare mammal 8-day safari package with Sustain Safaris leads you through select destinations within South Africa that harbor numerous rare and endemic mammals. The tour visits 4 unique reserves renowned for exceptional mammal sightings of hard-to-see target species across the Northern Cape, Great Karoo, and Western Cape. On this specialized safari, you can expect to encounter shy, cryptic, and nocturnal species that wildlife enthusiasts dream of seeing. The route has been strategically planned to maximize opportunities for observing nocturnal predators, dry-country endemics, and rare ungulates in their natural habitat while enjoying comfortable lodge accommodations.
Specialized Safari Adventure
At a glance
Day 1
Day 1 - Welcome to the Northern Cape Bushveld
Arrival in Kimberley and Night Safari Adventure
Welcome to Kimberley and Marrick Safari
Upon arrival at Kimberley Airport, your private guide will meet you and facilitate a short transfer out to Marrick Safari, a pristine 3,000-hectare private reserve set in the vast semi-arid thornveld. After checking into your guesthouse and settling in, you will embark on a late-afternoon orientation game drive across the red-sand savanna plains.
Night Drive at Marrick Safari
As darkness settles over the Karoo-Kalahari transition, we prepare for our first night drive. Aboard our specialized safari vehicle, we track iconic nocturnal mammals across Marrick's open floodplains and thornveld in one of South Africa's most renowned locations for cryptic species.
Meals
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Park Overview: Marrick Safari
Marrick Safari covers 3,000 hectares of unspoiled Kalahari-thornveld, rocky koppies, and vast alluvial floodplains near the Vaal River. It is world-renowned for its exceptionally high density of rare nocturnal creatures.
Target Mammals and Birds
Target Mammals: Aardvark, Southern Aardwolf, Caracal, Black-footed Cat, Bat-eared Fox, Striped Polecat, African Wild Cat, Cape Porcupine, Meerkat (Suricate), Eastern Rock Sengi (Elephant Shrew), Small-spotted Genet, Cape Porcupine.
Target Birds: Burchell's Courser, Double-banded Courser, Fairy Flycatcher, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Pygmy Falcon, Bradfield's Swift, Pririt Batis, Ashy Tit.
Main Guesthouse (Marrick Safari)
Comfortable, traditional Karoo guesthouse accommodation nestled under expansive shade trees. Offers private en-suite bedrooms, a spacious veranda for wildlife viewing, and country-style dining.
Marrick Private Game Reserve
Day 2
Day 2 - Red Sands, Camel Thorns, and Rare Antelope
Mokala National Park Excursion and Night Drive
Mokala National Park Full-Day Excursion
Spend the full day navigating Mokala National Park's red-sand tracks, open plains, and rocky koppies, targeting rare antelopes and searching for breeding herds of disease-free buffalo and white rhinos.
Return to Marrick and Night Drive
Return to Marrick in the late afternoon for dinner, followed by another dedicated spotlight night drive.
Day 3
Day 3 - Journey to the Great Karoo
Traverse Northern Cape to Khoisan Karoo Conservancy
Morning Sengi and Meerkat Search
We start early with a specialized morning sengi and meerkat search around Marrick before embarking on a short drive southwest to Mokala National Park.
Journey to the Great Karoo
Today we head south, traversing the sweeping, wide-open horizons of the Northern Cape into the Great Karoo. Our destination is the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy near Hanover, a pioneering private conservation initiative that rewilds classic Karoo ecosystems. Upon arrival at New Holme Guest Farm, we take time to explore the farm grounds and Seekoei River banks.
Meals
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Evening Night Drive for Shy 5
In the evening, after a traditional Karoo meal, we head out on a night drive aboard an open safari vehicle to search for the "Shy 5" and encounter the region's unique nocturnal wildlife under starry night skies.
Park Overview: Khoisan Karoo Conservancy
Encompassing over 10,000 hectares of restored Karoo veld, riverine thicket, and flat-topped mesas (koppies). It is famous for hosting the only hippo population reintroduced to the Northern Cape in over two centuries.
Target Mammals and Birds
Target Mammals: Black-footed Cat, Aardvark, Southern Aardwolf, Cape Fox, Bat-eared Fox, Caracal, Striped Polecat, African Wild Cat, Cape Porcupine, Smith's Red Rock Rabbit, Meerkat (Suricate), Eastern Rock Sengi (Elephant Shrew), Cape Hare, Scrub Hare, Hippopotamus.
Target Birds: Blue Korhaan, Ludwig’s Bustard, Karoo Korhaan, African Rock Pipit, Verreaux's Eagle, Namaqua Warbler, Burchell's Courser, Pink-billed Lark, Large-billed Lark, African Fish Eagle.
New Holme Guest Farm
A 4-star working Karoo sheep farm and nature lodge set along the Seekoei River. Offers charming en-suite rooms with air conditioning, a central pool, and authentic Karoo farm-style cuisine served in an open-air boma.
Day 4
Day 4 - Tracking the "Shy 5" of the Karoo
Explore Karoo Veld, Hippos, and Night Drive
Morning Meerkat and Sengi Search
We begin the morning with an early search for the resident habituated Meerkat colonies and Karoo sengis as they emerge into the morning sun.
Daytime Exploration of Conservancy
The rest of the day is dedicated to low-tempo exploration of the conservancy's varied habitats, visiting river pools to view the resident Karoo hippos and scanning the grassy scrub for day-active small mammals and raptors.
Night Drive for Aardvarks and Carnivores
After sunset and a hearty dinner, we venture back out into the cool night air for our second open-vehicle night drive across the conservancy, focusing specifically on Aardvarks, Aardwolves, and small carnivores.
Day 5
Day 5 - Over the Nuweveld Escarpment
Explore Karoo National Park's Mountains and Valleys
Drive to Karoo National Park
After breakfast, we drive south towards Beaufort West, descending towards the dramatic Nuweveld Mountain escarpment which forms the backdrop of Karoo National Park. After checking into the main rest camp, we take an afternoon game drive winding up the Klipspringer Pass. The park’s dramatic erosion valleys and mountain plateau are home to mountain-dwelling ungulates and classic arid predators.
Afternoon Game Drive up Klipspringer Pass
Take an afternoon game drive winding up the Klipspringer Pass. The park’s dramatic erosion valleys and mountain plateau are home to mountain-dwelling ungulates and classic arid predators.
Guided Night Drive in Karoo National Park
In the evening, we board a park open safari vehicle for a guided night drive, searching the lower valleys and gravel plains for nocturnal species and big game.
Meals
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Park Overview: Karoo National Park
Spanning over 75,000 hectares of Great Karoo landscape, Karoo National Park protects rugged mountains, deep canyons, and vast dwarf-shrub plains. It is a vital refuge for threatened mountain species and Big 5 wildlife.
Target Mammals and Birds
Target Mammals: Cape Mountain Zebra, Gemsbok, Mountain Reedbuck, Grey Rhebok, Brown Hyena, Black Rhinoceros, Klipspringer, Smith's Red Rock Rabbit, Lion.
Target Birds: Verreaux's Eagle, Karoo Korhaan, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Karoo Eremomela, Karoo Lark, Black-eared Sparrowlark, Ludwig's Bustard.
Main Rest Camp (Karoo National Park)
Charming Cape Dutch-style chalets nestled at the foot of the Nuweveld Mountains. Features air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms, private verandas, a licensed restaurant, and a swimming pool.
Day 6
Day 6 - Across the Fold Mountains to the Ocean
Travel to De Hoop Nature Reserve and Sunset Stroll
Travel to De Hoop Nature Reserve
Today features our longest transfer day as we travel south through the Great Karoo, crossing the Little Karoo and scenic mountain passes towards the Overberg coast. By late afternoon, we arrive at De Hoop Nature Reserve, a coastal jewel where limestone fynbos mountains sweep down to a massive estuarine vlei and white coastal sand dunes.
Sunset Walk at De Hoop Vlei
We check into De Hoop Collection and take a sunset stroll along the edge of the vlei, where huge herds of endemic Bontebok and Cape Mountain Zebra graze peacefully right outside your accommodation.
De Hoop Collection
Check into De Hoop Collection, a coastal accommodation near the vlei, offering access to the reserve's unique landscapes and wildlife.
Day 7
Day 7 - Coastal Fynbos & Marine Wonders
Explore De Hoop's Dunes, Wetlands, and Wildlife
Morning Exploration at Koppie Alleen
In the morning, we explore the coastline at Koppie Alleen, searching the coastal dunes and rock pools for Cape Clawless Otters and scanning the scrub for endemic fynbos mammals like Caracal, Cape Grysbok, Large Grey Mongoose, and Honey Badger
Afternoon Wetland and Fynbos Tracking
In the afternoon, we focus on the De Hoop Vlei wetlands and surrounding protea fynbos, tracking specialized small mammals and endemic birds, such as Cape Sugarbird, Southern Black Korhaan, and Black Harrier.
Late-Afternoon and Evening Spotlight Drive
As dusk approaches, we conduct a late-afternoon and evening spotlight drive through the fynbos, targeting elusive predators like Caracal, Honey Badger, and small genets.
Meals
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Park Overview: De Hoop Nature Reserve
The unique combination of Ramsar-listed estuarine wetlands, towering coastal sand dunes, and dense protea fynbos creates an incredible sanctuary for marine, terrestrial, and avian biodiversity.
Target Mammals and Birds
Target Mammals: Cape Clawless Otter, Honey Badger, Caracal, Cape Grysbok, Bontebok, Bushbuck, Large Grey Mongoose, Cape Genet.
Target Birds: Black Harrier, Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Southern Tchagra, Secretarybird, Cape Vulture, African Rail, Great White Pelican.
De Hoop Collection
Enjoying your final night at De Hoop Collection, relaxing in luxury near the vlei after a full day of coastal wildlife viewing.
Day 8 - Coastal Scenery to Cape Town
Drive Through Overberg to Cape Town
Morning Drive at De Hoop
After a final morning drive around the milkwood groves, the back of the coastal dune and along the vlei to search out some remaining target species and enjoy the blissful landscape, we check out and begin our final leg of the journey.
Drive to Cape Town International Airport
We drive west through the rolling wheat and canola fields of the Overberg, taking in views of the Hottentots Holland Mountains. We arrive at Cape Town International Airport in the early afternoon, bringing this ultimate rare mammal safari to a memorable close.