**Around £400 per person for 2008 & £440 for 2009 **
Sorry no flights booked through Afreco / Transfers & collections extra / Please also check exact price on day of enquiry due to currency fluctuations.
Course Overview & Content
The Bird Courses are run in the Makuleke concession of Northern Kruger National Park; one of the last true wilderness areas in South Africa and a very special place indeed.
Whilst the summer months are always great for the migrants, birding in any month in this area is excellent.
There is a wonderful diversity of habitats which attract a huge variety of birds.
This is a top quality, FGASA accredited birding course, run by Bruce Lawson (Lawson's Birding Academy) who is considered one of South Africa's top birding guides. The course was put together to provide sufficient information and training for an individual to write the SKS Birding qualification with confidence. It is also an excellent training opportunity for those interested in gaining the new FGASA Birding Specialist Qualifications.
Don't be put off by the exams & qualifications…
It is also suitably appropriate for any person who wants to improve their bird knowledge and skills or to enhance their guiding career or even for their own personal benefit and enjoyment.
Previous clients who have joined the course to prepare for their SKS Birding Exam, have all indicated to us that their success in their exam, was due purely to attending the course and the information and knowledge they gained. That is excellent news for anyone considering the Birding Course and the SKS Birding qualification.
A typical day (but this can vary)
Will consist of theory sessions during the day:
held in the camp incorporating use of electronic media to add value and interest
after breakfast (after returning from morning practical walk or drive)
and then again after a midday break and prior to the afternoon practical walk or drive
Practical bird identification sessions during early morning and late afternoon drives and or walks
Note: An extensive Training Manual is provided, however we recommend participants bring notepad/book/pens; to take further notes and also your own bird field guide(s) (various bird books are provided for use during the course) and most importantly good binoculars.
The practical sessions in the field will assist you in knowing what to look for to successfully identify birds, also to point out the differences between certain 'difficult' species. Both sight id and call id is discussed during the practical sessions.
The practical sessions, will be either walking or in an open game drive vehicle or a combination of both.
Course Assessments:
The course includes both bird slide identification and a bird call identification assessments on final full day. A written assignment handed out during the course is required to be completed, however, this is an 'open book' style and is to be returned to Lawson's Birding Academy upon completion, for marking.
All course participants receive a Lawson's 'Certificate of Participation' and those successfully passing all three assignments (slide/calls and written) will receive a Lawson's 'Certificate of Competency'.
Your camp is situated in the Northern area of Kruger National Park, in an area known as the Makuleke Concession. The camp itself is set in a lovely area shaded by huge Nyala trees, with each spacious tent having its own private ensuite facilities. The tents are raised on timber platforms, each with their own deck overlooking the surrounding bush.
The accommodation is 2 people sharing per tent. It is an excellent area and the birding is just awesome!
Also see the Makuleke page for further information.
Bruce Lawson is one of only a few, fully qualified professional guides with both FGASA Level 3, SKS Dangerous Game and SKS National Birding (THETA NQF6) and is also a FGASA Accredited Trainer and Assessor.
Bruce, apart from his formal qualifications, is considered as one of the country's top birding guides.
Where we utilize a second trainer, that person will also be a qualified SKS Birding Guide.
There is a wonderful diversity of habitats which attract a huge variety of birds.
This is a top quality, 
The practical sessions in the field will assist you in knowing what to look for to successfully identify birds, also to point out the differences between certain 'difficult' species. Both sight id and call id is discussed during the practical sessions.
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The course includes both bird slide identification and a bird call identification assessments on final full day. A written assignment handed out during the course is required to be completed, however, this is an 'open book' style and is to be returned to Lawson's Birding Academy upon completion, for marking.
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Bruce Lawson is one of only a few, fully qualified professional guides with both FGASA Level 3, SKS Dangerous Game and SKS National Birding (THETA NQF6) and is also a FGASA Accredited Trainer and Assessor.